Dear Family and Friends,

I cannot begin this email without saying that words cannot describe the hopelessness and pain I feel deep in the essence of my being as a result of yesterdays multiple terrorist attacks. In the past 24 hours I have been angry, I felt useless and guilty, humbled, and cynical. But above all, as an American, I realized that I hold partial responsibility for the root causes of this event, and accountability as to how our government will respond to this boundless tragedy.

The stories that followed the attacks have been a source of further despair for me. We live in a society whose information is manufactured by a powerful corporate media. I, like many Americans, spent hours in front of the television yesterday as NBC, CBS, CNN, ABC, and even MTV began to shape and control the way we understand this catastrophe. Clearly, the messages that have been put forth by both the corporate media and the government have been hyper patriotism and revenge.

I ask each of you to reflect critically on these messages
and realize that they will only further cripple an already sickened human race. We must surmount these messages that carry with them the governments hidden agenda of nationalism over world unity and revenge over justice if we ever hope to
dismantle American exceptionalism and domination.

Last night, our president addressed our nation and the world saying that America was attacked because people are trying to destroy our "liberty." I cannot think of a more inflaming or ludicrous analysis of the situation.
Our country is at point of contention with most of the world because we are the central perpetrators of most of the worlds suffering through military and economic domination. The Pentagon is a symbol of violence and continued oppression while the World Trade Centers are a buttress for world wide economic apartheid.
That is why these sites were attacked. This attack had
nothing to do with "liberty." But unfortunately, the
reality of the critical worldview towards America was
dismissed and manipulated in order to make it seem as though
no one had any justifiable reason to be angry at "the
greatest nation in the world."

I am by no means an apologist for what happened, I am above
all a pacifist and denounce all forms of violence. These
acts of terrorism are inexcusable and
unbelievable, but it is important that we take a holistic
view of this tragedy if we want to begin to understand how
to prevent it from occurring again.


Yesterday, one of my professors, an expert in terrorism,
stated rather frankly, "This was only a matter of time." No matter how secure you make a country it is not completely terror proof. One must realize that terrorism cannot be stopped. However, preventative measures can be taken in order to reduce the possibility of a terrorist act from occurring. A key way is through a just domestic and foreign policy, which the U.S. has lacked throughout its history.
Sadly, America was founded on a culture of violence and the belief that some people are more superior than others, a belief system our government still champions though its actions. And let us never forget that we have been perpetrators and supporters of state sponsored terrorism for decades throughout Latin America, Southeast Asia and the
Middle East.

In the midst of my anguish today, a friend and current professor of mine said to me, "Remember, the most profound injustices have always been challengeable. Disparity is never the answer." This gave me hope for the first time since the nightmare of yesterday.

I doubt that anyone will disagree that the destruction
caused yesterday will permanently alter U.S. society and our domestic and foreign polices. The question that is yet to be answered is "In what way will things be changed?" The power brokers of our society have sent a clear message that they are trying to seek a policy of revenge in order to maintain U.S. superiority.
They have tried to induce a feeling of vengeance in our
society when it is most vulnerable by
repeating again, and again, and again the awful moments when the World Trade Centers crumbled to the ground and footage of the Pentagon engulfed in smoke. They have fanned the flames of religious intolerance by making Muslims look like the enemy in using words like "jihad" out of context, and pointing only to Arabs as the "obvious suspects." It is time that we ask the question "Will we allow for a continued genocidal domestic and foreign policy, or will we demand policy changes that recognize and protect the intrinsic value in all human life regardless of ethnicity, religion, gender, or sexual orientation?" That is the question that each of you, and I, have the power to influence.

So I ask you, I beg you, I implore you, at this most
critical time in world history, reflect on what direction
you want your countries domestic and foreign
policy to evolve. If you want violence to end and peace to finally be possible, we must begin by seeking true justice in the aftermath of these tragic acts of terrorism. A nonviolent, human rights approach to our handling of these events is the only answer, and it will not happen unless the people demand it.


In Love Peace and Solidarity,

Were these her words?

Stoopid forward -> "Bah-leeted!"

...while hugging trees...