| LIFE-NET NEWS |
| by Ret Z. |
| Covering Poverty Widely in a Net of Many Voices |
| 2001 September 12 | No Profit; No Proceeds |
| Volume 5 Number 12 | All-Volunteer |
| "Give a family a fish, and they'll eat a meal; give them a Net, and they'll have fish for Life." |
| T H E H O R R I F I C E L E V E N T H |
| Voices You May Not Have Heard |
| Editor's Note | ||
| I have been privileged over the past four years to host a wide diversity of voices on important issues. This week, I started to write a whole-issue editorial. Writing, I lost my word power and decided to defer to Life-Net's many other voices. |
Common themes emerged: Horror. Empathy. Condolences.
Condemnation of the indiscriminate slaughter.
Apart from these common themes, variety reigned. Here we present a mix not seen on TV. | [Quotes are not meant to represent the entire, unchanging view of any of these speakers or writers. Responses submitted to us too late for this edition will likely appear on our site under "Counterpoint", or on the Radio then under "Segments".] |
| THE HORRIFIC ELEVENTH | Life-Net Radio Stars | VOICES YOU MAY NOT HAVE HEARD |
|
"A nation called Amalek attacked the people [of ancient
Israel] from the rear, targeting families and the weak while
avoiding the soldiers and leaders. ... We must blot out Amalek
from under the heavens. Osama bin-Laden and anyone else who is
responsible must be brought down forever. Yet, we also have to
recognize that the evil is a hideous echo of the legitimate
struggles of Israel and of the Palestinians to find a way to
co-exist. Yes, Amalek was, and almost certainly is today, a son
of Ishmael. But just as not all Arabs are Moslems and not all
Moslems are Arab, not all Palestinians are Amalek," wrote Jewish
cantor and anti-hunger activist Ron Fischman in a sermon.
"We have to continue finding a way to define or re-define peace as the solution. ... Vengeance is not gonna do it. Retaliation is not gonna do it. We're gonna have to find a superior facilitator to bring us into a peace arena worldwide. We're just burying ourselves with retaliation and other actions and counter-actions. ... We're gonna have to find some other ground of aspiration to peace that we're somehow missing," said Jose Gonzalez, paralegal, and activist for Vieques and Camden City. "We need to be careful that we do not become like those who attacked us. We need to filter every act through prayer and scripture. Then be zealous, patient, and long-suffering in carrying out God's plan. Always mindful of His work ... the spread of the Gospel," wrote prison-visiting volunteer Randy Shipley. |
"There have been 60 assassinations in the past 11 months
with Dick Cheney commenting 'The Israeli Policy of Assassination
is Understandable.' Probably lit the dynamite that became the
WTC tragedy.
"However ... Far from dealing a powerful blow against imperialist militarism, terrorism plays into the hands of those elements within the US establishment who seize on such events to justify and legitimize the resort to war in pursuit of the geopolitical and economic interests of the ruling elite," wrote Tino Rozzo, New Jersey gubernatorial candidate. "I am truly sorry [!] for the many victims in NYC and DC and their families, but I cannot see that as separate from the horrors we are continually inflicting on others worldwide. "... Bush and his cronies, even most Americans seem totally blind to the likely results of their plans for 'revenge'. ..." "Probably it would have been much easier for [the terrorists] to attack us with chemical or biological weapons which would have involved little risk to the attackers. Instead they chose to die to kill a limited number of mostly adults and few children. The biological attacks might still be in the planning stages," wrote futurist and intentional-community thinker Art Rosenblum. |
"We as a country need to remain focussed on the Lord. If
this is what God needs to take place in order for us to repent
and turn back to where we need to be as a country so that
there's a revival in this country, we know that God is in
control," said Bible club leader Chrissy Revel.
"They don't like McDonald's hamburgers and the projection of soap operas and satellites into a religiously conservative country. ... You can indeed feel that you're being polluted. ... "Don't beat up on the next Arab you see, because Islam does not condone this at all. ... Even though there's an Islamic teaching, the matter of the jihad and the holy war, if you go to the core of the teaching, the holy war is with your own passions, not with some named enemy that you're going to go and beat up on. I can point out that the Christian community does not have blood-free hands, either, because missions have gone to war and slaughtered Jews and Muslims over patches of land. ... There's a self-righteousness in all of this. ... Then we get into doing the same thing to other people. ... "If you look at the chain of offense and guilt and reprisal, it's poisoned the whole human race. ... "The prayer has to be internal, and the prayer also should be consideration of 'What have I done to contribute to the overall situation?' ... One always looks into one's own heart first in the matter of prayer," said retired engineer Mike Carrell. |
| THE HORRIFIC ELEVENTH | Others of Our Many Voices | VOICES YOU MAY NOT HAVE HEARD |
|
"Something that speaks of the need for justice, yes, but
not revenge--those headlines speak just what the minds behind
the horrible deeds seem to use to justify what they've done.
... Speak of ways this event might call this nation back to
truly Christian living," wrote one of our number-one fans,
retired missionary Ruth Ann Robinson.
On 9/11, "my son ... called ... I said that I would like to understand the motives and reasoning of the people who had done this, but could not see how it could be justified. |
He agreed,"
wrote Wayne Becker, whom we met at NEW VISIONS's garden party.
"Watching these horrific events unravel before my eyes this morning only brought back painful memories of the loss of my aunt, who died three years ago in the Embassy bombing in Kenya. ... Later I realized that it was exactly three years ago today that I sat among political and religious giants of this country as we observed the memorial service for the US Embassies bombing victims at the National Cathedral in Washington, DC. How well I remember that day ... | "There was time to explore the cathedral. ... All of a sudden, my son's dull, but white, dress shirt absorbed all the beautiful colors from the stained glass. My son, who can be rather reserved, burst into a spontaneous dance twirling in the beautiful rainbow of colors. ... What a beautiful gift from the Creator. ... In all of [the tragedy], there is a rainbow--a miracle that reminds us how precious is life and those who live it," wrote subscriber Janet. |
| THE HORRIFIC ELEVENTH | Snipped Threads | VOICES YOU MAY NOT HAVE HEARD |
|
"This is not the war of democracy vs. terror that the world
will be asked to believe in the coming hours and days.
"It is also about American missiles smashing into Palestinian homes and US helicopters firing missiles into a Lebanese ambulance in 1996 and American shells crashing into a village called Qana a few days later and about a Lebanese militia--paid and uniformed by America's Israeli ally--hacking and raping and murdering their way through refugee camps. ... "We will be told about 'mindless terrorism', the 'mindless' bit being essential if we are not to realise how hated America has become in the land of the birth of three great religions," wrote Robert Fisk. (The Independent) "Throughout the world, on any given day, a man, woman, or child is likely to be displaced, tortured, killed, or 'disappeared', at the hands of governments or armed political groups. More often than not, the United States shares the blame." (Amnesty International) "'War criminal' means just that--inflicting a level of carnage barbaric and unacceptable even in time of war. It does not even begin to touch the many regimes--today, Israel comes to mind--that the U.S. has supported, armed, advised, and even installed, who have inflicted horrors on their own populations," wrote Geov Parrish. (WorkingForChange.com) |
"Turning to terrorism to fight global oppression and
exploitation is not an acceptable strategy. ... Open and
unmitigated attacks on civilian targets do not advance radical
[or] revolutionary causes and must be repudiated. Rather, such
attacks inevitably antagonize the populace, weaken any existing
popular support, and help legitimize heightened levels of
repression by the imperialist state against all progressive,
radical, and revolutionary political activity," wrote the Black
Radical Congress in a statement.
"Whatever the final death total will be, there will be at least that many, or more, new people with disabilities. The disability community must unite to assist individuals, the new people with disabilities and their families through the trying times that lie ahead due to this attack," wrote the National Disability Party in a statement. "We ask God to give us strength and to guide us in the way of our United Methodist heritage which calls us to see a tragedy like what has just happened, as an opportunity for self- examination, repentance, truth telling, restitution, healing, and forgiveness. ... "May God give us the courage to follow the way of Jesus the Christ: 'In everything do to others what you would have them do to you,'" wrote the General Board of Global Ministries in a statement. |
"I myself experienced several such bombings in Israel, one
occurring right outside of my apartment building on Ramat Eshkol
St. in Jerusalem. ...
"My advice is that life should go on. Cancel no meetings. Keep your businesses open. Keep your kids in school. Go see your friends. Pray for those who are dead, for those who are injured, and for the families who have lost their loved ones. But life must go on. Or else, we have given in to terrorism," wrote Rabbi Chayim Levin. "In the name of God, we too demand that those responsible for these utterly evil acts be found and brought to justice. ... But we must not, out of anger and vengeance, indiscriminately retaliate in ways that bring on even more loss of innocent life. ... "This attack on our life as a nation will become a test of our national character. Let us make the right choices," wrote a group of prominent religious leaders. (Sojourners) "As Palestinians, who have been victims of terror, we are appalled at the reports of Palestinians celebrating your tragedy. Amidst all the pain and injustice that we have been living through the past year, we condemn all terrorist crimes that dehumanize and perpetrate evil. ... "Now is the time to work with more determination to deal with the root causes that create violence," wrote the Sabeel Ecumenical Liberation Theology Center of Jerusalem. |
| THE HORRIFIC ELEVENTH |
SAYS RET Z. Good Vs. Evil | VOICES YOU MAY NOT HAVE HEARD |
|
In one of the earliest issues of Life-Net News, I quoted a
pastor who said, "If God doesn't judge America, he's going to
have to apologize to Sodom and Gomorrah!" Having observed world
events since then, I've recalled these words again and again,
confirmed in various words by activists both left and right.
I am not a pacifist. But when I hear the cries for revenge, I think more of repentance. My Lord seems to want to burn these words into my brain: "Love your enemies," and "Overcome evil with good." aGApe- offers surprising strategic options if studied and pondered. I urge you to visit our Love Lab, where you can find help thinking (further, I hope) outside the box of bloodthirst. What will you conclude after spending time there? |
I can only imagine possibilities, like:
"Love is patient." A determination to let cooler heads prevail in our diplomacy. To hang in there at the international table until we reach the widest consensus we can. "Love is kind." Armed with a new empathy for war and disaster victims everywhere, we might embark on a massive global campaign of benevolence and goodwill. Let the world see a new nation of compassion, forged in the crucible of mourning, that would drain away our enemies' popular support. "Love is not puffed up." Let our patriotism be tempered with humility born of searching discernment and recognition of our national faults. Prayer's first step is confession. |
"Love does not behave unbecomingly." Our Lord would
surely have us examine our own international behavior and pump
up our practice of intercultural consideration.
"Love does not rejoice in unrighteousness or injustice." We take no pleasure in the death of non-combatants--anywhere. Wherever there's injustice we've contributed to, we must resolve to change our ways. The situation has been called a "monumental struggle of good versus evil." If in this historical drama we wish the Director of Truth to cast us in the Good role, we must audition for it. Study the sly strategies of love. |
| SPREADING THE NET |
Featured Charities On the Front Line | SPREADING THE NET |
|
== Those wanting to assist with recovery efforts may make
contributions to CHURCH WORLD SERVICE and earmark them for
Domestic Terrorism Recovery. Financial contributions may be
sent through your local church, or please visit www.cwserp.org
or call your Church World Service/CROP Regional Office toll-free
at 1-888-CWS-CROP (-297-2767).
== In less than an hour after the terrorist attacks in New York City and Washington, DC, OPERATION BLESSING INTERNATIONAL's (OBI) Disaster Response Team was coordinating a plan for disaster aid through its Outreach Centers in both cities. Already (9/12/01) a Hunger Strike Force tractor-trailer filled with drinks, energy bars, and blankets for dedicated relief |
workers is on its way to New York City. Other HSF trucks stand
ready to assist in coordination with FEMA and community efforts.
New Yorkers wanting to help in the relief effort may call (718) 265-CARE. Outside of New York, the most effective way to help is through financial assistance: please call 1-800-730-2537 or visit www.ob.org. == The leadership of the emergency response units of the churches happened to be meeting together in New Mexico when the disasters struck, reports the UNITED METHODIST COMMITTEE ON RELIEF. Plans are being drawn (9/12/01) for pastoral care and trauma counseling when the time is appropriate for volunteers to |
have access to those affected. Any response by UMCOR will be
coordinated with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA),
the American Red Cross and Church World Service member
communions.
Please give to "Mass Violence 2001," UMCOR Advance #901125-3. Give through your local United Methodist church or mail contributions to: UMCOR, 475 Riverside Dr., Room 330, New York, NY 10115. Call 800-554-8583 to make a credit card donation. 100% of your gift goes to the designated response. Those people wishing to volunteer may call 1-800-918-3100. (www.umcor.org) |
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