October 14 Op-Ed piece (TNT)

Janie Starr and Marisela Fleites-Lear

The bright sunshine of these past few weeks seems to mock the darkness that has overshadowed our nation. Our voices have risen in pain and anguish as we have struggled to make sense of the terrorism that struck down so many innocents on September 11.

Many clamor for vengeance. Others cry out for justice. And a growing number are asking for a reasoned response, based on a deep understanding of how we arrived at this horror in the first place.

Now that the missiles have been launched we are more compelled than ever to speak out in the name of restraint. We call on the United States government to pull back from the escalating cycle of violence and to develop a morally based foreign policy that might actually put a stop to global terrorism. It is never too late to silence the bombs.

Our particular group is emerging out of an individual and collective need to seek an alternative to violence. We are comprised of educators, physicians, artists, and students, retired folks, activists, farmers, social service workers, clergy, writers, and others.

We do not all think alike nor do we pretend to have the answers. Our own ideas are evolving through spirited conversation. We are sickened and angered by the terrorist acts, and some of us initially thought of revenge.

We believe there is no excuse for what transpired on Sept. 11.

We also believe that the best way we can honor those who died is through a willingness to listen, learn, and only then to act. We believe that our government's response will largely determine "what next" for all of us.

We believe that sending missiles and troops into Afghanistan not only misses the point but that it will ensure future terrorist attacks on U.S. soil. We do not believe that putting our own young men and women in harm's way or killing innocent folks elsewhere will solve or resolve anything. We appreciate our government for acknowledging the Arab-Americans among us and for giving aid to the Afghani people. From both a strategic and an ethical standpoint, we abhor the decision to drop bombs.

We want to be clear. When we speak of non-violence, we do not mean non-action. We believe the United States has the creative capacity, working with partner nations, to apprehend the attackers without becoming that evil that we rightly deplore. By setting aside the option of war, we have the opportunity to begin the long-range healing that the world requires.

We recommend for immediate action that our government pull back from war, and instead use all possible diplomatic and intelligence means to find and arrest the individuals who perpetrated this crime, avoiding the additional loss of innocent life. Justice requires the rule of law, not mass retaliation.

For the long term, we as a nation need to rethink our position in the world.

We urge our government to use restraint concerning international arms sales and to provide significant humanitarian aid to those who have been oppressed by our own past and present actions, for example, the Iraqi people who have suffered mightily from our bombs and embargoes.

We encourage participation in public educational forums to become better informed about the complex history and politics of the Middle East. We ask that each of us be willing to engage in conversation with people who disagree, to listen and learn from one another, to consider a new way.

As a nation and a people, America does much good work in the world. Perhaps now is the time to do more -- to reach out to our neighbors and strangers, join our local Hunger Walk, give to the Red Cross, for starters. We can choose to reject prejudice and violence based on skin color or ethnic origin, to honor our dead by honoring the living, and to live each day with all our hearts.

Phyllis and Orlando Rodriguez, whose son Greg is one of the Trade Center victims, wrote a letter to the New York Times which said in part, "Our son died a victim of an inhuman ideology. Our actions should not serve the same purpose. Let us grieve. Let us reflect and pray. Let us think about a rational response that brings real peace and justice to our world. But let us not as a nation add to the inhumanity of our times."

Amen to that.

Janie Starr is a member of Tacoma's Ad-hoc Committee on Peace, Justice, and Healing, and Director of Foundation for Global Community, Tacoma Chapter.

Marisela Fleites-Lear is also a member of the ad-hoc committee and a professor of Spanish at Green River Community College. For more information, call 383-5592.

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