derien | ugh.

The past several days I haven't wanted to write because I don't want to echo the same thing you've probably heard a billion other places - shock at the September 11th terrorism. Like everyone, that's been the big thing on my mind. I've ended up trying to explain some of the possible reasons for this attack to people who are asking 'why?' and apparently people are thinking I'm defending this act and saying we 'deserved' the attack, when that's not what I meant at all. I thought they actually wanted to know why. I've ended up arguing vociferously with people who are angry and want revenge. I can't seem to explain to them that a)one bad act does not deserve another bad act, and b)this will create a numbers game which we just can't play. (Kill someone, even inadvertently while trying to get at the people responsible, and you give the militants a dozen of their family members as converts who will be willing to die to take us out. We don't have the population to sustain that for any length of time.)

I'm so sad and frustrated. I don't want to see innocent Arab-Americans harassed in the street. (I'm worried as hell about some of my friends who are or who _look_as_if_they_might_be_ Arabic.) I don't want to see innocent Afghanis bombed. I don't want the U.S. to become the sort of place where people randomly don't come home from trips to the grocery store because of car bombs. I don't want to see a war which could spell the end of all of us.

I guess I had to say that and get it out of the way before I can move on. I'm going to keep doing what I can to speak up for peace. I should probably write letters to the White House or something.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Doe,

I know how you're feeling. If you read my last entry, then you can see how defensive I am right now. Not defensive of the acts of terrorism, of course, but defensive of my own opinions against those who are so blindly patriotic. And quite honestly, I'm torn. I want peace and love to be the answer, but I also think retaliation of some sort is in answer. Hopefully we can do that without harming too many innocent people. If we can route out the terrorists, that would be great, but I think it's terribly short-sighted to think we can, or that we will, do that.

My parents were hippies, too, and I was raised to be suspicious of authority, that "don't trust anyone over 30" mentality. Generally, I'm not a strong supporter of the government and the military, but I know so many people personally involved, that I have to be supportive of those individuals. It's very frustrating.

This week I called a friend of mine who has family in Israel. Her family is Jewish. They've been living with terrorism for so long, its commonplace over there. Lots of stuff that happens there, we don't even hear about in the news, unless you turn to that last page of the first section, where they give the little blurbs about world events. We've been so sheltered from the world, living in under own little blanket of "freedom" (idealism, more acurately) and now it's coming back to haunt us.

Also, maybe it's easy for me to be somewhat idealistic, because no one I know was hurt in the attacks. If I had lost a family member or close friend, then maybe I'd feel stronger about blowing up whole countries. (I would certainly hope not, but who can tell?)

Part of what terrorists want is to divide us. If we're fighting amongst ourselves, we become weaker. And people don't seem to realize that. They want us to get passionate, because then we get overzealous, and then we make stupid mistakes. I decree that everyone in the United States make some herbal tea and take a hot bath before discussing this event any further!

Stephanie

P.S. Sorry this is so long. Some of my best writing the past few days has been in my entries and in e-mails and stuff. By the time I get around to posting in SingleFreaks, I'm worn out and just spewing cliches.

I'm feeling pretty worn out, too, with all the aguing for peace I've been doing. I know that my aguments won't be listened to by anyone who matters, I'm like a grain of sand on the underside of a wave, but I still feel I have to speak up. I've had a headache constantly for the past 4 days. The warm bath and herbal tea sounds like a very good idea.

Hey, at least I've kept myself from saying "what if it's a plot by Bush to intentionally get us into a war?" Yes, that HAS occured to me in my darker moments. Oddly, I happened to be reading a book when this happened which that turned out to be what the book was about. Even better, the book was about 'english' and 'arabic' people, and lots of yelling of 'kill the towelheads.' It felt really sureal to be reading this book.

I've had that thought about George Bush, too.

A friend of my brother's got married last weekend, someone who was a confirmed bachelor and we never thought we'd see the day he would get married. We were joking about "It's the end of the world as we know it if Dan's getting married." And really is the end of the world as we know it, not because of his wedding of course, but it's just weird that you joke about that sort of thing, and pow! Something like this happens. Something like this isn't supposed to happen.

I"m going to listen to W. now on his radio address.

ugh.

no subject

no subject

no subject