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September 11
Kai Frithjof Brand-Jacobsen
The terrible tragedy of the attacks on the United States on September 11th, 2001 have threatened to transform-or rather to intensify-many of the most dangerous elements of today's world order: increasing militarism and militarisation on a global scale, further dehumanisation and polarisation of entire peoples and civilisations, and the deepening of structures and cultures of violence, escalating direct violence at all levels.
A future of escalating violence, spirals of revenge and dehumanisation stands before us all as an all too real scenario. Voices seeking to understand the underlying causes and context in which the attacks took place and to address the reasons behind them, at the same time recognising and sharing in deep horror at the deaths of more than 6000 innocent victims, are marginalised in favour of those seeking a violent response and escalation of the crisis.
In light of this, the following are nine theses related to the September 11th attacks, what might result from them, and a call for action sent out to every single human being, government, and organisation in the world:
(1) The attacks on September 11th in New York, Washington, and rural Pennsylvania which resulted in the deaths of over 6000 human beings - primarily janitors, secretaries, fire fighters, office workers, and police - were a devastating and horrible tragedy. Victims of the attacks came from at least 39 different countries, the vast majority of them citizens of the United States. Our sympathies and deep grief reach out to all the victims, families of victims, and all those affected by these terrible acts of violence, incredible anger and hatred, and destruction of human life. No words can express the sorrow of the many whose loved ones, wives, husbands, children, and parents were taken from them. We are left with a feeling of deep sadness and remorse, shared in this moment by people from all corners of the world.
(2) While unbelievably horrible in both their nature and scale, the attacks on September 11th were foreseeable, and, in many ways, inevitable-the result of deepening structures and cultures of violence and increasing acts of violence in nearly all parts of the world. The association which many people have between these trends and the practices and policies of the United States' economic, political and military power made the choosing of the United States as the target of these attacks something which many had long predicted, and warned of. U.S. economic, political and military policies since World War II have resulted in the impoverishment, marginalisation, and devastation of hundreds of millions of people world-wide. US military attacks and interventions over the past five decades, increasing again over the last ten years, have bred deeply held resentment, anger and hatred in the hearts and minds of many. While the world focusses now upon the horrible tragedy of these recent attacks, the road which led to them was long and devastating, resulting in the deaths of many innocent victims-reaching well into the millions-in countries around the world.
(3) The recent 'Day of Mourning' held in Europe and many other parts of the world in solidarity with the United States was therefore in many ways insulting, racist, and deeply humiliating to those whose lives were taken in these horrible attacks, and to the millions around the world who have died in war and atrocious violence. This was not a 'Day of Mourning' for those whose lives were taken, or for the horror of innocents killed in an abominable and tragic attack. While the countless acts of individuals offering their sorrow, sympathies and condolences was heartfelt and sincere - an outpouring of human solidarity in the face of awesome sadness -, the acts of governments and heads of state showed more clearly a deep disrespect and disregard for human life. There were no 'days of mourning' for the 800,000 innocent victims of the war in Rwanda who died equally horrible and tragic deaths, or for the 300 - 500,000 killed in Burundi, the more than 600 Palestinians and over 100 Israelis (and the far more killed in that conflict over the past five decades), or the Kurds, Afghans, and indigenous peoples all over the world. This 'Day of Mourning' was far more the political act of subservient and vassal states offering their 'loyalty' to the United States of America in a time of potential war. As a politically motivated act by governments in many parts of the world, taken far more out of self-interest than human solidarity, it was despicable and insulting to those who died, and disrespectful of human life in general.
(4) The impact and aftermath of these attacks will most likely serve to deepen U.S. feelings of alienation and separateness from the rest of the world, and may worsen those element of cultural pathology and cultural violence which are already strongly present in US deep culture. The possibility that Americans will be led to see themselves as surrounded by 'evil' - intent on destroying all that is 'good', 'free', 'humane', 'just' and 'civilised' represented by the United States and threatened in all moments by the scourge of 'demonic' and 'barbaric' terrorists - will only deepen and further escalate the trauma and human suffering emanating from these attacks, placing Americans and the world in a state of constant tension and cultures and realities of violence and fear. The possibility that the horror of these outrageous acts of violence will serve to legitimise and make acceptable the use of violence and attacks upon innocent civilians - as evidenced by recent polls in the US showing the majority of American citizens strongly in favour of war against other countries, even if it means the deaths of thousands of innocent civilians in those countries - will only exacerbate cultures of war and hatred.
(5) The effects of these attacks upon the U.S. are therefore likely to result in an escalation/increase in U.S. practices of violence, an increase in the U.S. military budget, and the strengthening of the role of the military and weapons producers in U.S. domestic and foreign policy. Calls for military retaliation and a promise to exact revenge upon the perpetrators of the Sept. 11th attacks and those who harbour them-widely supported by American economic, military and political elites-have led to one of the largest military build-ups since the Second World War. As U.S. forces and those of its allies (primarily Britain) head towards the Mediterranean, the Middle East and the Indian Ocean, the U.S., European and world populations are being prepared for the prospect of a 'long, drawn-out war', 'different from any previous war'. The NATO alliance has been mobilised, while the US Senate and Congress are united behind one of the most aggressive and belligerent US cabinets (even before the attacks of Sept. 11), of the last 100 years. Military interventions, including attacks which will result in the deaths of large numbers of civilians far in excess of the 6000 killed in the New York and Washington attacks, appear probable.
(6) Dehumanisation of the 'other', division of the world between 'good' and 'evil', and the use of violence in place of addressing the underlying dynamics and causes of the attacks will further multiply acts of violence and the human trauma and suffering which results from them. A military response on the part of the United States will reenforce and further the claims of those critical of the exercise of US military power world-wide. Embracing and perpetuating the logic of violence and terrorism, for whatever cause or purpose, will result in further militarisation and militarism, setting off a vicious spiral of violence in which the number of casualties and emotions/feelings of hatred, fear, and insecurity on all sides will increase, multiplying the number of victims of this horrible attack on an appalling scale. Violence breeds violence, which itself will breed even greater violence in return. To quote Gandhi: "An eye for an eye will only end up leaving the whole world blind."
(7) The only way to heal the pain and trauma brought about by the devastating attacks on September 11th is to address the underlying causes and dynamics behind the violence, and to embrace its victims-and all victims of violence-with deep empathy and compassion, while seeking solutions and approaches which take us beyond the logic of war and destruction. Simplistic, war-culture driven attempts to portray 'the other' as 'absolute evil' and devoid of any human feeling or sentiment will only serve to further obfuscate and mystify the factors which led to the attack. Peace, and the principles of freedom, basic needs, democracy, human rights, and justice, which are associated with it, can only be built by peaceful means. Violence, and the perpetuation of violence, is the antithesis of these values, and will end up producing more of what it seeks to eradicate. It is the path of cowardice and hatred. What is needed is not further destruction, but the building of a positive, constructive programme uniting people working, learning, and sharing together to create through active and involved participation the security, well-being and freedom we seek. The alternative, is to take part ourselves in the destruction of all we hold dear, and bringing to others the very pain and devastation we seek to avoid.
(8) Throughout the United States and much of the world in the days following the attacks many people united in prayer, reflection, and deep remorse and sadness. "Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us", and "Do unto others as you would have done unto yourself" are two values found in all the great religions and secular belief systems of the world. If peace is our goal, we must remember these values, and form our actions accordingly. The unity of life, the right of all peoples to feel secure from threat and destruction, and the need for deep understanding and compassion, must be stronger than the blind urge for hatred and revenge.
(9) What is needed therefore, is to act. For people in every country, every society, every community in the world to unite together, to reach out, and to work actively for the promotion of peace-for the building of peace by peaceful means, and for the transforming of all forms of direct, structural and cultural violence. Those who wish to see an alternative to violence, who are appalled by the pain, the devastation, and the destruction which violence and war create, who reach out in deep sympathy and understanding with those who have suffered the loss of having loved ones taken from them, must have the courage to stand up and to take the path of principled non-violence and peace. Governments, politicians, citizens' groups, civil society organisations, non-governmental organisations, teachers, students, religious institutions, parents, children, must all have the courage to raise a voice of calm, to promote reason, dialogue, and understanding, and to refuse to accept and to submit to the rule of violence and the logic of terror and war. If there are those in the world who are willing to die for what they believe in, we must show how much greater courage is needed to be willing to live. Peace by peaceful means is not a way. It is the only way. The threat of a war which will bring about catastrophic levels of death and destruction and the escalation of direct, structural and cultural violence is real and immanent. Only by making the choice to unite and to act for peace do we stand the hope of avoiding it. The challenge is there. What is necessary, is to act.
Suggestions/proposals for what can be done:
- express your deep sympathy and remorse for the victims of the September 11th attacks, their families, and all those killed in acts of violence and war, in the United States, in your own community, and world-wide.
- write to your head of state, government representative, city council, and local representatives, stating your opposition to the use of violence and war. Send copies of all of these letters to your local and national media.
- write letters to your media asking for more balanced reporting, and for including focus on alternative proposals and suggestions for what can be done, not just those pursuing a violent approach. Submit articles/comments in which you do that yourself, and try to create a culture/practice of peace reporting and peace journalism to transcend and offer alternatives to dominant practices of war reporting and war journalism.
- speak to your brothers, sisters, parents, children, neighbours, and colleagues about what has happened. Listen to them, to their feeling, to their concerns. Do not just turn away or denounce those who support violence and feel the need for 'revenge' and 'justice'. Listen to them, respect them, and try to understand why they feel that way. Then try to show other ways of reaching their goals non-violently, together with the self-destructive nature of violence and the pain it causes to others. Don't just analyse what happened. Try to come up with ideas for what can be done. Dialogue here is a vital tool, and for dialogue to occur it must be based upon mutual respect and listening. Then, carry this out a thousand times, and let a thousand dialogues bloom.
- do this in your classes, your offices, in community or town meetings, with your heads of state and political and elected leaders, with your teachers, co-workers, students, staff, bosses, and people you meet on the street. Focus also on therapy and creative and constructive proposals for how you/we can work to promote peace and active peace work, and to oppose violence in all its forms.
- reach out to/contact local peace organisations, women's groups, human rights movements, youth organisations, and other civil society groups and non-governmental organisations encouraging them to become involved and to demonstrate, stand up, and work actively for peaceful solutions to the current conflict and the conflicts and crises which gave rise to it. Ask them how you can be involved and offer to help.
- organise and act to have your village, town, city declared a village, town or city 'for peace'. Work to declare your community 'off limits' to military organisations. Then, as a next step, reach out to villages, towns, and cities in other parts of the world, forming 'twin-cities for peace', promoting exchanges, dialogue, and mutual learning across borders, cultures, religions, civilisations, uniting together for peace.
- organise/carry out peace demonstrations. Show people that there are alternatives. Prepare placards, signs and hand-outs which show clearly your deep remorse and sympathy for the victims of the attacks, and which state categorically your opposition to violence, and suggestions/proposals/therapy for what can be done and how others can get involved.
- organise discussion and action groups, within your school, your community, over the inter-net, learning, sharing, discussing and acting together, trying to understand what was behind the violence, and the impact of the violence upon your/our communities and lives, as well as what can be done and what is needed to transcend violence, and to work actively and constructively for peace.
- organise training programmes, lectures, seminars, teach-ins, educational events, fairs, celebrations, and activities for peace and for teaching/learning and sharing skills in peacebuilding, conflict transformation, community empowerment, reconciliation, and dialogue.
- promote/organise dialogues across borders, between communities, cultures, and religions. Do the same within your own community, bringing together people of different backgrounds and religious and spiritual faiths and ideological beliefs. Focus on those elements of your belief/value systems which emphasise and promote values and cultures of peace, non-violence, respect, understanding, dialogue, unity of life, and the celebration of diversity.
- call contact your teachers or the children of your teachers and your local school board and ministry of education and call for the introduction of peace education at all levels of school curriculum
- create a peace organisation/movement to study, learn, and carry out what can be done for peace and the transformation of conflicts by peaceful means at the personal, inter-personal, social, and global/inter-national levels.
- unions, ship and dock workers, truckers, pilots, airlines, and shipping companies should all refuse to transport any and all forms of military equipment, soldiers, and weapons for making war/death
- oppose all forms of direct, structural and cultural violence, their propagation in the media, and the practising of violence-economic, political, military and cultural-by our community, political, economic, religious, and social 'leaders'
- prepare a petition/statement opposing the use of violence to respond to the Sept. 11 attacks and calling upon political, economic, social, religious, cultural, and military leaders and your fellow citizens to act responsibly, oppose and refuse to take part in violence, and work for peace
- transcend violence!
- promote direct democracy and action for peace!
- come up with more solutions/proposals/ideas, and invite others for solutions, proposals and ideas they may have.
- act upon them! And have the courage to work and to live for peace!
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