Illustration by Josh Hagler

Tuesday September 25, 2001

Sept. 11's tragedy has morphed from a catalyst for national solidarity to one endless argument. Some dark pundits on American soil comment that we had this coming. While capitalism may not be the quickest route to the Promised Land, it does not warrant mass slaughter - nor do any other American characteristics. Open your eyes and look at the reality of the U.S. role in modern world history and how some terrorists define their own ideologies. You will see the United States has not warranted this, or any attack.

Thousands of pounds of debris and discarded human lives rained down on Manhattan from 110 stories in the air. Those departed souls were judged by Osama bin Laden and his followers as evil. What sins did they carry? I've not been aware of any list in this life that one can use as a reference to find a particular person's vile acts.

Ill-mannered Americans, generally academics void of real-world experience or knowledge, punished this great land with their verbal diarrhea. Dribbling nonsense supported by, perhaps, bits and pieces of semi-relevant argumentative facts come these masters of delusion. Purporting that the United States plays the only greedy, capitalistic hand the world over is bunk.

Remember the global recession following World War II? Japan can pin its entire economic success on the United States alone. While our nation did devastate the Japanese with two atomic bombs (coincidentally conceived in the Manhattan project), we went to their aid. Ending the war was the purpose, not pressing an ideology on another people. Europe too can look toward this land as its modern progenitor, building up even Germany and forgiving debts to spark the world economy.

Muslims, who decry America for its involvement in Israel, should also check themselves. While current activities in the region are deplorable, the United States initially stepped in after Britain failed in its mandate and the United Nations no longer controlled actors in the region. The entire affair cannot be attributed to the United States.

Philippine inhabitants can thank America for sending in disaster relief following their last set of earthquakes. Humanitarian aid poured from this, our, country for disaster after disaster and for refugee after refugee. In fact, the Immigration and Naturalization Service decided to allow so many refugees into the nation this year that placement agencies simply cannot handle the workload.

U.S. removal from the U.N. Commission on Human Rights is a buzz topic, especially now that our own record has been indicated as proof of our guilt. The removal came from the hands of an upset China because of a spy plane incident, and from Cuba, which has been our diplomatic opponent for decades.

In addition, bin Laden's own human rights track record - not to mention that of the Taliban that is protecting him - is heinous. Women are held to strict laws, such as one ordering them to cover their faces at all times, for which they can be shot point-blank for disobeying. The primary human rights covenants have been completely thrown out the window there.

Finally, let's speak about the Muslim faith. Killing is not allowed. More deaths do not make Muslim lives any better. Deaths make them worse. Some fanatics and extremists in the faith have misunderstood the idea of "jihad." They are fighting outside themselves. And even Christians have fallen into such fanaticism. For 300 years, Christians perpetrated the Holy Wars in what is now the Middle East.

America does not deserve this. No one does. On Sept. 15 at Udall Park, the Tucson Symphony Orchestra performed, ending with a rousing version of the "Star Spangled Banner." During the concert, the conductor recounted his days in Hungary during World War II when he was just 6 years old. Then, there were sirens and warnings, he said, to allow civilians a chance to hide. No one in New York City or Washington, D.C. knew. No one knew.

Osama bin Laden is, indeed, a despicable coward. Bringing down such a force on so many innocent people assures him a place in the most awful hell imaginable. Now, the key is to bring him and his followers to justice. He may have as many as 3,000 soldiers in 65 countries. That amounts to quite a few more possible hijackings. However, whether this war comes to last one week, one year or one decade, be supportive of our country and be proud to be an American.