I've spent the last several hours intermittently watching television (a numbing experience, for the most part) and reading memorials and remembrances on various weblogs and other websites. There are so many beautiful tributes out there and touching personal accounts, and today the web is a much warmer place to be than sitting in front of the TV.
I got an email this morning asking me where the rage was. And why the announcers were all talking as if the events of 9/11 "happened" sort of by accident or natural catastrophe. If the answer is "yes", then my fears have been borne out. Perhaps I will be proven wrong, but the track record up until this point is not good. We seem to be embracing the role of victim; not just commemorating it, but celebrating it. We are in danger of remembering what occurred a year ago today as a tragedy that just "happened". But what is being overwhelmed in the cult of victimhood is that forty men and women refused to accept their role as passive victims. They saw the face of the enemy; they learned the evil it had done already and the work it still had left to be done on that day.This is a "solemn" occasion so people can remember our "loss." "There were people working in the Pentagon, people like you and me, and ....." (get this) "all of a sudden an airplane flew in and smashed them...." Isn't it amazing what airplanes can do, all on their own??? They're all talking about the "enormity" of this event. What event?? Where's the rage here?? Is there an enemy? Where? Who? Why are we needing to play the wimp role here? Only because of oil? Or something else?
N.Z. Bear summed up similar sentiments thusly:As you watch today's ceremonies, ask yourself: if you did not know the truth, could the speech you are watching; the ceremony you are witnessing, be equally appropriate if those two towers had collapsed in an earthquake?
At 9:45 this morning, I had a response:I think that the posture they're taking today is right. There are a lot of people grieving and this is the first yahrtzeit [anniversary of a loved one's death] for them. A day to be quiet and thoughtful and gather strength. Tomorrow, though, is a different story. An entirely different story. Or maybe even later today. I'd like to see a transition, sometime after all the names are read and the flowers placed, while our attention is still focused. Probably won't happen, so I'll get mad then. Right now, for these few hours, I'm just sad.
My patience with the fuzzy news ran out earlier than I expected.
So I've decided to post something a little different here. I'm taking a look at the references to the terrorist attack on our country that aren't so sympathic. I'm taking a look, to the extent possible in English, at what our enemies (and some of our so-called "friends") are saying today. As a reminder. It wasn't an earthquake or a hurricane or a jet flying by itself. It was a very large group of people who did this thing. And we still have a very large job to do in response.
Palestinian Media Watch has collected a few of today's cartoons from the PA official daily paper, Al-Hayat Al-Jadida. This bulletin isn't up on their site yet, so I'll describe them. Two towers, forming the number "11" stand on a pile of dead bodies. On the wall behind them is written "September." One tower is an arrow pointing up and bears the text: "American Hegemony." The other tower is an arrow pointing down and bears the text: "Rights of Nations." 1. The participants, which include leaders from the Muslim community (but no one from Hizb ut-Tahrir) will not be celebrating the events of the 11th of September, but rather will be analysing and highlighting the lessons which can be derived from the incident and what has subsequently followed regarding the nature of the relationship between Muslims and non-Muslims around the world and the new format of the relationship between countries in the international arena. 2. The event will discuss the positive outcomes from the 11th September not least of which is the clear crystallisation of the two camps of Islam and Kufr (non-Islam), of believers and hypocrites and of those who follow the Messenger Muhammad (saw) and his companions (the salafis) and those deviant from this path.... "If some Saudi nationals abandoned the teachings of Islam and their nationalism then they must bear the blame and not" the country, Prince Sultan said on the eve of the first anniversary of the attacks. The opinion poll which was held by the newspaper in coordination with the "Kuwait's Mobile Phone company" on the occasion of the first anniversary of September 11 attacks, asked the Kuwaitis and other residents in the country to answer through sending short messages via the mobile on whether they view Bin Laden as a "hero" or a " criminal" or they are not they are not "interested " about him. This was after these questions were issued last week in the paper. "They want a religion that is flexible, in agreement with the whims of the Americans. They want a people who are open to all the American whims, and the whims of the Shayateen of man and Jinn. They want 'moderate' people. Those, who do not differ with the West in any opinion. And they lower their heads, to every order that comes to them. It is only fear that Islaam returns again, and now the plot has become large, and the entire world has gathered [against us]." The government newspaper al-Jumhouriya said President Bush's "arrogant and imperialist" administration wanted to rule the world by force. "A year after the September 11 events, the American administration has failed to review its policy of aggression and blackmail," it said in a front-page editorial.A fearful Uncle Sam running away in terror, being chased by the date "September 11";
Al-Muhajiroun, the organization sponsoring the conference today at at Finsbury Mosque in London felt the need to issue an "official media response" denying that they're celebrating.Following intense media interest in the Islamic Conference due to be held this Wednesday the 11th of September 2002 at Finsbury Park Mosque, the organisers, Al-Muhajiroun, would like to make it clear that:
Well, that's something, right? The Arab News has a number of interesting headlines today.Arab News 9/11 Special - "No to terrorism"
That's good.
(By Khaled Al-Maeena, Editor in Chief) The evil acts which produced those horrifying images are also now a part of history. Those acts must not be forgotten. They must be seen as a tragic signal to a world forced into confronting what it had previously managed to avoid. The signal tells us several things; the first is that the world, like it or not, must unite against terrorism. With one voice, the world must say “No to terrorism” and it must do what is necessary to guarantee there is no repetition of those hideous images.Kingdom denies role in 9/11
Not so good. All in all, though, the Arab News is making nice today. They have this banner at the top of the website
(By a staff writer) JEDDAH/WASHINGTON, 11 September — Prince Sultan, second deputy premier and minister of defense and aviation, said yesterday that the Kingdom accepts no responsibility for the Sept. 11 attacks on the United States. The blame must be borne by individuals and not the state for the "dramatic day" when thousands of "innocents were killed", he said.Today, the world is one. Our heartfelt prayers are with the families of those who died on Sept. 11, and the loved ones of terror victims all over the world.- Arab News Staff.
Like I said, ...nice. Personally, I think they know we're watching. Here's one from ArabicNews.Com74 percent of Kuwaitis view Bin Laden as a Hero
The Jordan Times (opinion):
(Kuwait, Politics, 9/11/2002) An opinion poll held by the Kuwaiti daily al-Rai al-Aam and its results issued on Tuesday said that 74.34% of residents in Kuwait consider Osama Bin Laden as a "hero."Amazingly, these root issues are largely ignored in the public discourse in both American and Arab-Asian societies, in favour of easy, simplistic ideas. Consequently, today planes are diverted around New York City, and we sit on our porch in Amman and look up at the sky with some concern, wondering whether American, Iraqi or Israeli bombs will fall on our dinner. I pray for the souls of those who died last Sept. 11. I also hope that better quality political leadership in the US and the Arab-Asian world might soon come to grips with political and military terror and its causes, rather than repeatedly commemorate its grievous personal and political damage.
Taliban News:In light of the anniversary of the attacks against the heads of kufr (disbelief), and the official start of the war against Islam, we present these words of Shaykh 'Abdullah Azzam. Words which deserve to be written in gold, words which were spoken decades ago, but its reality stares every single muslim in the face...
Reuters has this from Baghdad:Iraq Pours Scorn on U.S. a Year After 9/11 Attacks
Oh. But Tariq Aziz also sent a letter of condolence today -- to former Attorney General Ramsey Clark (rolling eyes back into head).
(by Hassan Hafidh) BAGHDAD, Iraq (Reuters) - Iraq poured scorn on the United States on Sept. 11, saying it was using last year's attacks -- hailed as the "punishment of God" by one Baghdad magazine -- as a pretext to try to crush its old foe in the Middle East.
Yemen Times (opinion): A year after the event Americans are trying to find the answer to the same question "Why do they hate us?" And until they find the true answer to this question, their lesson will still be considered unlearnt.A year after September 11: Has the USA learnt a lesson?
Indeed? Well, I've had enough of this. You can click on just about any one of the links to the right and find some original and inspiring words to mark the day. And they'll take you to many more. That's where I'm headed. I'll be back tomorrow.
...Has the USA changed since the attacks last year? Unfortunately not! Today, the USA administration seems to be insistent and determined to cause and afflict more pain to the Iraqi people and to Arabs all over the world. Why isn't the US studying the reasons for hatred by most of the world? A look at the angry and frustrated faces of those who attended the last Earth Summit in Johannesburg have clearly signaled that opposition to the USA is increasing despite the September 11 attacks. Some people have now started thinking that what has happened to the USA is only a result of its own actions.
