a local letter to the paper...
just because something like this needs to
be in everyone's selection of things
to read while waiting in line somewhere...
A Closer Look at "Patriotism"
Dear Alibi,
I have just returned from a semester program in Central America, namely Guatemala, El Salvador and Nicaragua. I was in Guatemala when the Sept. 11 attacks occurred, and, like everyone, I was shocked and confused. I had no reliable news source either and I felt frustrated at times not knowing what was going on. Yet soon these feelings of frustration and confusion were replaced by some realizations that could have only come about from my perspective outside the U.S. Without the constant bombardment of U.S. media, I had more time to discuss the attacks with Central Americans and foreigners from all over the world-as well as time to reflect in a place that suffered years of intense civil wars that were largely funded by the U.S. It is not my intent to give an explanation of these wars (U.S. involvement is well-documented if you're interested in finding out more), rather, it is my intent to share some of my "foreign born" reflections regarding the "war on terrorism."
What astounded me most after the attacks was the level of patriotism that came about. There is no doubt that there was a tremendous amount of courage, love and shared suffering, as well as a general feeling of unity among most citizens of the U.S. directly following the attacks. Yet, my question is: How did these feelings get confused with patriotism? In other words, how did such human attributes as love and suffering turn into "American" (more accurately North American) characteristics? There is no talk of how America may not be so great. We could have really used this as an opportunity to look within and try to understand why some people in the world hate us so much. People have a tendency to turn any blow against our country into cries of greatness and valiance; American flags are displayed in every possible window and commercial ads urge you to shop because it's "patriotic." This level of patriotism seems completely out of place to me, and worse yet, the attacks seemed to turn into an opportunity for the U.S. government to rally citizens (conveniently filled with unprecedented levels of American pride) into war.
Our decision to go to war is especially frustrating because we as citizens had no choice in the matter, the executive decision was made and we were expected to support the cycle of violence. Even more disheartening was the news that most North Americans did support the war! My only thought was: How can we declare war on something as obscure and abstract as "terrorism?" This was particularly poignant considering I was in a place where a war on "communism" was waged and only resulted in thousands of innocently massacred victims. Many people in Central America consider the U.S. backed civil wars of the 1970s and '80s to be acts of terrorism. This begs the questions, "Who gets to define terrorism? Are we free to engage in terrorist acts' throughout the world and yet define it as freedom fighting?'" The word "terrorism" is as misleading as the word "communism;" they represent an attempt by the U.S. to pack its enemy into one easy word as justification to flex its military muscle.
The Central American people feel deeply for U.S. citizens. After the attacks, many people approached me to express their regret at such a horrible occurrence. This was so touching because they responded out of our shared understanding as humans. People there understand what it is like to live in fear, to have your cities attacked and to live in the throes of war. Even though they suffered these wars at the hands of the U.S. they were still able to feel deeply for me as a United States citizen. They understand what violence does to the human spirit I argue that it is the human spirit which is our greatest source of solidarity; solidarity with people all over the world who know perhaps better than we that war gets us nowhere. It is only through understanding, compassion and solidarity that we will ever overcome violence and hatred, which are true faces of terrorism.
What I will never understand is the point of view such as that shared by J. Lujan who wrote a letter ["Letters," Dec. 20-26], that the best way to respond to an act of violence is with more violence. When will it end? Wouldn't we be a truly "great" country if we were to respond with compassion and resolve for peace? Let us remember that when we wage war it is not only against people but also against the Earth. I would also like to challenge Lujan to take a closer look at the freedom he so dearly defends; are we truly in a country which goes to war without popular consensus and manipulates the media in its favor? It is time for the United States to stop engaging in acts of terrorism throughout the world, and take other points of view into consideration. Brothers and sisters, let us stand together and oppose the war not only in Afghanistan but everywhere because war is both against humanity and the Earth.
Lulu Strongheart
Albuquerque
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