Agreed. Neither Quinn nor I need to apologise for voicing our opinions. I am aware
that this is a bad time
to criticise US & UK foreign policies and the ways in which they have led to this
event, and I knew that my
comments would inevitably cause offence, but at this very moment our leaders are
talking of war -- before we
have even determined who did this -- and this kind of dangerous talk needs a reply
right here and right now.
It took me hours to even begin to take in what was happening on Tuesday. I listened
for over three hours on
the car radio, but couldn't quite believe it. Only after sitting in front of the TV
for several more hours
could I even begin to think about what was happening and why. But reflecting on it is
vital -- precipitate
and ill considered military responses will only create thousands more suicide bombers.
We can't let that
happen.
My intention was not to imply that Quinn had posted inappropriately, but to question
the wisdom of a
vengeful response and a failure to reflect on the "why" of what happened. I know it's
unpopular, but we need
to respond to the talk of war and revenge, because there's a risk that in a few days
time we could be
looking at an escalation of the situation, and storing up far more problems for the
future. There is no need
to apologise, Quinn, and no need to be more cautious about your postings. Even in the
wake of the worst
tragedies, we must make room for debate and reflection.
As therapists, no doubt there are members of this list who will find themselves
working with Tuesday's
survivors
to try to find a way to work through the trauma and rebuild their lives, as I found
myself working with
survivors of the '99 Soho pub bombing. This is a process we need to engage in
ourselves, too. Striking out
in anger will not help us.
Meanwhile, as the eyes of the world are on New York and Washington, Israel takes
advantage of our
distraction and continues its incursions into Palestinian territory, further stoking
the fires of hatred.
There is no end in sight.
"d. silva" wrote:
> Quinn,
> I, for one, do not feel you have anything to apologize for.
> Donna
>
> > I did not intend to offend anyone by forwarding this message. It gave me
> a
> > brief, but so-welcome feeling of faith in the strength of my country
> during
> > a time when I am feeling intensely frightened and vulnerable. Also, as I
> > provide therapy services to our Air Force Base and have to answer the
> > questions of the children whose parents are readying for "anything"
> ...well,
> > this whole matter is nearly unbearable. I do realize that the editorial
> was
> > mostly "tough talking" and did not take every single statement to heart.
> It
> > was just a feeling of pride that I was hoping to share.
> >
> > I will be more cautious about participating in this list and will limit
> any
> > comments to those relating directly to OT practice.
> >
> > Again, I apologize.
> > QMcCoy
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Mike" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> > To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> > Sent: Thursday, September 13, 2001 3:29 PM
> > Subject: Re: Fw: someone finally found the words
> >
> >
> > > Unfortunately, the wrong words. We need now to be asking: why do so many
> > around the world detest us? Both
> > > the the USA and the UK have wrought terror on the world with their
> > arrogant and aggressive foreign policies.
> > > We funded Osama Bin Laden through the CIA. We supported the Mujahideen
> and
> > the Taliban. We play games with
> > > other peoples' wars. We support Israel through thick and thin in its
> > oppression and murder of the
> > > Palestinian people. Britain created this malevolent state and the USA
> > props it up. We have killed hundreds
> > > of thousands of Iraqi children through sanctions -- the same is
> beginning
> > to happen in Afghanistan (a fact
> > > that goes some way to explaining why the main export they have left is
> > illicit opium).
> > >
> > > If there is one question we should be asking in the wake of this
> > disgusting waste of human life, it is not
> > > "how", but "why". When I travel abroad, I describe myself as Irish
> rather
> > than British, because I don't want
> > > to be associated with the crimes my country inflicts upon the world. We
> > arrogantly stalk the world in the
> > > guise of global policemen. Talk of hatred and revenge will not help. A
> > precipitate and hasty response will
> > > only increase the hatred. Our laser guided missiles during the Gulf war
> > hit hospitals and air raid shelters.
> > > We treat peoples of other nations as collateral damage.
> > >
> > > The quote you sent talks of the USA (and, presumably, your junior
> partner,
> > Britain) as "fundamentally decent
> > > [...] peace-loving and compassionate". I do not see this in our foreign
> > policy, and nor do the peoples of
> > > the Middle East. We saw the scenes of celebration in the West Bank and
> > Gaza -- we need to learn from this.
> > > They remember Sabra and Shatila -- do we? They hate us not because of
> what
> > we are, but because of what we
> > > have done.
> > >
> > > Your quote talks of "the steel in us" -- perhaps it would be better to
> > talk of our humanity and our ability
> > > to learn from our mistakes. Your quote says: "You don't know what you
> just
> > started" -- we need to realise
> > > that we started it long ago. Your quote says "you're about to learn" --
> we
> > are the ones who need to learn.
> > >
> > > Quinn McCoy wrote:
> > >
> > > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > > From: "Kyle M. Baker" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> > > > To: "Old Purple" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> > > > Sent: Wednesday, September 12, 2001 4:41 PM
> > > > Subject: Fwd: someone finally found the words
> > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > --- Scott Michaud <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> > > > > > From: "Scott Michaud" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> > > > > > Subject: someone finally found the words
> > > > > > Date: Wed, 12 Sep 2001 16:49:08 -0400
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Miami Herald: Editorial to the Terrorists Responsible
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Published Wednesday, September 12, 2001
> > > > > > The Miami Herald
> > > > > > Leonard Pitts
> > > > > >
> > > > > > We'll go forward from this moment.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > It's my job to have something to say.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > They pay me to provide words that help make sense of that which
> > troubles
> > > > > > the
> > > > > > American soul. But in this moment of airless shock when hot tears
> > sting
> > > > > > disbelieving eyes, the only thing I can find to say, the only
> words
> > that
> > > > > > seem to fit, must be addressed to the unknown author of this
> > suffering.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > You monster. You beast. You unspeakable bastard. What lesson did
> you
> > > > hope
> > > > > > to
> > > > > > teach us by your coward's attack on our World Trade Center, our
> > > > Pentagon,
> > > > > >
> > > > > > us? What was it you hoped we would learn? Whatever it was, please
> > know
> > > > > > that
> > > > > > you failed.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Did you want us to respect your cause? You just damned your cause.
> > > > > > Did you want to make us fear? You just steeled our resolve.
> > > > > > Did you want to tear us apart? You just brought us together.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Let me tell you about my people. We are a vast and quarrelsome
> > family, a
> > > > > > family rent by racial, social, political and class division, but a
> > > > family
> > > > > >
> > > > > > nonetheless. We're frivolous, yes, capable of expending tremendous
> > > > > > emotional
> > > > > > energy on pop cultural minutiae -- a singer's revealing dress, a
> > ball
> > > > > > team's
> > > > > > misfortune, a cartoon mouse. We're wealthy, too, spoiled by the
> > ready
> > > > > > availability of trinkets and material goods, and maybe because of
> > that,
> > > > > > we
> > > > > > walk through life with a certain sense of blithe entitlement. We
> are
> > > > > > fundamentally decent,though -- peace-loving and compassionate. We
> > > > > > struggle
> > > > > > to know the right thing and to do it. And we are, the overwhelming
> > > > > > majority
> > > > > > of us, people of faith, believers in a just and loving God.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Some people -- you, perhaps -- think that any or all of this makes
> > us
> > > > > > weak.
> > > > > > You're mistaken. We are not weak. Indeed, we are strong in ways
> that
> > > > > > cannot
> > > > > > be measured by arsenals.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > IN PAIN
> > > > > > Yes, we're in pain now. We are in mourning and we are in shock.
> > We're
> > > > > > still
> > > > > > grappling with the unreality of the awful thing you did, still
> > working
> > > > to
> > > > > >
> > > > > > make ourselves understand that this isn't a special effect from
> some
> > > > > > Hollywood blockbuster, isn't the plot development from a Tom
> Clancy
> > > > > > novel.
> > > > > > Both in terms of the awful scope of their ambition and the
> probable
> > > > final
> > > > > >
> > > > > > death toll, your attacks are likely to go down as the worst acts
> of
> > > > > > terrorism in the history of the United States and probably, the
> > history
> > > > > > of
> > > > > > the world. You've bloodied us as we have never been bloodied
> before.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > But there's a gulf of difference between making us bloody and
> making
> > us
> > > > > > fall. This is the lesson Japan was taught to its bitter sorrow the
> > last
> > > > > > time
> > > > > > anyone hit us this hard, the last time anyone brought us such
> abrupt
> > and
> > > > > > monumental pain. When roused, we are righteous in our outrage,
> > terrible
> > > > > > in
> > > > > > our force. When provoked by this level of barbarism, we will bear
> > any
> > > > > > suffering, pay any cost, go to any length, in the pursuit of
> > justice. I
> > > > > > tell
> > > > > > you this without fear of contradiction. I know my people, as you,
> I
> > > > > > think,
> > > > > > do not. What I know reassures me. It also causes me to tremble
> with
> > > > dread
> > > > > > of
> > > > > > the future.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > In the days to come, there will be recrimination and accusation,
> > fingers
> > > > > > pointing to determine whose failure allowed this to happen and
> what
> > can
> > > > > > be
> > > > > > done to prevent it from happening again. There will be heightened
> > > > > > security,
> > > > > > misguided talk of revoking basic freedoms. We'll go forward from
> > this
> > > > > > moment
> > > > > > sobered, chastened, sad. But determined, too. Unimaginably
> > determined.
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > > THE STEEL IN US
> > > > > > You see, the steel in us is not always readily apparent. That
> aspect
> > of
> > > > > > our
> > > > > > character is seldom understood by people who don't know us well.
> On
> > this
> > > > > > day, the family's bickering is put on hold. As Americans we will
> > weep,
> > > > as
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Americans we will mourn, and as Americans, we will rise in defense
> > of
> > > > all
> > > > > >
> > > > > > that we cherish.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > So I ask again: What was it you hoped to teach us? It occurs to me
> > that
> > > > > > maybe you just wanted us to know the depths of your hatred. If
> > that's
> > > > the
> > > > > >
> > > > > > case, consider the message received. And take this message in
> > exchange:
> > > > > > You
> > > > > > don't know my people. You don't know what we're capable of. You
> > don't
> > > > > > know
> > > > > > what you just started.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > But you're about to learn.
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > > _________________________________________________________________
> > > > > > Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at
> > > > > > http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp
> > > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > __________________________________________________
> > > > > Do You Yahoo!?
> > > > > Get email alerts & NEW webcam video instant messaging with Yahoo!
> > > > Messenger
> > > > > http://im.yahoo.com
> > > > >
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