September 8, 2002

• Reading the links from my last ‘blog, I was reminded of my own obligatory 9/11 ‘blog from a year ago.

  I said, among other things:
  

  Our hurt as a nation comes from seeing our fellow citizens incinerated and crushed in a huge catastrophe. We’re dealing with that hurt. Where does the hurt of the terrorist come from? Where does hope begin for him? Answer these questions and the process of peace has begun. If you believe that these questions sound naive and unjustified, then peace is not your goal.

  Robert Wright, in the 5th of his Slate articles on A Real War On Terror, says this:
  

  And the point of these most recent two installments in this series is that, judging by the 9/11 hijackers, there are at least two other conditions that appear to be necessary—a lack of political freedom and a lack of economic opportunity. And by definition, if we successfully address any necessary condition, it won’t matter what other necessary conditions may or may not exist. Focusing on politics and economics will get the job done—and the moderation of radical Islamic doctrine, I maintain, will then take care of itself.

  When anyone explains to you that the terrorists want to kill us because they ‘hate our freedom,’ remember that what they want is freedom: Freedom from oppression at home and from abroad. The dots they connect that lead from being in a shitty situation to bombing the US are not exclusive of US foreign policy in their home countries. By any means.

  • 3:05 pm
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