This is not a political forum I know but since the circumstances are very special to say the least and since I'm really concerned about how things might go out of hand, I want to post this here anyway:

It was a hideous and cowardly terroristic attack. The shockwave of the collapsing World Trade Center still reverberates in the minds of people all around the globe and will continue to do so for a considerable amount of time. I feel strongly for those killed and injured and for their families and friends.
For us that are left behind the question arises how to deal with this terrible event. While finding an answer we must keep in mind that under no circumstances we may act in a way that is even remotely in the interests of those criminals responsible for the attack.
They wanted to hit the heart of the USA and they did. But they surely wanted more than killing people: they wanted (and still want) to disrupt the thin fabric that holds together a society built on individualism, freedom and democracy. It is those very values that make a democratic country vulnerable but it is the same values that make it strong. Whoever commanded the killing of thousands on the 11.September meant to make the USA and their allies and friends in their rage to betray their values. We must not let them.

Those responsible must be found and they must be caught and punished – and severely so. But there has to be evidence gathered and they need to be found guilty before a court – even if this has to be done in their absence.
Military measures are not the right means for passing justice upon suspects or convicts. Rather military measures may be necessary to find and capture the terrorists. Just launching some missiles in the hope they could hit the right target will not do. The response to terroristic attacks must not be in any way that could be seen to resemble those attacks – and we must be aware that a lot of people of many backgrounds will closely watch how the affair will be dealt with. It lies now in the hands of the institutions involved in responding namely the US-government and NATO whether this response will be one that is fit for ending the problem or one that will cause a vicious circle of retaliation and counter-retaliation.

Apart from how the authorities react there, is the reaction of the individual that counts. And here it is the same problem: if we allow an atmosphere of hatred and fear to spread within our minds and societies, only then will the terrorists have truly succeded. From the news I gathered that there are acts of discrimination – both violent and verbal – taking place against moslems, or persons thought to be moslems, especially in the USA and perhaps in other countries too. This is intolerable. How is it that those people indiscriminately picking on moslems cannot see that in acting, or even in merely thinking like that, they make themselves the tools of those very terrorists they seek to fight? Terrorism works by causing fear and rage. In giving unchecked way to these feelings it is ourselves that are made to work for the terrorists’ aims. Again: we must not let them.

regards,

Helger


No more flags, sorry.