Recent events have shocked our conception of the world and our place in it. The attacks on America are history-altering events that will challenge the very notion of what our country stands for.

To say the least, things are quite hectic now. The news media are in overdrive (albeit, with due cause); pundits are demanding action, and our leaders are moving forward with a response of some kind. 

This response is what concerns me. It's safe to say that we all share revulsion to the attacks on NYC and Washington, DC. It seems less likely that Americans are united behind a singular, appropriate response. 

At base, I fear war and violence. I fear the consequences of a justified, yet uncontrolled, rage that seems to be sweeping segments of the country.
Retribution, revenge, and war seem to be on so many lips. I hope that peace, love, and humanity replace such words. Perhaps I am naive.

Nevertheless, I have sent my feelings (which you can see below) about the attacks to representatives in the United States Congress. I urge you to do the same. These are my feelings as we step forward into the darkness of the future. I hope many of you share them, and I encourage you to make your voice known, even if you do not. 

Please feel free to respond to any of this. I hope all of you and your loved ones are safe and secure. 

Best Wishes, 

Bill

1. To write your Representative, go here: 
http://www.house.gov/writerep/

2. To write your Senators, go here:
http://www.senate.gov/contacting/index_by_state.cfm

Dear Representative,

I write you with great concern over the future course of American policy. The recent terrorist attacks on America have been horrendous and quite shocking. 

Nevertheless, my greatest fear lies in what's ahead. It seems like for many folks - both in and out of government - the focus is on revenge and retribution. I urge you to use all sense of restraint, morality, and decency before adding your support to any formal response - be it militarily or whatnot - to the terrorist attacks on New York City and Washington, DC. 

Please, when you conduct yourself as a representative of American interests, keep the following in mind. It is an excerpt from a recent writing by Robert Jensen, entitled "Stop the Insanity Here":

"...Let us not forget that a 'massive response' will
kill people, and if the pattern of past U.S. actions
holds, it will kill innocents. Innocent people, just
like the ones in the towers in New York and the ones
on the airplanes that were hijacked. To borrow from
President Bush, 'mother and fathers, friends and
neighbors' will surely die in a massive response.

"If we are truly going to claim to be decent people,
our tears must flow not only for those of our own
country. People are people, and grief that is limited
to those within a specific political boundary denies
the humanity of others.

"And if we are to be decent people, we all must demand
of our government -- the government that a great man
of peace, Martin Luther King Jr., once described as
'the greatest purveyor of violence in the world' --
that the insanity stop here."

Thank you for your attention. I urge you to stress peace, not violence, in times like these.

Best regards,

William Connolly

 ©2001 by William Connolly

William Connolly, an alumnus of The College of New Jersey, is a New Jersey writer.

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