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A common man thoughts on September 11, 2001

 
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I received this in my email today....
---------------------------------------------
On September 11 2001 the whole world witnessed what was described as
gargantuan manifestation of evil. Some were emotional to the extent of being
maudlin and hysterical. Crying hoarse as to how could they do such a
despicable, horrific, barbaric act of grotesquely inhuman nature? What was
it that attracted the attention and peeved the whole world? Was it the
magnitude of the accident? Was it the modus operandi? Or the people
involved? Or was it about the motive behind the operation? It could be the
magnitude (despite the fact that in some troubletorn parts of the world a
far greater number die every week). The method used however was simple,
relatively new and unexpected. And the people involved were ordinary
citizen. It could have been worse if they were more diabolic.
Was the intention to kill people in the most barbaric way and spread terror?
Well, this may require some deep reflection. Reportedly, close to fifty
thousand people worked in the world trade center and some fifty thousand
visited it each day. The US media 'reported' some four or five thousand
dead. The first plane crashed at around 9:05 AM - time when office had just
started and people were still walking in. accepting the veracity, the theory
that intention was carnage, sounds unacceptable. If the intention was to
massacre, they would have struck later during business, when the place is
packed with people. Or they could crash into a packed stadium and yet manage
to kill more with similar ease. Why the world trade centers? And why
pentagon? How many would they kill in pentagon? Or in a business hub at the
begining of the day?
Whatever be the reason, how could anyone do it to 'us'? Nevertheless, 'THE
US' would do anything, including bombing any part of this planet, be it
bigoted, lopsided or inhuman (actually all these adjectives are not
operative when the USA is involved) and no one should bat an eyelid. There
is a ubiquitous positive attitude, for general good, for world peace, for
whatever that is 'good' under the sun. For, it is the prerogative of the
USA. And the whole world would sing eulogies for them. Another consistent
anomaly, which can not be explained is, an assumption by the US is the datum
for the whole world. They have the support from everybody. For, they are
superpowers. They are beyond all logic. What they say is logic, however
weird.
People always feel 'their' pain is most agonizing and incomparable. Similar
feeling existed in pearl harbour, Vietnam, Iraq, Chechnya, Rwanda (millions
of lower mortals died, and not a mention), Peru, Bosnia, Timor, Kashmir,
... and now in Manhattan. The list is probably as old as this third rock
from the sun. But do we learn? We shout and do cartwheels in front of the
cameras if something happens to 'our' people. And while the people of US are
innocent victims, the rest of the human race, lower mortals, made of a
different flesh and blood are rogues and enemies of world peace and harmony.
Only Americans have the right to such emotions. Only US can be beleaguered
when it comes to losing their kin. But they forget that this 'our' is
everywhere in the world. We never learn that violence can only breed
violence. That love begets love and hate begets hate, violence, misery and
all evil EVERYTIME.
US called the event an act of terrorism, mean, inhuman, fundamentalist,
sectarian and fanatical. sometime back (september 1982) Israel's
misanthropic militia started the most despicable pogrom. A three-day
intemperance of rape and murder in refugee camps of Sabra and Shatila of
Palestine that left close to two thousand dead. Then the Israeli incursion
into Lebanon to throw the PLO out of the country (indiffer -ently supported
by the then US Secretary of State, Alexander Haig), which cost the lives of
17,000 Palestinian and Lebanese civilians. And do we hear a whisper? Yes,
the global disciplinarian is talking about practising 'restraint'. And now
US wants bin laden dead, even if it means decimation of some lower mortals.
It is more personal level and a prestige issue than anything else is. So
much for fanaticism. We just need to accuse looking into a mirror.
US wants a sustained and prolonged military offensive against Afghanistan to
avenge the attack (presumably by bin laden) and a takeover of Kabul to
restore the popular government (?). And what else do we have? Britain has
offered fullest support, India, Germany, France and any country which
mattered (or not) are offering their full support. They want to unleash 'US
might' on Kabul. Powell wants a global assault 'in general' until 'it'
stops. And US would not stop even if Kabul handed over bin laden. Does
anyone recognize the repercussions this might have on world peace? Do they
see the plight of the afghan civilians who are fleeing, dreading the US
bombs? No, they aren't Americans, are they? If Namibia or Ethiopia wanted to
bomb your city or country because they had singled out one person, who was
hiding in your country, how would the world react? All the Ethiopians or
Namibians, their friends and relatives would be killed and barbecued on
acetylene flame for next 171 days by the whole world. but US can do anything
it pleases. because it surprisingly pleases everyone around. why? because US
is a super power. are we talking about this world? Or are we fighting for a
candy or cookies?
India had all the reason to be unhappy when Pakistan was fighting the war
for Kashmir. But now they have no qualms in helping (or allowing any nation)
US fight against Kabul. Incomprehensible! I can't comprehend whether US is
desperate or simply brazen to ask Russia's support for their onslaught on
Kabul. And one need not be surprised if Russia complied. Putin says that US
needs to see this through. Interesting. May be regular practice in chechnya
has inured him. Thought he has let bygones be and learnt from past. But no,
he wants to repeat history again. With some change though. US used
Afghanistan to destroy the erstwhile competing super power- USSR. Now it
will use Russia to bomb Afghanistan. Incomprehensible! Pakistan has
apparently promised fullest cooperation to US (on certain conditions!). It
is caught in its own web. They, who advocated the jihad angle to Kashmir
liberation have lost their fervor, credibility and wits. Or have they
bartered their allegiance for the american sops (?). Incomprehensible! Their
whole identity (if they had any) in the jihad group has blown away like a
sand dune.
And media, the most responsible, have failed in containing the anger. I was
told media could start and stop a war. But today they MEDIAte a war. Maybe
because they sold their ethics to purchase some more printing ink and camera
rolls. At one end they conceal the number of deaths, and then they show the
Palestinians celebrating (was it from their archives?). Precisely the things
the bereaved people of US needed to vent their ire on minorities in US (But
who's showing that?) Very responsible. There is no need for expletives. Good
work! Keep it up for world peace's sake.
Religious fanatics need to realize that one can only lead a horse to the
water. Coercion will denigrate their own religion and defeat their purpose.
They are also a part of the influence of evil on the world. If I told
someone that he is not who he thinks he is, but someone else, would he
believe? And if I tortured him to believe, would he? Right option would be
to tell him and leave it for him to find out. Your conscience will be happy
that you did your job. Also god said, those who do not follow my word would
face my wrath. So do you want to punish them here and mitigate their pain in
the hereafter by sharing it? Or do you want to decrease the number of
visitors to hell? We never know, god might invite us there too.
Shamil basayev is pointing towards Russia and Israel, Israel is shouting
'PALESTINE' and bombing them too, Palestinians are celebrating the event,
lashkar-e-toiba is accusing Zionists, everybody is trying to prove their
righteousness over the other, world doesn't see that every individual is a
superpower and that HE makes the world. I believed, 'where there is evil,
there would be death.' Never ruminated on the corollary. I saw a mourner
holding a placard " today we mourn, tomorrow we avenge". Incomprehensible!
And the US shall bomb the whole of any nation and bring world peace. HA!
Well... so much hate, violence, lies, treachery and evil everywhere and....
lets talk of world peace! Pain can only last a lifetime and then, it is
different. So cheer up George, live life!
When people died and burnt, his men were trying to save his esteemed life
and 9 hours later he vows to find the perpetrators, smoke them out of their
holes, hound them, break them and bring them to justice. Exemplary? Or
unbecoming of leader of the most powerful democracy in the world? No leader
of today would walk the streets of new York and console people- for that
matter no leader of today would do it anywhere in the world. Being on the TV
from an 'undisclosed destination' of his immediately after the episode would
have been comforting. Gone are the great leaders, who said, don't ask what
the world has done for you, try answering what you have done for the world,
and died because of their goodness. Kudos to those great men!
Some are blind, others chose to be, and some have selective vision, some do
what they want. And there are a few, concerned about goodness, peace and the
likes, although miniscule. But don't worry, the world is livable because
good is ALWAYS more powerful than evil.
I ask myself over and over, 'Who did it?' Clinton? Bush? Castro? Sharon?
Putin? Milosevic? Osama? America? Israel? Arab? Asia? Africa? The world?
Maybe we all did. Some by commission, some by omission. Maybe I am equally
culpable. But you can not catch me. Maybe you should try catching yourself.
I sympathise with 'ALL' bereaved families.
With a heavy heart I remain.
Common man

[This message has been edited by Srini Madgula (edited September 18, 2001).]
 
mister krabs
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Just another piece of garbage e-mail. The internet gives any idiot the ability to send their thoughts around the world. It's an amazing thing.
One comment on the second paragraph. The figures are completely wrong. 20,000 people worked in the WTC and 5,000 tourists visited on a typical day. If the intention wasn't to kill a lot of people why didn't they crash them at 3am? I have no idea how things work in the writers country but in the USA if you are supposed to be at work at 9am then that is what time you arrive especially in the financial business!
 
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well said, Thomas... i did not read the whole thing, partly because it is too long, but mostly because the first few paragraphs were incorrect and just pissed me off!
actually, if you are supposed to be at work at 9:00 in the financial field, it is better for you to be there at 8:30!
also, by doing this first thing in the morning it was easier for them to slip through security! that is the busiest time of day for business flights, so most people are not paying a lot of attention to the other passengers.
i do not know what idiot wrote the email above, but he/she needs to check the facts and logic behind it.
 
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