On Sept. 11, 2001, I had more to say than normal, which is saying a lot. In addition to our regular editorial, I wrote the below special editorial. I also wanted to send another message, stronger than the cautionary editorial, so I created this editorial cartoon. Wish the cartoon had been more accurate.
A great speech once firmed up a nation’s resolve and made Americans take on their greatest task.
We adapt that speech to yesterday’s happenings to give a cautious perspective on what has happened.
“Yesterday, September 11th, 2001, the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by ...”
That’s where we have to come to a dead halt.
Live on CNN and other networks, live via streaming video on the Internet, we saw what might be this generation’s Pearl Harbor. America is at war, but we must ask the honest question – with whom?
The attack almost 60 years ago that catapulted the United States into World War II with its firm resolve was a sneak attack. But the “naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan” that sneaked under our guard each carried the blazon of the Rising Sun. We knew Japan had done the deed and directed our righteous rage there.
The planes that crashed into the World Trade Center, collapsing both towers, were just as sneaky, just as “dastardly.”
But they were unmarked.
As of this writing, it is too soon to know who did the deed. A million petty groups with imagined gripes against the United States will claim the “credit” for this slaughter of innocents.
We are not warning against anger. We must feel anger at an attack on our seat of government, and a military command center. We should feel a justified rage, a righteous sense of indignation, in the attack on the World Trade Center. That was an assault on civilians, innocents people just trying to do a normal day’s work.
But let us hold off our anger and our response until we know for sure where to direct our anger.
After the bombing of the Federal Building in Oklahoma, many quickly assumed crazy Islamic fundamentalists did a deed actually done by home grown terrorists.
It is not so illogical an assumption this time. The World Trade Center has been attacked before by Islamic fundamentalists.
But until we know for sure who did this, do not utter a word against any group. When the attackers are identified, do not lump the extremists who did such a deed in with others who share the terrorist’s religion or race.
Sixty years later, Roosevelt’s words are still a panacea. “Always will we remember the character of the onslaught against us. No matter how long it may take us to overcome this premeditated invasion, the American people in their righteous might will win through to absolute victory. … Hostilities exist. There is no blinking at the fact that our people, our territory, and our interests are in grave danger. With confidence in our armed forces -- with the unbounded determination of our people -- we will gain the inevitable triumph -- so help us God.”
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