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Thursday, September 13, 2001
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Readers' Forum
Student Emphasizes That
Violence Shouldn't Come
Out of Anger About Event
TO THE EDITOR:
I believe that many of us are still trying
to sift through the chaos of Tuesday’s
events. Not surprisingly, the grief many are
communicating is mingled with anger. In
some cases, this anger seems almost hostile.
Some people are expressing their anger as
hatred.
I believe our real enemy lies within. It is
the hatred we feel. I further believe that by
harboring it, we are just as evil as the ter
rorists that piloted the planes.
The only difference between them and
us is that they acted on their hatred. Jesus
said in the book Matthew, “You have heard
the Law of Moses says, ‘Do not murder. If
you commit murder you are subject to
judgement.’ But I say, if you are angry with
someone, you are subject to judge
ment...You have heard that the Law of
Moses says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate
your enemy. But I say love your enemies!
Pray for those that prosecute you!”
There are weapons mightier than both
pen and sword. They are weapons of love
and compassion. Even now, in a time when
we have been gready wronged, we must
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Board Editorials
The DTH interviews Professor Richard Kohn, Peace, War & Defense chairman, to better grasp Tuesday's events.
DTH: How could something like this
happen, and could U.S. intelligence have
predicted or prepared for such an attack?
Kohn: U.S. intelligence has been pre
dicting major terrorist attacks on the U.S.
for some years and has been studying the
groups likely to do it, tracking them, taking
steps in conjunction tvith other U.S. agen
cies to prevent them and respond to them
if they occur. The U.S. has aborted sever
al terrorist attempts on American soil and
probably others we don’t know about.
However it’s virtually impossible to predict
specific attacks - place, time, method -
without penetrating these groups or having
advanced warning through other intelli
gence agencies, plants inside the organiza
tions or a mistake by the perpetrators. The
people who pulled off the attacks on
Tuesday were extremely sophisticated and
undoubtedly took extraordinary precau
tions to safeguard their operational and
communications security. And the United
States, as an open society, simply cannot
surveil everyone in this society or arrest
people without cause even if there are sus
picions.
DTH: What additional precautions
should be taken in our day-to-day lives
now?
Kohn: Most Americans will go about
their business without much change. Air
travel and access to government buildings
will be more time-consuming thus more
inconvenient. Most airports warn people
to keep their luggage close and not accept
packages or materials from strangers.
People traveling overseas will have to be
more vigilant about their personal security,
particularly in those areas of the world
which the State Department believes puts
Americans more at risk. But I think that for
the foreseeable future, Americans will feel
less secure and more concerned about trav
el and about visiting the symbols of
American nationhood and power.
DTH: As students, and young people of
this generation, we have never experienced
an attack of this sort, or the aftermath of a
large war. Is there anyway for us to prepare
and attempt to better understand the impli
cations of this event?
Kohn: Students should take a greater
interest in foreign cultures and affairs - to
understand other countries and societies.
put aside our weapons of hatred and
destruction. We must, instead, take arms
against the enemy within.
Luke Jones
Sophomore
Journalism and Mass Communication
Student Urges Others to
Help Out Relief Efforts by
Giving Blood, Donations
TO THE EDITOR:
As we collectively struggle to deal with
horrific terrorist attacks from Tuesday, we
should remember the many who need
assistance in many ways.
From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. for the remainder
of the week, a table will be set up in the Pit
where you can learn about helping those
harmed by this tragedy.
Up-to-date information about blood dri
ves will be on hand, as well as information
on how to volunteer towards helping oth
ers. You can also donate money for the
local and national American Red Cross.
Also, blood drives are currendy over
whelmed with willing donors, and it is
important to remember that blood can only
be used within a few days of donation.
Therefore, if you cannot donate in the next
Context for Tragedy
Our own country is far more diverse and
multicultural than it was fifteen years ago.
There are more Americans who come from
foreign countries. As people destined for
a leadership role in our society, UNC stu
dents should make and keep themselves
informed about the United States’ role in
the world, our foreign and defense policies,
our international activity not only with
other nations but with
international groups,
business and commerce
abroad, and the kalei
doscope of ways in
which the United States
and its citizens involve
themselves outside our
borders. Our economy
and society is much
more international now.
Students should study abroad to gain a
familiarity with other cultures, to find out
how much they don’t know and to under
stand our own country by means of com
parative perspective. If UNC students
devoted only 20 percent less of their time
thinking about, talking about and watching
UNC football and basketball -a mere 20
percent less - they could improve their
own education substantially.
DTH: To most Americans, and to many
around the world, the images of
Palestinians celebrating is disturbing. Can
you attempt to explain, briefly the context
of this response, and help us understand
why?
Kohn: With the end of the Cold War,
the United States assumed a much larger
role in world politics and symbolically
began to appear as a more aggressive and
assertive force in shaping events - particu
larly in the Middle East with the Persian
Gulf War of 1990-91. Our system of gov
ernment and our economic institutions
began to spread. And the United States has
pursued, sometimes aggressively and occa
sionally arrogantly, the expansion of
democracy and market capitalism. Our
culture - language, entertainment, food,
sports, media, even our values and dress
and popular culture - seem to be flooding
the world.
Other nations and groups have reacted
to this, find it threatening to their values or
culture (perhaps even their independence),
few days, it is essential to remember to
donate later in the coming weeks as the
need for blood will remain high. I hope
that each of you will come by the Pit and
show your support.
Maneesha Agarwal
Junior
Biology and Psychology
Backlash Against Muslims
Unjustified; Faith Doesn’t
Justify Acts of Violence
TO THE EDITOR:
Tuesday’s events have launched an all-out
investigative force to determine those
responsible for the atrocities. Yet the main
suspect in this investigation is Osama bin
Laden, a Muslim and a known terrorist.
However, regardless of whether he is respon
sible for this crime, what was done Tuesday
is the work of a madman or several.
Regardless of their religious affiliation,
their actions do not reflect the beliefs and
practices upon which their religion is
based. Generalizing that the entire Muslim
faith believes and would act in ways similar
to those undertaken by the perpetrators is
a ridiculous claim -a claim that the
Informed Christian News Service makes
oppose American foreign policy, fear some
of what appear to be our hegemonic behav
iors -and in the Middle East, oppose our
isolating of Iran and Iraq, our sanctions,
what seems to many as our unbalanced
favoring of Israel and our propping up of
some of the more conservative regimes in
the area. This magnification of our role
and influence - no longer justified in com-
"... UNC students should,
make and keep themselves
informed about the United
States’ role in the world. ”
Richard Kohn
Peace, War & Defense Curriculum Chairman
than many pundits predict. Our foreign
policy will now be re oriented in part to
identify the terrorists, subvert their net
works and organizations and retaliate for
the attacks on American soil in such a way
as to forestall or deter future assaults. We
are likely to spend more on national
defense and intelligence and expand and
reorganize some of these agencies. The
focus on the attacks and their aftermath will
dominate the news for days and weeks to
come.
Americans will become more conscious
of our vulnerability and, hopefully, more
knowledgeable and involved in foreign
affairs. There may even ensue a debate
about our role in the world and our behav
ior internationally. And there may be sub
tle changes that over time, looking back
years from now, might be seen to have
originated in this dramatic event. But for
the foreseeable future, the changes will be
most noticeable in transportation and con
tact with governmental institutions and
installations. Hopefully our nation will not
over-react and compromise the principles
of individual freedom and personal liberty
our security institutions are designed to
protect. If we do, then we will have sur
rendered to the terrorists and be the lesser
for it.
Richard Kohn Is a history professor specializ
ing in American military history and chairman of
the Curriculum in Peace, War & Defense.
through a flier they have posted around
campus. The flier asserts, “We must not let
down our guard concerning the violent
nature of Islam.
Friends, please do not be fooled by the
false face which Islam puts on in nations
where it does not rule!” This is indeed a
very ridiculous claim, yet this thought
seems to be a national trend, as there has
already been a tremendous backlash
against the Muslim population. Since yes
terday, radio and television broadcasts
have warned that Muslims wearing the tra
ditional attire should stay away from pub
lic places and should not visit mosques for
fear of persecution or even violence.
Our solemn President stated of yester
day’s events: “our way of life and our free
dom [is] under attack.” The American way
of life is built upon the notion of liberty and
acceptance of people’s beliefs and practices,
provided those beliefs do not encroach on
others’ rights. There is nothing in the
Muslim faith that would encourage or even
allow condoning such a terrorist act.
Let us not turn what is an American
tragedy into a racist regime and let us
instead work on helping each other as
much as we can in whatever ways we can.
Racism will undermine every notion of
personal freedom this country has fought
for through its 225 years.
Started Out as
Just a Second
Day at Work
ARLINGTON, Va. -1 woke up Tuesday morning anx
iously anticipating my second day of work. I scrambled out
of bed and desperately tried to make sense of the
Washington metro system so that I wouldn’t be late this
soon after my job had started. After agonizing over which
bus to catch and where to take it, I groggily headed to what
I hoped was the right bus stop.
After fumbling around trying to find correct change, 1
finally got on the bus. Unlike the rest of the passengers, for
whom the Washington landscape had become common
place, I looked around with the amazement of a kid mak
ing his first trip to a big league ballpark. As I got off at the
Pentagon metro station, I remember marveling at how vast,
yet accessible, our nation’s nerve center seemed to be.
Twenty minutes later, a hijacked
plane full of innocent people crashed
into that very building.
September 11,2001 - you’ve seen
the TV coverage, we all felt the hor
ror of Americans perishing in our two
most significant cities. The mood
here in the District was surreal. At
first, we huddled around the office
TV, watching in disbelief as one of
the World Trade Center towers had
been hit by a plane. What in God’s
name was going on? Was it some sort
of inexcusable navigation mistake?
Then a second plane hit the other tower. OK, this obvious
ly isn’t some sort of cruel coincidence.
Before we can even begin to comprehend what’s hap
pened in Lower Manhattan, a news flash streams across the
bottom of the screen -a plane has crashed into the
Pentagon. The Pentagon? Wait a minute, that’s just down
the street. Look, you can see the smoke billowing off the
building in the distance. This is unbelievable, this can’t be
happening.
Suddenly the phones, which have been silent for the
past few minutes, are ringing off the hook. The sounds of
others reassuring their loved ones that they were unharmed
jolt me out of my daze. Even though we know that we’re
perfecdy safe we scurry around, frantically trying to reach
our loved ones so that they know not to worry.
Busy signal. Cell phone is dead. Busy signal. Finally, I
get through. “Yes, Mom, I’m all right. You’re right, it’s good
I don’t really go anywhere near the Pentagon.” (I figured if
there was anytime to tell a lie it was then.)
The smoke from the Pentagon gets thicker. All domestic
flights are grounded and accounted for except for one over
the Pittsburgh area. The plane, a news anchor nonchalantly
tells us, is likely headed for Washington. More futile
attempts to contact friends and family that live and work
downtown or in Manhattan. The large towers that face our
building are evacuated. It doesn’t seem like they’d be the
next targets of the terrorists, but somehow that doesn’t mat
ter. A man in an air force uniform tells us to leave the
building if the fire alarm goes off. Should we be worried?
No time to worry, got to get back to the TV. The
Associated Press is reporting a car bomb went off at the
State Department. Someone gets an e-mail saying the mall,
the National Mall, is on fire. Now the West Wing of the
White House is supposedly engulfed in flames. Is this really
happening?
The World Trade Center towers collapse in front of the
world on live television. The President is taken to
Louisiana, then to somewhere in Nebraska. Someone com
ments that this is the second Pearl Harbor, no even bigger
than Pearl Harbor. “This is America’s darkest hour,” says a
fatigued talking head on television, as if on cue. Is this real
ly happening?
Finally things start to settle down. The unaccounted for
plane has crashed south of Pittsburgh. All of the rumors of
doom downtown turn out to be false. The president is on
his way back to Washington. Even the roads have cleared
up, so much so that its eerie how a business district could
be so empty on what would normally be a working day.
Everything’s come to a screeching halt, kind of like a snow
day, except with gorgeous weather.
The day’s over, and it’s time to go home. As we pull
away I once again look at the scenery over our nation’s
capital. It’s all there - the Capitol, the Washington
Monument, the National Cathedral. Other than the haunt
ing stream of steady smoke over the Pentagon, the city is
exactly the same as it was this morning, yet it’s completely
different.
A couple hundred miles to the north, somebody is look
ing back at what used to be Manhattan.
Amol Naik, a 2001 UNC graduate in journalism and histo
ry, now works at the Student Press Law Center.
petition with the Soviet
Union and communism
- now appears to some
as an effort to
Americanize the world.
Some folks don’t want
to be Americans.
DTH: How is this
going to affect
American life?
Kohn: Less, I think,
While this tragedy has threatened our
safety and security, let it not threaten the
principles of liberty and personal rights
upon which our country was founded.
Jason Idilbi
Sophomore
Philosophy and Political Science
UNC Organization Lends
Its Condolences to Those
Affected by the Tragedy
TO THE EDITOR:
On Tuesday, our great nation suffered
an overwhelming loss of life and a horren
dous attack on its freedom.
No words can begin to describe the way
people across the nation and the world feel,
as hundreds, possibly thousands of people
lie dead, their lives brought to a sudden,
violent and senseless end.
UNC-CH’s Arab Club strongly con
demns the actions committed by the vile
individuals responsible for this heinous
crime. Our thoughts and prayers go out to
the victims and their families, and we can
only hope that those responsible will be
brought to justice.
Hani Alkhaldi
UNC Arab Club President
Saily 3Jar MM
A
AMOL NAIK
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