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TERROR - PEACE NOT WAR
My resume of events:
· September 11 2001 began like any other day, then the news came of the hijacked planes and their ultimate destination: First the World Trade Centre hit by two planes, followed by the Pentagon - Wow the Pentagon!! Another plane missed the Whitehouse and crashed to the ground. The images of this event looked like some Hollywood blockbuster but this was reality. Thousands have died.
· The next few days was a mixture of sadness and shock, a race against time to find survivors, quickly followed by finding the culprits. It did not take long. Then came the righteous words for the war against terrorism.
· Expectations grew as to how the US would react; insults, threats, ultimatums and a search for allies. Offers of negotiation came but refused. Diplomacy is only done to seal the coalition. Then the military action…
· Once again high praise for modern technological warfare but innocent lives still pay the price. Planes fly over Afghanistan dropping bombs and then token aid. Neither refugees, winter nor ramadan will stop the military action.
· Anthrax in the post brings death, fear and paranoia. Sender unknown and destinations unknown. Demos, protests and rallies against the war but media churns out propaganda. Israel invades Palestine with tanks, India and Pakistan renew the Kashmir conflict; US and UK slap their wrists
· Bombardment of Afghanistan goes on, Northern Alliance begin to move and Taliban are on the run. In no time Taliban regime no longer in charge and many rejoice. Bombardment continues but plans are being made for a broad based government….
My poetic thoughts:
IT HAPPENED ON SEPTEMBER 11
HIJACKED PLANES ATTACK USA
WTC HIT AND DESTROYED
PENTAGON ANOTHER TARGET!
SADNESS FOR THE COUNTLESS VICTIMS
SHOCK AT SUCH AN AUDACIOUS PLAN
CHEERS AS THE YANKS GET THEIR OWN MEDICINE!
IT COULD HAVE BEEN A HOLLYWOOD MOVIE
BUT AS THE DUST CLEARS IT IS ALL TOO REAL
THE PEOPLE RALLY, GATHER HEROES AMERICAN STYLE
THE TEXAN SPEAKS RIGHTEOUS WORDS
BUT THE YANKS JUST WANT BLOOD
THE SHERIFF HAS COME TO SAVE US
TO CLEAN UP THIS LAWLESS WORLD
AND SO IT IS WAR!
THE YANKS ARE PATIENT
BUT DO THEY HAVE A CHOICE?!
LEADERS RALLY IN SUPPORT
BUT DO THEY HAVE A CHOICE?!
THE ENNEMY STANDS DEFIANT
BUT DO THEY HAVE A CHOICE?!
AS EDWIN STARR HAS SUNG
WAR
WHAT IS IT GOOD FOR?
ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!!!!!
THE YANKS SAY
IT IS AN ATTACK ON CIVILIZATION
IT IS AN ATTACK ON THE FREE DEMOCRATIC WORLD
IT IS WAR ON TERRORISM
THE YANKS SAY
THEY SEEK JUSTICE
THEY WILL FIGHT THIS EVIL
AND THEY WILL WIN
BUT I SAY
ARE YOU SO INNOCENT?
ARE YOU SO RIGHTEOUS?
ARE YOU NOT A TERRORIST?
WHAT OF THE ATROCITIES ON NATIVE AMERICANS?
BURY MY HEART AT WOUNDED KNEE REVEALS MUCH!
EVEN TODAY CONFLICT REMAINS!
WHAT OF USING WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION?
REMEMBER HIROSHIMA, REMEMBER NAGAZAKI,
REMEMBER VIETNAM!
LET US NOT FORGET THE ARMS, TECHNOLOGY, FINANCE
AND INTELLIGENCE THAT YOU PROVIDE ACCORDING TO
YOUR TASTES
AND WHAT ABOUT YOUR COVERT OPERATIONS
DESTABILIZING, MEDDLING AND BUNGLING THOSE THAT
DO NOT PLEASE YOU
SO TELL ME YANK
WHEN WILL YOU BE PUNISHED?
WHEN WILL YOU BE PUT ON TRIAL?
WHEN WILL TERRORISM END?
IN THE MIDST OF SUCH ATROCITIES
WHEN YOUR BLOOD IS BOILING
WHEN LOVED ONES HAVE BEEN STUBBED OUT
WHEN FEAR AND ANGER IS ALL YOU HAVE
IT IS EASY TO HEAR THE WARMAKERS
IT IS EASY TO UNLEASH THE BEAST
IT IS EASY TO SEE REVENGE
IN THE MIDST OF SUCH ATROCITIES
WHEN YOUR BLOOD IS BOILING
WHEN LOVED ONES HAVE BEEN STUBBED OUT
WHEN FEAR AND ANGER IS ALL YOU HAVE
IT IS HARD TO HEAR THE PEACEMAKERS
IT IS HARD TO BE NONVIOLENT
IT IS HARD TO SEE JUSTICE
Following meanings obtained from Longman's dictionary
terror: great fear, terrifying person or thing
terrorism: use of violence and intimidation to achieve political ends
terrorist: force or oppress by fear and violence
My thoughts/views: September 11 was an atrocity and an act of terrorism that will be long remembered. But human history, past and present, is full of atrocities and acts of terrorism. This act was so shocking because of where and how it happened. It did not only affect the US but the International community, after all the victims came from numerous countries. Revenge is understandable but not the answer - after all Sept. 11 came out of revenge - it would only mean a continuation of violence.
Those that committed the act were dead but the US/UK found supposed evidence that Osama Bin Laden was the mastermind, maybe not surprising after all he was trained by CIA. US/UK spoke with righteous words, with threats and ultimatums and refused to negotiate. Perhaps the need for revenge was too great?! Why was the evidence never shown to the Taliban? Why not reveal to the UN General Assembly after all this was an International issue?! Why not enter into negotiations with the Taliban?!
The way things were going terrorism was inevitable, the only mystery was when and how? It did not take long and it came with bombardment on a country already devastated by some twenty years of fighting with the Soviet Union, civil war and famine. Afghanistan was pounded with a mixture of bombs including smart bombs, cluster bombs and daisy cutters. Despite weaponry intelligence neutral agencies and innocent lives were victims. As well as bombs the planes dropped token aid, a pitiful attempt to help refugees fleeing starvation and war. US/UK gave regrets about the loss of innocent lives; it was not their intention but this was the nature of war. If you know your actions will have consequences then simply not having intent is not good enough and irrelevant!
Now almost 3 months since 9-11,the Taliban have lost control of Afghanistan. The continuous bombing helped the Northern Alliance to push out the Taliban. The bombing continues to finish off the Taliban and ground troops involved to seek out Osama Bin Laden and his network. The UN has finally got involved to set up a broad based stable government. To many a justification of war but whatever has or is achieved the so-called civilised, free democratic should be ashamed that the old ways of violence are still their only means of resolving!
Will Osama Bin Laden face justice or will he be killed? Will his network be finished? What of the Taliban? What of Afghanistan - will they be interfered with or supported? And where next for the US/UK? Is it war on all forms of terrorism?
There is much injustice and it can be found in all parts of the world. Terrorism whether used by individuals, groups or countries, however justified it may be felt, has never and will never resolve matters. To use terrorism to fight terrorism is not the answer. Violence will only be acceptable as long as no other solution can be seen. Demilitarise the world and let the world start healing. Perhaps a new world order is needed but not the one emerging controlled by an elite few, it is merely a continuation of the old ways. Let the world have a stronger United Nations, a voice for all nations and not just controlled by a special few. Let the world have a stronger United Nations to acknowledge and uphold fundamental laws, rights and responsibilities of life. Guided by principles of Peace, Justice, Freedom, Equality, Non-violence, Compassion and Co-operation. It is easy to speak of these words, not so easy to do, especially when times are hard. To live by these principles is a long and difficult path but a worthy one. Walk this path and show there is another way.
Please visit these sites:
http://www.9-11peace.org
http:/www.resist.org.uk
http:/www.stopwar.org.uk
http://www.thepetitionsite.com