WHAT 9/11 MEANS TO ME

 

September 11, 2001, is a day that will live in infamy, which is the phrase that was used to describe Pearl Harbor Day, December 7th, 1941. Tomorrow marks the fifth anniversary of what I hope is not the end of American Democracy. Both events had tragic results on an unsuspecting American population. Both events were foreseen by many but due to gaps in intelligence were not prevented. After Pearl Harbor, President Roosevelt did his constitutional duty and asked the Congress to declare war. American participation in World War II resulted, which by many was considered our last “just” or good war. Although no wars are truly good, our actions in WW II were necessary to combat the greater evils of Imperial Japan and Nazi Germany. My grandfather sacrificed his life for the defense of our country in the Aleutians along with millions of others worldwide.

In 2001, the world stood with us. I remember watching the Towers come down on television. When my sister called me that morning, I thought there had been another attack like the previous one or perhaps protestors opposed to our WTO policies had set off a bomb. I saw the second plane crash into the tower and new it was planned. I kept wondering what was next, but these buildings were obvious targets along with the Pentagon as symbols of American Empire. Many of our countrymen were in disbelief, some panicked. The actions of the firefighters, policemen and rescue workers were nothing short of heroic, but resulted in tragedy for hundreds along with the many victims.

Most people said they couldn’t understand why we were attacked. This is because they had not taken the time to realize that many of the actions and policies taken by the US government or our Mega Corporations have had disastrous effects upon millions of lives world-wide. Of course not everything we have done has been bad. We have been the beacon of hope and opportunity for much of the world, still when we do bad things, there are consequences.

George Bush had the opportunity to rise to the occasion and to try and make America a better, safer, more understanding nation. He failed utterly. First he cowered and failed to act like a leader of the Free World. When he did get around to finally making his speech to the American people he took the low road, and sought revenge, not understanding. He declared a war on terror, not Congress. But “terror” is an emotion or idea, not a sovereign nation like Japan or Germany. Terrorism has long been a tool of the weak, but also of governments and police states. He claimed that the terrorists attacked us because they hate our freedom. That may be true of some, but many terrorists take action in response to actions and policies that have been taken against them. Osama bin Laden supposedly wanted US troops out of Saudi Arabia, well he got his wish. Many Middle-Eastern terrorists see a connection between Israeli actions against the Palestinian and Lebanese people and American financial and political support of Israel.

I do not wish to believe that our government was responsible for the 9/11 attacks, but I do believe that certain elements were capable of it. I have read that some were aware of the impending attacks, but their voices were not heeded. There are many conspiracy theorists out there. And it is true that there are many unexplained and suspicious circumstances. I do not believe that it was coincidence that George Bush’s brother had been in charge of security at the Twin Towers until September 10th nor that there wasn’t some connection between the Newsweek article that said the US Supreme Court was having second thoughts about its decision in the 2000 elections choosing Bush despite the popular vote of the American people.

What leads me to think that even if our government didn’t execute the 9/11 attacks, it failed to prevent them, because some wanted them to occur so we could have a pretext to go to war with Iraq. I have connected the dots, and far too much has occurred since 9/11 to demonstrate that there are people who have profited from this either politically or financially. In Britain and most of the rest of the world, this has been reported. At first, I grudgingly supported attacks on the Taliban and terrorist camps in Afghanistan, because I believe that the Taliban was fundamentally opposed to my way of life and Western society and traditions.  I had read about their desecration and destructions of the Buddhist statues at Bam and their utter disregard for history or human rights. We are still fighting in Afghanistan, but Afghanistan is not Iraq.

I adamantly opposed George Bush’s decision to go to war with Iraq. I was not alone, hundreds of millions protested world-wide. Unfortunately, most members of Congress failed in their Constitutional Duty to declare war and instead were persuaded to give Bush authorization to use force. They did not place limits on this authorization. Those congressmen that voted for this failed the American people and should either recant their votes or be removed from office in shame and disgrace. The members of the press and media that cheerleaded and encouraged this war in Iraq failed the American public in their duty to keep us informed of the truth. All of the chickenhawks who supported this war are to blame. Bush and his cabal did an effective job at equating Saddam Hussein with 9/11, even though there has been NO evidence of this. According to the polls over 70% of the American troops in Iraq believed that Saddam was responsible for the 9/11 attacks and 80% of the American people at one time supported this war. Remember, there is a difference between supporting the troops and supporting an unjust and immoral war.

The war in Iraq is a disaster. Hundreds of thousands of Iraqis have died or been wounded. More Americans have now died in Iraq and Afghanistan than had died in the 9/11 attacks. Tens of thousands have been maimed and wounded. By all accounts Iraq is worse off now than under Saddam Hussein. We wasted our Peace Dividend and the greatest Budget surplus in the history of the world. We awarded it to the defense contractors and other mega corporations. This money could have been spent much more wisely on education, health care, the environment, alternative energy systems, infrastructure, safety or disaster preparedness (think about Katrina, Global Warming, etc.). George Bush and his ilk are warmongers because they actively encouraged and sold us this war in Iraq. A war in which everyone has lost except for those who profit from death and destruction. Remember the words of President Eisenhower; the Military Industrial Complex has immense power. They are now pushing war in Iran. I am not a pacifist, but I do not wish for war. War goes against the Christian values that I was raised with. Love thy neighbor, encourage peace and understanding and that ignorance is the real enemy.

Since 9/11/2001, we have seen our own freedoms and liberties diminished. The Patriot USA act challenges the very principles upon which our nation is founded. We have a right to free speech, we have the right to question our leaders and we have rights to privacy in our homes. The actions of the Bush Administration and the current Republican and Democrat politicians in regards to the War on Terror and the War in Iraq have not made us safer, but have made us weaker and more vulnerable. Rome collapsed not just from foreign invasion, but from decay within. National security is more than checking airplanes and illegal wiretapping. It is also a matter of education, health care, clean environment, honest government, healthy economies, housing, justice and a vision of a better future for all. In nearly all of these fields we are worse off than we were when Bush took office in 2001. Our Budget priorities are shameful, spending more money on the military than on all the rest of the world combined.  Most of the world now hates the American Government because of our actions in the Middle East. It is more difficult to travel and I have to admit that I am ashamed of our current government. Ignorance is a true enemy of Freedom and Understanding and we abound and revel in it. As of now the terrorists appear to be winning. They have spread fear and terror worldwide and we have given up much of our freedom. Remember that governments can also practice terrorism. Just ask the victims of the Holocaust, the prisoners of the Gulags, the people of Iraq, the campesinos of Latin America, the desaparecidos of Chile and Argentina, the brave protestors of Tiananmen, the Native Americans or for that matter the prisoners that we have held illegally and without due process in Guantanamo or many other prisons.

 

What can we do now? First off we must start by recognizing our mistakes. We need to impeach the President along with Dick Cheney, who is one of the key architects of this war. We need to ask for forgiveness, from our troops, our neighbors, the Iraqi people, and if you are religious, then from our God. We need to hold the defense contractors and corporations like Halliburton accountable for our funds and their actions. We must offer to help pay for the rebuilding of Iraq, but we do not need to rebuild it in our image. We definitely need to take steps to decrease our dependence on Foreign Oil. We also must reassess our relationship with Israel. We should hold their government accountable for our funds and their actions with regards to the Palestinian and Lebanese people. We all need to learn more about other cultures and try to be more understanding. We must demand that the media be diligent and report honestly. We must pass laws that require Fair Trade and for the Multinational Corporations to honor and respect their employees, the environment and the countries they operate in. We need to seek justice and fairness and we need to combat terrorists through education and legal means. We must once again participate in our democracy and vote. We are supposed to have a government, of, for and by the people. Let’s vote all of the Congressmen who have supported this ill-conceived war on Iraq and assault on the American Constitution out of office this November. But most of all, take the time to become informed and consider our lives as human beings and American Citizens.

 

John Roger Miller

American Citizen, Earthling, Kindergarden Teacher, College Geography Professor, Army Veteran, Former Intelligence Analyst and International Relations practitioner, farmer and Green Party US Congressional Candidate, 21st District, Ca.

John R. Miller
PO Box 691
Ducor, Ca. 93218
(559) 534-2526
Miller21cdgreenglobe@yahoo.com
www.greenglobenursery.com