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 On September 11th, the world was transformed by unthinkable terror
attacks on America and the world. Approximately 2,940 men, women and
children were killed suddenly and violently as they went about their
business. Millions witnessed the carnage and its aftermath on live
television. On that day, and since, many heroes were made as ordinary citizens
performed extraordinary acts. American patriotism has re-awakened.
Since September 11, there has been a lot of debate, particularly among advocates
for peace and non-violence on the appropriateness of the US military response to terrorism
.
On the evening of September 11th, I attended a Catholic Mass organized in
response to the attack. I needed to pray for the victims and their families. I wasn't
prepared for the challenge presented to our congregation.... "Love your enemies." The celebrant
challenged. The words hit me like ice water. I was tempted to walk out of the church on hearing these words.
I prayed for the dead, and for comfort to all those suffering and for
peace. At the same time, I was deeply
troubled by the need for action to stop the perpetrators of these heinous acts.
I felt an ominous recognition that justice wasn't likely without military intervention that
would likely involve more civilian casualties.
Having grown up in the twilight of the Vietnam war, I was inherently suspicious of military
action, and had long ago concluded that war, in any form could not be
right. I used to think of myself as a good Christian, able to turn the
other cheek, but the very foundation of my faith
was challenged by September 11. Can I follow Christ's teaching? Is it possible to achieve justice without more violence?
On September 12, Time Magazine published a commentary, The
Case for Rage and Retribution by Lance Morrow, which promoted a popular view that the US should respond
quickly to September 11th with
hateful rage. (An except from Lance Morrow's
commentary follows)
"A day cannot live in infamy without the
nourishment of rage. Let's have rage. What’s needed is a unified, unifying, Pearl
Harbor sort of purple American fury — a ruthless indignation that doesn’t leak
away in a week or two, wandering off into Prozac-induced forgetfulness or into the
next media sensation (O.J. ... Elian ... Chandra ...) or into a corruptly thoughtful relativism (as has happened
in the recent past, when, for example, you might hear someone say, "Terrible what he did, of course, but, you know, the Unabomber does
have a point, doesn’t he, about modern technology?").
Let America explore the rich reciprocal possibilities of the fatwa. A
policy of focused brutality does not come easily to a self-conscious, self-indulgent, contradictory, diverse, humane nation with a short
attention span. America needs to relearn a lost discipline, self-confident relentlessness—and to relearn why human nature has
equipped us all with a weapon (abhorred in decent peacetime societies) called hatred."
Morrow's approach of vengeance and hate will not advance
justice or produce a lasting peace.
On September 17th, a message posted to the
PAVNET discussion board (Partnerships Against Violence Network ), started to
clarify my thinking about a military response to September 11th. The full
text is available here, (published anonymously,
with permission from the author, to whom I am grateful.)
President Bush, from the day of the attacks has provided
steadfast leadership assuring that the United States will not follow a vengeful
course of immediate retaliation but one of patient and steadfast pursuit with
international cooperation to bring the perpetrators and those who aid them to
justice. Excerpts from President George W. Bush's Address to the Nation
Sept. 20, 2001 follow.
"In the normal course of events, Presidents come to this chamber to report on the state of the Union. Tonight, no such report is needed. It has already been delivered by the American people.
We have seen it in the courage of passengers, who rushed terrorists to save others on the ground -- passengers like an exceptional man named Todd Beamer. And would you please help me to welcome his wife, Lisa Beamer, here tonight.
We have seen the state of our Union in the endurance of rescuers, working past exhaustion. We have seen the unfurling of flags, the lighting of candles, the giving of blood, the saying of prayers -- in English, Hebrew, and Arabic. We have seen the decency of a loving and giving people who have made the grief of strangers their own.
My fellow citizens, for the last nine days, the entire world has seen for itself the state of our Union -- and it is strong.
Tonight we are a country awakened to danger and called to defend freedom. Our grief has turned to anger, and anger to resolution. Whether we bring our enemies to justice, or bring justice to our enemies, justice will be done.
These terrorists kill not merely to end lives, but to disrupt and end a way of life. With every atrocity, they hope that America grows fearful, retreating from the world and forsaking our friends. They stand against us, because we stand in their way.
We are not deceived by their pretenses to piety. We have seen their kind before. They are the heirs of all the murderous ideologies of the 20th century. By sacrificing human life to serve their radical visions -- by abandoning every value except the will to power -- they follow in the path of fascism, and Nazism, and totalitarianism. And they will follow that path all the way, to where it ends: in history's unmarked grave of discarded
lies.
The civilized world is rallying to America's side. They understand that if this terror goes unpunished, their own cities, their own citizens may be next. Terror, unanswered, can not only bring down buildings, it can threaten the stability of legitimate governments. And you know what -- we're not going to allow it.
I ask you to uphold the values of America, and remember why so many have come here. We are in a fight for our principles, and our first responsibility is to live by them. No one should be singled out for unfair treatment or unkind words because of their ethnic background or religious faith.
The course of this conflict is not known, yet its outcome is certain. Freedom and fear, justice and cruelty, have always been at war, and we know that God is not neutral between them.
Fellow citizens, we'll meet violence with patient justice -- assured of the rightness of our cause, and confident of the victories to come. In all that lies before us, may God grant us wisdom, and may He watch over the United States of America.
"
Over the ensuing months, I've explored and come to understand the doctrine of Just
War. I've come to recognize that nations have a moral responsibility
to protect their citizens and the world community from those who would kill
innocents and destroy
civilization. Justice must be sought in the middle ground between
radical pacifism and indiscriminant vengeance.
Excerpt from A Pastoral Message: Living With Faith and Hope After September 11 U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, November 14, 2001
"The dreadful deeds of September 11 cannot go unanswered. We continue to urge resolve, restraint and greater attention to the roots of terrorism to
protect against further attacks and to advance the global common good. Our nation must continue to respond in many ways, including diplomacy,
economic measures, effective intelligence, more focus on security at home, and the legitimate use of force.
In our response to attacks on innocent civilians, we must be sure that we do not violate the norms of civilian immunity and proportionality. We believe
every life is precious whether a person works at the World Trade Center or lives in Afghanistan. The traditional moral norms governing the use of force
still apply, even in the face of terrorism on this scale.
No grievance, no matter what the claim, can legitimate what happened on September 11. Without in any way excusing indefensible terrorist acts, we
still need to address those conditions of poverty and injustice which are exploited by terrorists. A successful campaign against terrorism will require a
combination of resolve to do what is necessary to see it through, restraint to ensure that we act justly, and a long term focus on broader issues of justice
and peace."
The final chapters of this chronology are yet unknown.
As of January 2002, Afghanistan is a free nation, but many Al Qaeda leaders and terrorist
cells remain at large and committed to violence. Many peace
activists in the US remain opposed to military action. Students and
faculty at numerous Universities have organized protests against the war on
terrorism. These protestors are encouraged to consider carefully the consequences of
inaction.
The mission of Your1voice, advocating for non-violence, is
consistent with US government and international military, economic, diplomatic
and intelligence efforts to eradicate terrorism by striving for justice rather
than vengeance.
This page is dedicated to US Army Green Beret Sergeant
1st Class Nathan Ross Chapman killed in Afghanistan, January 4, 2002 when he
came under hostile fire. Sgt. Chapman, 31, of San Antonio, served most of his
12 year Army career at Fort Lewis, Washington. Sergeant Chapman is
survived by his wife, Renae, two children, Amanda and Brandon, and his parents
Wilbur and Lynn Chapman. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
John 15:13.
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