THURSDAY,SEPT.13.2001
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN - 5A
REACTING TO THE TRAGEDY
Tucker Poling Columnist opinionokansan.com
Commentary
Despite cost nation must preserve its free society
In the wake of the worst terrorist attacks against the United States ever, we should refrain from selfdefeating sentiments and instead consider rationally why this has happened and how we should respond. We should not look to reduce the openness and freedom of our society and we should recognize that the root of this terrorism lie in our government's activities in the world.
I went to class today and heard discouraging comments from students and friends. I heard statements such as: "Our society is too open," and "The problem is that anyone can buy anything." I also heard students calling for an increased U.S. military presence in the world. These reactions are seriously misguided and counterproductive.
Living in a free society is not without costs. One of the costs is that one cannot always predict and control what others do. This can lead to a certain level of uncertainty and even a reduced level of safety. But anyone who truly values freedom gladly exceeds this trade-off.
If we react to this tragedy by moving to reduce our own freedoms — the freedom of movement, privacy and the economic freedom to obtain and exchange goods — then we are further fulfilling the terrorists' objectives by victimizing ourselves. No amount of security measures can prevent such attacks. If one is willing to take his own life to destroy others, in the end, there is no stopping him or others like him.
One's chances of dying in a terrorist attack are many times smaller than one's chances of dying in a car accident. Should we ban cars? Should we allow police to randomly stop motorists to search for potentially distracting items?
The root cause of the actions of terrorists like Osama bin Laden are animosity deriving from what is perceived as U.S. imperialism. Terrorist groups hate the influence of American products and ideas because that influence conflicts with their ideal of a repressive and theocratic regime.
Terrorists are also unified against our government's political and military activities in the world. The U.S. government should continue to increase the freedom of America to trade with the world. Through the free flow of American products and ideas, the regimes that support terrorists are naturally undermined by their own people.
Our government's political and military actions only serve to unify support for such regimes. For too long, our government has meddled extensively in the affairs of other nations and peoples. If we choose to be the world's policeman, then we must accept that we will receive the backlash as a nation. And often, we directly create our own enemies. Osama bin Laden, for example, received CIA training.
We should reassess our government's role in the world. Instead of actively manipulating foreign conflicts to serve our purposes or attempting to artificially resolve ethnic and national conflicts, our government should act with more humility and less strong arming.
This does not mean that we should isolate ourselves or ignore vital national security risks.In this case we should utilize our intelligence-gathering capabilities to find those responsible for this or any other terrorist attack against our nation and then swiftly destroy them.But our goal should be to interact with the world more civilly and less politically.
The interdependence fostered through free trade and exchange is more stable and more peaceful than the shackles of political and military domination.
Tucker Poling is a senior in political science from Wichita
Media delivers loaded images that don't tell the whole story
This is the stuff of nightmares and horror films.
We are here, in Lawrence, most of us removed from the direct impact of the bombings, unable to change what has happened, and our anger mounts at an unknown enemy.
In the aftermath, we are left with a media blitz crafted to charge our emotions and construct our understanding of the unfolding events. But I wonder how much real information we are gaining from what the media choose to tell us.
The media have already by and large condemned groups in the Middle East. They highlight scenes of Palestinian children who seem to be rejoicing at the United States' susceptibility to attack and link the attack to Osama bin Laden because of his international reputation.
Yet, the media's condemnations come without any clear evidence against a particular individual or group and no one has come forward to claim responsibility.
What would happen if we found this evidence? What would happen if we were to learn that the attackers were in fact from the Middle East, but not clearly linked to any government? Or worse, if we learned that the attackers were from within our own borders?
I have heard people say comfortably that those responsible for this attack "should be nuked off the globe." I have heard others
Almas Sayeed
Columnist
opinionkansan.com
Commentary
suggest that it should be open season on Arabs. Having spoken with students at Birzeit University in Palestine, where I studied, I can say that the images we see on TV do not reflect the sentiments of all Palestinians.
Instead of responding with immediate retaliation, it is important to answer some questions. Why would someone (or a group of people) do this? What role does the United States play in the international system that would provoke such aggression?
If we find that those responsible are from within our own borders, then we have already wrongly condemned a region of the world and its people.
We have placed blame in the past. During the Persian Gulf War, as the country strengthened its resolve against Iraqis, Saddam Hussein, and Arabs and Muslims in general, the consequences were overwhelming for Arab-
If we want to claim that those involved were simply interested in provoking retaliation, we are deluding ourselves.
Americans and American Muslims.
I was in junior high during that war and I was ostracized and regularly ridiculed for being Muslim and having an Arab name. But neither my family nor I had anything to do with the conflict. The mosque in my community was attacked and our entire community sat on edge for months. Some of us survived physical aggression.
None of us died, but our civil liberties were severely jeopardized. People feared a recreation of World War II internment camps, this time for Arabs and Muslims instead of the Japanese.
Lawrence is a diverse community that encourages civic participation from people of a variety of ethnicities, nationalities and religions. What we need to do now is shift our paradigm. Instead of focusing on retaliation, we must mobilize to help the survivors of yesterday's attack by collecting food and monetary donations and by giving blood for those who survived the attacks.
Our strength as a community and a nation comes from channeling our frustration and anger toward efforts to rebuild our social fabric and the infrastructure of our cities. Our strength does not come from focusing on retaliation against an invisible enemy.
Students keep the beacon lit through response to attack
EDITORIAL
There are those who seek to destroy America and there are those who seek to defend it.
In the aftermath of such a revolting attack. America's defenders must ensure that they do not accidentally aid the would-be destroyers.
The scenes of the rubble of shattered buildings after Tuesday's attack are horrifying. Alone or in combination with scenes of crowds celebrating and burning American flags, they are also infuriating. Nobody who cares about this country or what it stands for can be expected to view these scenes and remain unmoved.
The challenge in these times is to channel that anger.
For some it means enlisting. The armed forces report a huge increase in applications to serve. The United States remains the "great arsenal of democracy" and in the coming weeks and months, the military will certainly respond against those who carried out this attack and those who sheltered and supported them. If you wish to play a part, recruiting offices are listed in the phone book.
For those who remain here, that anger must be channeled into the building of a better America. Your right to speak and to organize for vigils and memorials are protected and encouraged in America. Your right to threaten and organize for retribution and retaliation are not.
The news has reported no hints that any persons in or around Lawrence, Kansas were involved in the attack, no matter how
similar their skin color to Osama bin Laden's. And yet, there were reports throughout the day yesterday of harassment and threats against those of Arab origin.
The horror of terrorism is that the victims did nothing wrong. No victim on any of the planes or in any of the buildings had harmed their attackers. They did not deserve to suffer or to die.
The same is true of all those singled out on this campus. To repeat the terrorists' mistake is to sink to their level and aid in their cause.
"The horror of terrorism is that the victims did nothing wrong. To repeat the terrorists' mistake is to sink to their level and further their aims."
One of the most basic principles of this country is that in a free marketplace of ideas, the good ideas will win out over evil ones. This country and this University have been set up to take unique advantage of that principle.
We call for immigrants and visitors from around the world; we set up institutions of higher learning to study and discuss diverse viewpoints; and then we guarantee and protect everyone's freedom of thought and speech.
Unquestionably, there are many who, given a choice to be anywhere in the weeks to come, would choose the cockpit of a
bomber in the skies over the terrorists' camp. It is probably there that the feeling of defending America would be most potent. However, for the building of a better, stronger America, there may be no better place than a university campus.
The University of Kansas is home to students from all different backgrounds. There are students from countries that have been bombed by America, and there are students whose parents have done the bombing. There are students from America's historic enemies and students from America's historic allies. Their viewpoints cover the entire spectrum.
Seek them out. Listen to their ideas. Tell them your ideas. For more than 200 years, this process has provided America with its direction, and that direction has made America the "brightest beacon of freedom," as President Bush termed it Tuesday night.
Taking part in this process keeps that beacon lit. Threats, intimidation and retaliation snuff it out.
A free press brings you as much information as possible.Some of that information will be infuriating. How you channel this anger can strengthen America or weaken it further.
Please, make sure that in your words and in your actions, you are building a stronger America, an America your children will leap to defend when the beacon becomes a target again.
Brendan Woodbury for the Kansan editors
Five dollar gas: Way to exploit a crisis
It is said that only in crisis does an individual's true character emerge. Here in Kansas, far from the national catastrophes along the East Coast, several gasoline retailers demonstrated Tuesday their utterly immoral and illegal inclinations in times of tragedy.
Locally, at least eight service stations raised prices at least 15 cents higher than earlier in the day — half of those more than $2.50 per gallon. The Lawrence Journal-World reported a price as high as $5.62 per gallon.
Across the state, gasoline prices rose dramatically during the afternoon following the terrorist attacks. Dramatic price increases up to $5 per gallon were reported in Kansas City, Kan., Topeka, Goodland, Colby, Hays, Wichita, Leavenworth and Pittsburg.
Fortunately, government entities reacted immediately to the suspected gouging. Topeka officials considered any price increase more than 15 cents during Tuesday to be an illegal action. Both Kansas Governor Bill Graves and Kansas Attorney General Carla Stovall deplored the suspected gouging and promised to immediately investigate all reports to her office.
However, these price increases were not the norm. Most Lawrence gas stations maintained their prices between $1.61 and $1.65 per gallon. A spokesperson for the American Automobile Association of Kansas concurred and stated that price spikes were sporadic across the state.
David Mitchell
Columnist
opinionansan.com
Commentary
The most telling fact is that all service stations in Lawrence, Kansas City, and Topeka had lowered their prices below $2.00 per gallon by Tuesday evening. It is clear that any price increase over the $2.00 mark was a clear attempt to take advantage of a panicked public and profit from national tragedy.
The curious fact about these price increases supposedly caused by fuel shortages is that there is absolutely no evidence of any disruption. The chairman of a Kansas oil company stated the rumors were "speculation." In fact, the nation's largest oil companies imposed a price freeze in an effort to halt panic-like situations.
Those who participated in gouging also placed the public in danger. The Topeka Capitol Journal and The Associated Press reported on the frenzy. A man in Topeka was arrested after pulling out a pellet gun and ramming another vehicle in his attempt to secure a tank of gas.
Lines of at least 20 vehicles deep formed in Lawrence, Topeka, Kansas City, Tonganoxie, and Leavenworth. Police were
called in to direct traffic around the areas of congestion. Not only were the gougers opportunistic of the terrorist attacks, they carelessly put more innocent individuals at risk.
I consider individuals who see an opportunity to profit from the deaths of thousands of innocent people to be the most despicable, deplorable types. Clearly, these people feel no obligation to the suffering members of our community. I, for one, believe that our community has no obligation to the gougers.
State officials have promised to investigate and prosecute those involved in Tuesday's gouging. This is a promising start. Nonetheless, more must be done. The fine for gouging is $2,000. However, it is conceivable that some retailers sold 10 times that amount of gasoline on Tuesday alone.
As a community that is concerned for the memory of those who lost their lives, Lawrence residents must boycott any stations found guilty of gouging and those who bought gas on Tuesday should pursue class-action legal proceedings.
Crisis is a time to demonstrate one's character. Just as America must show the world that terrorism on our soil cannot be tolerated, the residents of Lawrence must display their lack of tolerance for profiteers of tragedy.
Mitchell is n graduate student in public administration from Hays.
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I am shocked and appalled that Chancellor Hemingway did not have the common courtesy and decency to cancel classes today out of respect of those who died and were injured in this tragedy. I do not understand why students of the University are required to attend classes on a day like this, and I am outraged.
Is it just me or does it seem kind of disgusting that people are freaking out about gas prices so much when you know something a lot worse happened to about 20,000 people in New York this morning?
In this city's god there will be a great thunder, two brothers torn apart by chaos while the fortress endures. The great leader will succumb. The third big war will begin when the city is burning. Nostradamus 1654.
I think one good thing that's come from the event of today is that we will see the rebirth of patriotism in this country as everyone bands behind the United States.
As a student and employee of the University of Kansas, I believe that the University, in respect to the people in the New York and Washington, should cancel classes for at least one day to allow the students to calm down and get back to normal.
Poem of Reflection
Go time baby, go USA
Love is what makes the world go round.
Violence is not an appropriate response to violence. The last thing that is needed now is another terror action which will inevitably lead to the deaths of more innocent. Please just be
In memory of all those lost Sept.11,2001
History
So this is what makes history Can we truly say we are proud?
We will remember for an eternity
Anguish, crying, screaming out loud.
an endless battle for peace;
Will anyone ever win?
Lives perishing helplessly within
So much hate spread about the earth
Nameless souls,finding an unfair death
too shortly after birth.
Fire Fighters and Police
Searching desperately for survivors
while fighting a flood of hot tears.
Tumbling debris falls blackens the sky
as these rescuing angels find that they, too, will soon die.
Brothers, Sisters, Parents, Friends
have all too prematurely
hound their speeded end.
This nightmare is viewed by
"
all
whether they reside at home or inside the WTC walls. America shivers, the citizens
weep
But through this attack United the States will keep. Helping, healing and love will conquer all.
This great nation will bond together.
and refuse to fall.
So we will remember the tragedy of today.
911, in our heats
you will always stay.
History will be written when all is done
And, as the United States of America
We have won.
— Stephanie Cerritelli, Highlands Ranch, Colo., sophomore