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-----Original Message----- Dear List, As an
African-American living in the USA, I view terrorism as an everyday
occurrence. I have absolutely no
difficulty wrapping my mind around it.
It is true that I have not had to deal with the type of terrorism so
prevalent in other countries because we do have certain rights here in this
country. However, the USA has
always been a spoiled and arrogant country, doing what we felt best unto other
countries, and taking much for granted.
And we reap what we sow. As a
child, that is when one is most free, and we are blithely told that we can grow
up to be anything we want. The
people who are trying to convince us of that truly mean well, and they want to
believe it themselves. However,
the more one grows up, especially as a member of a minority race, the more one
comes to realize that they really have much to fear from ones own com-patriots.
I don’t believe that minorities ever had the privilege of holding the vicarious
view that Mr. Beckwith appears reluctant to let go of. The rights guaranteed to us in the
constitution have had to be fought long and hard for. As much as our country faces threats from other nations, we
are just as unprepared for dealing with those whom have lived among us for
numerous decades. It has
been amazing, the events that have unfolded since September 11, 2001. It shocked me that we were on “Orange
Alert” security wise come September 11, 2002. Our country should be on such in alert at all times. It should have opened its eyes and paid
attention to itself long before.
The world does not run according to our calendar. The bombing of the towers was
UNEXPECTED. Why would they wait to
plan something on the anniversary of such a tragedy just because we are
focusing all our attention on that day?
They want to make this country miserable. They want to produce a series of devastation for us to cope
with. Tomorrow, or even the next
fifteen minutes, could be the end of life as we know it for someone. We keep repeating “God Bless America”,
and proclaiming to be “one nation under God.” Yet we do not seem to believe God capable of taking care of
us. We call America the melting
pot, embracing diversity, yet we don’t seem to be going forward in that
spirit. We seem to be crucifying
each other and becoming more distant every day because of the diversity we tout
so proudly. I am not
saying it is okay for these types of acts to be committed, nor is it okay for
students en route to Miami to pretend they are going to cause another tragic
event. I am all for punishing
individuals to the fullest extent of the law in such matters. What I am not okay with is the daily
attitudes I encounter when people expect me to run out and buy flags to stick
all over my vehicle. I would not
say that I am proud to be American.
I truly don’t think about it much.
What I do know is that I was blessed to be born in a country that
allowed me more freedom than other countries. That had everything to do with God, and nothing at all to do
with the constitution. My
continued presence is also due to God in my life, not the powers that be in the
White House. Yes, I am thankful
that so many men and women have given of themselves in the aftermath of this
tragedy, yet I am just as thankful for those individuals, of many races, who
opened social and economic doors for me prior to that tragedy. In short,
I do not take my life for granted.
I have had good days and bad days, but through it all I have been
allowed to wake up every morning with yet another chance to “get it right.” So, All this being said, I want to
impress upon you this thought. Be
ever careful if you need to be, but at the same time refuse to give up living a
full life. September 11, 2001 was
someone’s birthday, wedding, etc.
It was a day of living in the moment. No one in the towers, in the planes, or anywhere in New York
had any preconceived notion that they should not carry out their days agenda to
do what they were doing. And
somehow I don’t believe that they would want it to be a national holiday
either. Do Americans really
believe that we would forget that?
If we built monuments or went around naming holidays every time
something happens, we would be too preoccupied to just live. That is simply macabre. And speaking of September 13, 2002
(i.e. 9/13), I am the ninth daughter and the thirteenth child in my
family. If I let such
superstitions rule me, I would have grown up insane. I consider myself quite lucky and blessed to boot. We need to
tell people we love them.
NOW. We need to make a more
humane effort to simply be more humane.
NOW. We need to not walk
around afraid to speak our minds, to embrace things that appear and/or ARE
different out of fear. If you were
living life fully before, you need to continue doing so now. If you were not, what are you waiting
for? Get out the good china and
throw a party. If it breaks, oh
well. Wear that outfit you bought
but didn’t dare to yet as you waited for the right moment. The moment is upon you. Do something ordinary. Do something extraordinary. Just do something. I, for
one, will not allow my life to be rendered immobile because of the horrible
views and actions of others. When
I get on a plane, I say a prayer, take my window seat and enjoy my flight. When I see someone in need I will do
what I can so they may be relieved of that burden. Whichever way I am to pass from this earth, I will be
returning home to my God. I will
be in much better shape than I am now, so I will have no complaint. And when I meet my maker, I want to be
able to look upon THE face and say I did everything possible to honor your
son’s death, and your faith and spirit in me, while I was alive. If you can
walk out of your front door with that attitude imprinted on your heart and
soul, where it counts most, you ARE free, and you have absolutely nothing to
fear. From anyone. Pamela
Taylor (Who knows
this is Minneapolis specific to anyone who has a breath of life in them and
could turn on their computer to read it, from Clearwater.) -----Original
Message----- I imagine
everyone is wondering what to make of reports now claiming Minneapolis may
harbor an Al-Quaida terrorist cell. It seems difficult to know how to
wrap one's minds around this; what can be said, thought, done when such a
topic provides no obvious responses or options. Given the clutter of
conventional civic topics discussed here such as zoning, taxes, budget
deficits, school board elections, terrorism seems a terribly freakish
category. Plain and simple, Tuesday's headlines came as a culture
shock. Terrorism as a local issue? Certainly it would be much easier if our
list moderator could tell us terrorism was not an issue proper to a Minneapolis
Issues list, as if to say, the issue belonged somewhere else, anywhere but
here. Our sadness, of course, is we no longer have the luxury of such a
vicarious view. Beckwith Ward 6 |
- [Mpls] Terrorism as Minneapolis Issue Chris L Beckwith
- [Mpls] Terrorism as Minneapolis Issue Pamela Taylor
- [Mpls] Terrorism as Minneapolis Issue Alan Shilepsky
- [Mpls] Terrorism as Minneapolis Issue Victoria Heller
- Re: [Mpls] Terrorism as Minneapolis Issue Robert Schmid
