While I have always hoped that my Birthday would go down in history, I never hoped for this. September the 11, 2001 acts of terrorism against the United States had not only the intended effect, but have also terrorized the entire world. If Thomas Paine were alive today, he might recognize this as a new American Crisis. For his words have never rung more true, these truly are the times that try men’s souls. It is easy to feel hate and anger. It is natural and reasonable to want Justice and a feeling of helplessness has crippled us all. But we must not give into the terror that has so befallen us. We must rise up to our higher humanity rather that become like those who have so wounded us. We must stay calm, we must seek Justice not Vengeance, and we must as individuals take action. On the local level, we can give blood for the wounded, give services and comfort to the grieving, and rise to the challenge not by speaking and acting out of hate, but by seeking peace not war, justice not revenge. The World Trade Center was a place of business, an architectural marvel, a tourist attraction, and a part of New York City’s skyline. When I think of driving to New York and not seeing this great monument I am saddened. But I am reminded of some words that I heard once. “Human stubbornness, when something we value is destroyed, we rebuild it. If it's destroyed again we rebuild it again, and again, and again, and… again. Until it stays. That, as the poet Tennyson once said, is the goal: ‘To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.’”

–Commander Jeffery Sinclair, Babylon 5 (Quoting Tennyson’s Ulysses)

-Staks

New American Crisis Paper #2

Just yesterday America and the world were rocked by the worst terrorist attack ever in human history. As I was glued to the news and watched the painful images of the World Trade Centers claps I couldn’t help but notice how small the airliner was in comparison to the great buildings which once stood second tallest on the globe. A modern day Tower of Babel has fallen, but this time the world was not pushed apart, but rather pulled together. In the city that defines Diversity, the Big Apple stands strong. Many would have thought that a city so known for its criminal element would be over-run with looting and opportunistic crimes. This has not been the case. Our diversity has not made us weak, but has become the source of our strength. That strength must be called upon in the days ahead not just in our current crisis, but for the rest of our history. Let this day of terror transform us into better people and mark a new age in human history. But let this new age be one of understanding and peace, not of hate and vengeance.

Many people are angry and justifiably so. There is talk of racial hate, unsubstantiated accusations, hopes for war, and a thirst for revenge. I am reminded of the words of one of our founding fathers, Ben Franklin, “Anger is seldom without a reason, but seldom with a good one.” I have also pondered the words of another great American, the Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. when he stated that “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” And so I hope for cooler heads to prevail in these days and nights ahead. I hope that we do not become like those who have so terrorized us just yesterday. And I hope that we concentrate on rebuilding our great monument and healing our wounds. But remember that more blood will not bring back our dead. Let us fight with our hearts and not our fists and hope that we have seen the end of this New American Crisis.

-Staks

New American Crisis Paper #3

Toward the end of the first week after the great day of terror, I look around me and see a New World. I have interviewed dozens of people from all over the planet and out of the many things that they all have said in common the most prominent is that this great terror has changed the world. Nothing is the same any more. This is a moment of transition. But which way will we be transformed? No one is sure. Some misquote prophets like Nostradamus to justify their fear of gloom and doom. Others see America as the Phoenix rising from the ashes better and stronger than ever. I guess the glass is either half empty or half full as it always is. It is easy to see World War III just around the corner but easy things are not always the best things. There is a greater darkness than the one we wish to fight. It is the darkness of the soul, which has lost its way. The war we fight is not against powers or principalities or terrorists; it is against chaos and despair. Greater than the loss of life is the loss of hope and dreams. And so I look up at the night sky and I think once again of Tennyson, “For I dipped into the future, as far as the human eyes could see. Saw the vision of the world and all the wonder that would be.”

Humankind has been of a certain way for so long, easily angered, filled with hate and prejudice, and giving in to all of our lower natures. Now we have an opportunity to deal with this new crisis in a new way. Our eyes can open and we can think of what an ideal person would be and strive to be it. Terror has made us come together, why should anything pull us apart again. It is time to rise above our own self-interest not just for these next few days, but for the rest of our days. I am reminded of the words of another great writer, Tolstoy who said, “Everybody thinks of changing humanity, but nobody thinks of changing himself.” Let us change ourselves today and build a New World off the painful lessons learned from the old.

-Staks

New American Crisis Paper #4

I awoke this morning in darkness instead of light. For nature has begun to mirror the violence of its human inhabitance. The skies opened up, missiles of lightning and bombs of rain fell upon the Earth. Explosions of thunder shattered the peace of the dark quiet morning; the chill in the air had matched that of my heart, and I knew that yesterday’s optimism was over and the world was leaning toward a dark new age.

As I talked to family, friends, and co-workers it became clear that war was no longer the last resort of a free and peaceful nation, but rather the desire of a nation gone mad with fear, anger, hate, and a thirst for revenge. But more than that war has become something of excitement. It is the epitome of reality television and is far more interesting than the political sex scandals that had been so prominent in the news just one week ago.

Osama Bin Laden is a religious zealot and a mad man, but he is only a mere symptom not the disease. Kill him now, and another will quickly take his place. A message must be sent however. I ask you all what will that message say? Will it say, as Bin Laden believes that America is the big bad bully or will it say that America stands for what is just and right? Do two wrongs make a right? I no longer know anymore. Everyone else seems to think so, who am I to argue. I feel a little like Galileo telling the world that the Earth moves around the Sun. Bin Laden believes that we are responsible for killing innocent people and so he does the same. Now we will do the same; becoming like the mad man we have so demonized.

I unfortunately have little doubt that Humankind has chosen its destination. But there is still one chance left. One chance to hold the line for peace. We must turn this New American Crisis into a rallying cry for a New World. We must rise up in character and we must not fall. We must do as Gandhi suggests and “be the change we wish to see in the world.”

-Staks