Editor,
Sept. 11 shocked the nation and the world. The attack on innocent lives cannot be explained away using propaganda and false patriotism. Justice must prevail - not war and racism.
A true patriot is loyal to the country in times of peace and war, while keeping both eyes open, keeping our eyes on the prize. A false patriot surfaces when aggression, hate, and separatism become prevalent as a means to an end. Don't allow others to tell you how you should feel during this tumultuous time - the five steps of blah, blah, blah...denial, anger and so on. If you progress from step one to step two, then reject the latter and covet peace, love, justice, and the prize. The prize is unchanged by the condition of the country.
Ending war and racism is the prize. America posits peace; let us be peaceful! America posits tolerance; let us be tolerant! America posits justice; let us be just! America posits pride; let us be proud of who we are, and reject self-loathing.
Reject the reward for exalting what we are not, simply because it is something we are not. Surely we agree on these issues? We must "be still" and examine ourselves. We must ask our national leaders tough questions.
1. If our goal is to end racism, then why did we (America) walk out of the International Conference on Racism in South Africa?
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2. Why is it so difficult for us to sympathize (and now empathize) with the Palestinians or any group that desires sovereignty - we all belong to the human family?
3. When will all non-white* Americans feel as though they count in America?
4. Why, even in the aftermath of September 11, 2001, are non-white Americans relatively muted as to their suffering, pain, political view point, etc., on so-called mainstream media, local media, and university media?
5. When will we learn that all life is equally valuable, regardless of nationality, race or ethnicity?
We must demand that our leaders reaffirm the American dream - what is it, and whom does it include? We must demand they denounce war and racism. We must challenge those who justify war and racism by explaining that "war and racism have been around since the beginning of time" and "that's just the way it is." I'll provide you with your first tools to dismantle this nonsensical rationale. Tell all nay sayers that we must speak-out and against war and racism. Tell them to cast their lot with humankind, and not with greed, arrogance, and condemnation - avoid those who contradict simply because they can.
Many of my fellow Americans will say, "this is not the time to address these issues." Well, I say to them, "hate, racism, self-loathing, terrorism, and the like are not cognizant of political correctness or time. They simply destroy our way of life, when they go unchecked."
Stephon L. Scott
UNM McNair Scholar
