Dear Tatiana; With all due respect to your observations, accurate or inaccurate, I think your timing is dreadful.
There will be lots of time later (weeks, months or possibly years) for us to examine our private lives and public policy. Lots of time for you to argue that homelessness and racism are forms of terrorism. Now, however, people are heartbroken and shocked, both in America and the world at the ruthless violence that characterizes true terrorism. They (we) are entitled to some little time to experience this and figure out how they will deal with it. Today, our grief is unbearable, and our rage is justified. We will get past this, but we will not get over this. Today, reminding us of Central American death squads supported by Reagan twenty years ago is singularly unhelpful. Our need to grieve is neither "naive" or "myopic". Our humanity requires it. If you truly care about these issues, I suggest you save your political and public policy comments for a conversation more likely to be heard at a later date, in a different forum. Melinda > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: Lisandro Gomez <[email protected]> > To: <[email protected]> > Sent: Monday, September 17, 2001 4:07 PM > WE DANCE WITH RESPECT > ...Violence and terrorism have roots and often occur in > response to other injustices. ...For example, New York is > > the site of terrorism of all kinds-in the form of homelessness, poverty, > and racism. ...The US. has turned a blind eye to terrorism in other countries. > The US. has, unfortunatley been involved in training death squads and hence > > promoting violence and terror in other countries, etc. ...Through the dance, one can meditate on the naive view that terrorism occurs only in discreete acts ...To not appreciate this broader view, is to have a naive view of the world and of human nature, and this promotes inaction > and myopia, lack of change and perpetuation of injustice. Only when we > > understand this, can we begin to extend meaningful compassion. I urge you > > all to think and act as human beings. > > Sincerely, Tatiana
