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We'll Do Our Best

I am aware that you already know this, but I thought I would contact you to say--your readers need you more than ever this week.

--Kurt R., via e-mail

We Stand Together

This is being sent out to a number of people, all blind copies.

These are dangerous times. Ignorance and racism will raise its ugly head. Already, people have been attacked. I'm afraid it will get worse. I think we need to create a database of level-headed people who will be willing to mobilize in case of trouble. There is a mosque up near Northgate. My friends at Ave Copy Company in the U-District are Moslems. They were very grateful when I went in yesterday and just said I was concerned and that they should call if needed. So: how about an e-mail/phone tree? If an angry crowd masses outside the mosque, we show up to help defuse. If someone gets their windows broken, we help to clean up the mess and guard the place while repairs are made. It's important, I think, that people see non-Middle Eastern people taking a public stand of solidarity and aid with those innocents in our community. What do you think?

--Jim Page, Seattle

[Ed note: The Church Council of Greater Seattle (206-525-1213) has begun such a program. Depending on its scope, there might be room for more, but interested folk should start there; there have already been a number of incidents, most unreported, in our area. And, as Jim says, it may well get worse.]

Justice and Peace

With justice, there is peace. Without justice, there is no peace. Right now we need justice and peace.

We need justice for the victims of September 11's terrorist attacks. We need justice--not revenge--which means not killing innocent people in retaliation for the killing of innocent people. We need justice for the Arab Americans among us, who deserve our support and protection. We need justice for the many other victims of terror around the world. We need justice for the victims of oppression, bigotry, and exploitation around the world.

Justice is the way to peace, and peace is the way to justice. We need a peaceful resolution to the injustice currently on everyone's mind and in everyone's heart. We need justice around the world to avoid future breaches of the peace in America. We need to show that love is stronger than hate, that morality is stronger than immorality.

Let's not add to the violence and injustice in the world. Let's show the way to peace and justice.

--Lansing Scott, Seattle

But America IS God

Countless innocents have died, a nation mourns, a world in sympathy. But is it too much to ask that Americans do not now make a bad situation worse by killing countless more innocents?

When the US military last attacked bin Laden, they killed thousands of very poor people and destroyed a pharmaceutical factory in Sudan--not a country with the money to buy drugs from abroad.

Iraqis and Afghans are massively oppressed by their "governments," they are dying under sanctions and drought, they hardly even have food or medicine, let alone rescue facilities like yours in New York...

We in Britain love much about America and stand foursquare with you against terrorism, but please know that injustice breeds terror, blind vengeance breeds injustice, and terrible acts of vengeance against innocent populations will only breed more terrorists.

For all our sakes now, please remember that Jesus was a peacemaker, and that there is a world out here of billions of innocent people. We do not deserve brute punishments of a new world war.

Of course the guilty must be punished, but in this case most are already dead--God will deal with their souls.

We still on this Earth must spread peace, justice, and understanding. Then, together we can make this world a safer place, a kinder place--the kind of place most ordinary Americans really want it to be, whatever your leaders may seek to do in your name.

Please, no war, but education, understanding, and justice--for all. Thank you.

--Zoe Young, London, U.K.