Is This Really America?

by Dave Jackson (Scoop0901)
© 2001, by Dave Jackson. All rights reserved.
Posted 10-15-2001

It’s been just over a month since four planes were hijacked in the United States on Tuesday, September 11, 2001. Three of those planes were used as cruise missiles, razing the World Trade Center, as well as destroying a section of the Pentagon. The fourth plane was crashed into a field in western Pennsylvania, just east of Pittsburgh. In the days and weeks since the attacks on America, many things have happened, and many things have changed. America is no longer a virgin to attack. In fact, the September 11 attacks were just the beginning, as many feared. Since then, biological warfare has been initiated on this nation.

This column is going to take a slightly different approach to the current events. What I’m going to do is look at a few issues, relating to the attacks and the government’s handling of the investigation; a look at some changes that have taken place in the U.S. since September 11; share some information from the first book about the attacks; and move on from there. The pace will be fast, and there is some conjecture on my part that you know a little of U.S. history. Sure, it’s dangerous on my part, but I have no desire to be a seventh-grade teacher.

Now that the spoils of war have been visited upon American soil, the question to be posed is how Americans will go about their lives. President George W. Bush has called on Americans to resume their lives, to get back into the flow of things, to do what they did prior to the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, but there is a lot to be considered before people can go back to some semblance of normalcy.

Many people are asking what U.S. government has for evidence to prove that Usama bin Laden was behind the September 11 attacks. It’s a logical question, and one which must be addressed by the president. In fact, he has a duty to inform the American people. Some people say the president need not share the evidence, as it could tip his hand, showing what information has been gathered to date. Some argue that during a criminal investigation by local police departments, or even by federal agencies, information gleaned is not shared with the public or media, rather it is secured until a trial begins. There’s a difference with this investigation. The United States is bombing Afghanistan, much to the dismay of many radicals, both in the U.S. and abroad. Peace protests have been organized and held in many American cities. I saw one here in Philadelphia on Independence Mall. I listened to the organizers lead everyone, like lambs to a slaughter, in a chant. It was something about “Hell No! We won’t go!” I didn’t realize anyone had been asked to go anywhere. Perhaps the protestors were 30 years late or we just awakening from one heck of an LSD trip, thinking the U.S. was still sending combat troops to Vietnam.

At any rate, let’s take a look back in history. There was a group of 55 men who met in the one building, a meeting house, as it were, in colonial Philadelphia. It was just blocks from the fish market, the docks where all the ships arrived daily, and wasn’t too terribly far from any of the churches in town. What those men decided upon, at their meeting in locked chambers, was that the King of Great Britain had visited cruelties upon the colonists, and they wanted the world to know. To get their message out, those men issued what we today call the Declaration of Independence. The second paragraph begins, “We hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness -- That to secure these Rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just Powers from the Consent of the Governed, that whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these Ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its Foundation on such Principles, and organizing its Powers in such Form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.”

Did you notice that 225 years ago those 55 men realized that governments are not perfect? They afforded many things in the Declaration, as well as the Constitution. Note well that they penned in the Declaration of Independence, “That to secure these Rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just Powers from the Consent of the Governed, that whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these Ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government.” Is that there by mistake? Not a chance, my friend, as this was chief among their argument that the King of Great Britain had no say over them in the new, distant land. I remember reading those words the first time: “That to secure these Rights, … deriving their just Powers from the Consent of the Governed … it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government.” I questioned my teacher, my mother, and others I knew about the meaning of the words. Surely no one would ever want to alter or abolish my country, now would they? No, not at that time, but the opportunity is there.

Because the U.S. supposedly has a government of the people, by the people, and for the people, it is the people of the United States, the citizens, to whom our elected officials must answer. They need not answer to lobbyists, to blue ribbon committees, or other officials. Every elected official, from the president on down, is accountable to the citizens of the United States. They have this tendency to forget that part. They think they are sent to Washington, following an election, to serve their constituents, but soon forget that they are there to vote on the issues as their constituents would have them vote. For example, if a senator is pro-abortion and there is an upcoming vote on abortion rights, the senator may wish to vote to expand abortion rights or services. If only one constituent calls the senator’s office, saying to vote against the proposed legislation, the senator is supposed to vote against the legislation because it is the will of the people.

Now we’re getting down to the nitty-gritty. Am I advocating the overthrow of the U.S. government? No, not at the moment. Since the September 11 attacks, however, the government has taken to more secrecy than ever. The evidence Dubya says he has against bin Laden is being kept secret from the American people, although other governments have seen most, if not all of that information. Or is it all a hoax? Is it possible the U.S. perpetrated the attacks against the World Trade Center and the Pentagon in attempts to strengthen the U.S., or to improve the economy? Well, I’m not sure, and no, I am not advocating that. What I am advocating is that things done in secret, when it involves the citizens of the United States, is not beneficial for those same citizens. In fact, the U.S. government is so paranoid about bin Laden that the major television network news channels, ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox, and CNN, have all been asked to not air any videotaped messages from bin Laden or the Taliban because the taped messages could have secret messages in them. Okay, I will buy that. Perhaps bin Laden is going to wear a Timex watch on his left wrist when he sends his next message, which is the signal for his suicide jockeys in the U.S. to use Ginsu steak knives instead of plastic box cutters in the next attack. The U.S. has good cause for worrying about such hidden messages: the U.S. uses these, among other tactics, to get messages to field operatives. But does any reasonable person believe, just for a minute, that Usama bin Laden, a multi-millionaire, is limited in his communication methods to secret messages in videotapes which may not be aired in the U.S.? Of course not! But is bin Laden the only person to be weary about in all of Afghanistan? Not a chance. If we kill him, we have created a martyr. If we kill the members of the Taliban, we have created martyrs. If we kill all members of the al Qaeda network, probably thousands of radicals, what do we benefit? Nothing really, except for having created more martyrs for other radicals to declare justification for a jihad. Am I against killing bin Laden, the members of the Taliban, or even those in the al Qaeda network? Not a chance, and I don’t think there really is any alternative at this point, but I really don’t see where things will end. Anger begets anger, as the old proverb goes, just as it did on September 11. Americans are still banding together, united, to seek justice. But justice at what cost? The U.S. cannot sit back and not retaliate, as that would only be answered with more attacks. The U.S. can continue retaliating, but that will only be answered by more attacks. There is no simple, clear-cut answer.

It’s now Monday, October 15, 2001, and there are several confirmed cases of Anthrax exposure here in the U.S. Tommy Thompson, secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, has come out so many times now saying that the Anthrax attacks are not linked to terrorism that I’ve lost count. Prior to September 11, terrorism was relatively simple to define. Now, post-September 11, however, we find ourselves at a crossroads for defining terrorism. During a call to the Health and Human Services today, I was told that the FBI is the agency that has authority to decide what is a terrorist attack. The public relations talking head also wanted to talk to me “off-the-record,” which, in plain English, says that you cannot use anything said during the conversation for publication. I told them that nothing is off-the-record, as no information of substance is being given to the American public. I was told that’s an utter falsehood and that the conversation was over. I said goodbye. The purpose of my call to Washington? To get the “official” definition of terrorism in post-September 11 America. It’s a sad shame when officials feel the need to speak off the record to discuss the issue.

Had the Anthrax attacks occurred prior to September 11, do you believe there would have been any hesitation on the part of the government to declare the attacks to be terrorism? I certainly don’t. In fact, Dubya was on national TV less than forty minutes after the first plane slammed into the World Trade Center saying that the U.S. was under terrorist attack. All airports had been closed, all air traffic grounded, and New York City became a police state. Where’s the beef, Dubya? Are the Anthrax attacks terrorist attacks or not? Looking at historical data, I found that there were 18 documented cases of Anthrax exposure in the entire twentieth century. That averages to about 0.18 cases per year. In less than one week, however, we have more than six cases? Wow! Talk about a significant increase? Well, to make the story even juicier, it was announced that Sen. Majority Leader Tom Daschle had received a letter which contained Anthrax. His office was immediately quarantined and closed and staffers were being examined and treated, Daschle said. “I am very, very disappointed and angry,” Daschle said at a Capitol Hill news conference. About 40 people were in the office, which is in the Hart Senate Office Building, at the time the package was opened about 10:30 a.m. Monday, Daschle said.

News of the package was first announced at a news conference at the White House earlier in the day. Dubya was asked whether the recent increase in anthrax-containing mailings, as well as two confirmed cases could be linked to Osama bin Laden. Dubya said, “We have no hard data on that yet, but it’s clear that Mr. bin Laden is a man who is an evil man. He and his spokesmen are openly bragging about how they hope to inflict more pain on our country, so we’re watching every piece of evidence. We’re making sure we connect any dots that we have to find out who’s doing this. I wouldn’t put it past him, but we don’t have hard evidence yet.” So, the question still remains, Dubya, are these attacks terrorism, or are the simply criminal activity? On a soothing note, however, Bush announced plans to recommend Congress allocate more than $1.5 billion in additional funds for the Department of Health and Human Services efforts to fight bio-terrorism, bringing the amount devoted to the fight to more than $1.8 billion, the department said Sunday.

In other post-September 11 news from around the country, New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani received the news that he is to receive an honorary knighthood from Queen Elizabeth II. Giuliani received the honor on Monday for his “outstanding help and support to the bereaved British families in New York” in the wake of the September 11 terrorist attacks. Honorary titles of Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire are also being conferred on the city’s police and fire commissioners. The titles were announced during a City Hall visit by the Queen’s second son, Prince Andrew, the Duke of York. While Giuliani may accept the title, he will not be able to use the official form, which would be “Sir Rudolph” because he is not a UK citizen. He can, however, put the initials “KBE” (Knight of the British Empire) after his name, the palace said. Looking at the U.S. Constitution, however, under Article I, Section 9, Clause 8, we find: “No Title of Nobility shall be granted by the United States: And no Person holding any Office of Profit or Trust under them, shall, without the Consent of the Congress, accept of any present, Emolument, Office, or Title, of any kind whatever, from any King, Prince, or foreign State.” I wonder if Rudy can accept the title.

The first book, a print-on-demand book, that deals with the events of September 11 has been released. The official title, though somewhat long, is 09/11 8:48 a.m.: Documenting America’s Greatest Tragedy, is a really excellent read, and deals with the events from the human side. The book, produced in less than 15 days, neatly joins together the words and feelings of average New Yorkers, journalism students, professors, and others. The 75 people who wrote the 85 soul-touching stories found a place of solace to express their feelings – not in front of the TV where interaction is a one-way thing, but through the newer electronic means – bringing them and us, the readers, to find a new form of togetherness, of unity, around the campfire of the Internet and the book world.

Ethan Casey, the book’s editor, said several hundred submissions were received, and in the end, he says, it came down to determining which of the stories were best suited for the book. There were three sources of material. The first source was material that first ran on the Blue Ear Forum (http://www.blueear.com/forum) moderated discussion list; the second was material sent in by many people as the result of an email campaign to solicit manuscripts for the book. Casey said, “Some of the material that came in this way was brilliant stuff I'm delighted to have found - some is reprinted newspaper articles by journalists, some personal essays by 'ordinary people'.” The third source was material written by faculty and students at New York University’s Department of Journalism, either specifically for the book or already written and submitted for inclusion in the book, Casey explained in an email to me.

While I am not one to be emotional over tragic events, I found myself at times having eyes filled with tears while reading this book, and at other times all I could do was shake my head in bewilderment. The book was read at home, but also in public, but not with a specific purpose. Several people who saw me reading the book gasped when they saw the title. Others asked where I obtained the book.

Through the writings of the 75 authors, the book shoots straight to the heart. I found myself moved by one story called “Suburban Fallout,” by Mary Quigley. She related that she was in church on the Saturday following the attacks. The church was full of somber people – people seeking comfort in God and in each other. She told how the preacher pulled a piece of paper and read off a list of some 30 names of victims of the World Trade Center attacks. Those 30 people were all men and women from her hometown. God, it hit me hard that one community had lost so much, so many – all without warning or provocation. That must be why the attacks were classified as terrorism. Other people, people who normally would not have been at the church, were there, as well during the service. They were friends and acquaintances of those who had fallen. Tears flowed from my eyes with those people in the church. Looking back, I realize why the story hurt me, touched me, and made me cry. The story is one equal footing with a moment of very personal loss. I have suffered through similar situations, although nothing so public or dramatic – the unexpected death of someone that was very much apart of my daily life. My nephew, Frank, died. No, he didn’t die in New York City. His place of death was in Philadelphia. No, he didn’t die on September 11, 2001. He died in 1993. No, he didn’t die as the result of an act of terrorism. He suffered a seizure and was rushed to the hospital. He was declared brain-dead in less than 24 hours. That same punch-in-the-gut feeling, the same cry from my soul was felt all over again for those 30 people being remembered in that church. Tears for their families, their neighbors, and their friends. Thirty people. All of them now gone. How is that possible?

The book is filled with brief glimpse of the events, as they unfolded on September 11 – through the eyes of others. Empathy personified, if you will. The book tells the tale of people living blocks away from the World Trade Center, and in one case, the story of a homeless man who called the World Trade Center home. He lived in the monolith’s shadow. He sought shelter from the elements of the seasons, and now, post-September 11, the little corner of Ground Zero he used to call home is gone. It’s been reduced to nothing more than a landfill – a pile of rubble on the other side of a tall fence. It’s gone. Did any of us even know this homeless man existed before September 11? How many of those who died or are missing saw him each and every time they entered or exited the building? How many of the people who used to work in the World Trade Center handed him change or a sandwich are now gone? It’s a sobering thought, and one none of us would have without this excellent work.

From the story about the homeless man to the story of an airline pilot caught in the air, far from home. We follow one pilot’s steps from the plane he was piloting at the time of the attacks to his pacing a hotel room. Then we follow him back to the airport to hear a list of dead co-workers’ names read, then it’s back to the hotel. He, and we, as voyeurs in his life, finally makes it back home to his wife and family. The last lines of his story really stick out. Shortly after arriving home – amid fanfare and celebration for his safety, one of his neighbors calls to tell him to ignore the noises from behind his property. It seems his neighbors were taking time for serious target practice. Welcome home, Captain.

If you don’t want to cry, if you don’t want to run through the dust cloud with someone who escaped the World Trade Center attacks, then this book is definitely not for you. If you don’t want to be forced to think, to think about how other cultures perceive what is happening in the United States, don’t bother considering this book. If you don’t want to consider the fact that the U.S. may offend other nations in the process of doing “good works,” put your credit card back into your wallet. If you want a breath of fresh air, if you need to grieve and heal with the people that were in New York City that fateful day, be sure to get a copy of this book.

Casey, who lives in England, says “Mitchell Davis, BookSurge.com’s VP Marketing and co-founder, emailed me, suggesting the project on Friday, September 14. We spoke by phone on Saturday, September 15, and by the following Monday, September 17, we were rocking and rolling. I turned in the manuscript on Saturday, September 29, and we finalized it very late that evening. By Monday, October 1, it was shipping to stores and individuals.”

Reading over the newsgroups as I prepared this column, I found Robert Sturgeon on alt.survival arguing about the U.S.’s “grit” to win the war on terrorism. The threat, “The next wave of terror attacks – a perspective…”, was dealing with the issue of bio-terrorism. Robert, in his posting, said he saw some “expert” on TV “explaining that vaccinating the entire U.S. population against smallpox would kill about 1,000 people from the side effects of the vaccine, and this is unacceptable, in the opinion of the expert, that is. The message is clear - the U.S. can’t stand 1,000 random deaths to save 10 - 60,000,000 people from dying of smallpox. In case anyone still doubts it, the U.S. population lacks the “grit” to fight a war against terrorists willing and able to do something like using smallpox as a weapon. If the terrorists didn’t hit us with smallpox, the personal injury lawyers would hit us with tort suits. Our society, as it is ruled by poll-driven politicians and sue-happy lawyers, is unable to fight this kind of war.”

I found Peter H. Proctor over on alt.politics.bush arguing that the wisest policy choice is to intervene in situations only when the remote region’s population welcomes a U.S. presence. Peter said, “True, this is the wisest policy, except when critical national interests are at stake. For one thing, intervention in non-critical places diverts us from the really important stuff.”

Punkrat, over at uk.current-events.us-bombing, argued with Lucas Husgen in the thread, “water,” about the deaths of civilians in the bombing raids being conducted by the U.S. and Britain on various Afghanistan cities. Punkrat said, “Perhaps instead of bombing their utilites and infrastructure we should kill thousands of civilians instead of uprooting them. I know 6500 families who would have gladly relocated from NYC or Washington if it would have prevented the tragedies they now must accept.”

Otter, arguing in the thread, “RANT: News broadcasts need to quit reporting Anthrax scares!” on the alt.gossip.celebrities newsgroup said he is getting tired of seeing news of another building being evacuated when he watches the news.

“We got an email at work Friday asking everyone to be especially careful when opening mail. If you knew the company I worked for you’d see how much of a joke this was. People are freaking out and panicing [sic] when they announce an office building in LA has been cleared only to find out it was common dust, or spilt nondairy creamer,” Otter explained. He continued, pleading with news stations, to “PLEASE! Quit with the BREAKING NEWS DOWNTOWN BUMBLEF*CK OFFICE CLEARED DUE TO POWDERY SUBSTANCE FOUND NEAR COFFEE MAKER! I’d much rather hear tests were positive afterwards. It’s not contagious and it’s hardly killing offices full of people so there’s no need to spread fear.” He said half of his office is in danger of being laud off because of all the lost time.