[Dialogue] Why 9/11?

[nancy]

Thanks, Don,
    This was a helpful statement to all of us.  We only tend to remember our 
hurts and not those we cause, which in some cases lead to our hurts.  Seems 
to me Jesus said something about this, something about "love" and 
"understanding".
    G&P,   Nan Grow
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Don Hinkelman" <hinkel at sgu.ac.jp>
To: "Colleague Dialogue" <dialogue at wedgeblade.net>
Sent: Wednesday, September 10, 2008 9:36 PM
Subject: [Dialogue] Why 9/11?


> On the radio today, a memorial message was read about the 9/11 attack
> on the World Trade Towers and the numbers of people who died.
>
> I am still surprised that asking why the attack happened is a taboo
> topic of analysis and discussion.  I hope it is not a taboo topic on
> this list.
>
> In my Japanese-colored-glasses view of the event, I see several things
> happening...
> - war is no longer state-to-state with a formal declaration and codes
> of conduct
> - cultures, groups or networks with little sovereign authority, or
> those that feel helpless can use suicide as a form of protest or war
> - the America government lost the moral high ground of not killing
> civilians by dropping nuclear bombs on two cities in 1945.  No apology
> and little self-reflection has been given.
> - the American government continues to kill civilians in wars (at a
> lower rate than the Germans in WWII) but justifies this as an
> unavoidable necessity of war
> - isolated, single world-view schools (in Pakistan and elsewhere-- 
> USA?) provide many young people willing to give their lives in war
>
> I suspect these conditions will lead to more episodes like 9/11.  I
> also think it is important to avoid name-calling and stereotyped
> expressions in a discussion (ie: "terrorists", "nazis").  That
> contributes to misunderstanding and non-acceptance.
>
> With respects,
> Don Hinkelman
> Sapporo, Japan
>
>
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