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YearZero Magazine: New York New Era

pseudo-Elizabethan English--Nay. Gala gau sai da Morrla.
For the Busted Link.
++++++++++This editorial, by columnist Leonard Pitts, appeared Wed., Sept. 12, in the Miami Herald

It's my job to have something to say.
They pay me to provide words that help make sense of that which troubles the American soul. But in this moment of airless shock when hot tears sting disbelieving eyes, the only thing I can find to say, the only words that seem to fit, must be addressed to the unknown author of this suffering.

You monster. You beast. You unspeakable bastard.

What lesson did you hope to teach us by your coward's attack on our World Trade Center, our Pentagon, us? What was it you hoped we would learn? Whatever it was, please know that you failed.

Did you want us to respect your cause? You just damned your cause.

Did you want to make us fear? You just steeled our resolve.

Did you want to tear us apart? You just brought us together.

Let me tell you about my people. We are a vast and quarrelsome family, a family rent by racial, social, political and class division, but a family nonetheless. We're frivolous, yes, capable of expending tremendous emotional energy on pop cultural minutiae -- a singer's revealing dress, a ball team's misfortune, a cartoon mouse. We're wealthy, too, spoiled by the ready availability of trinkets and material goods, and maybe because of that, we walk through life with a certain sense of blithe entitlement. We are fundamentally decent, though -- peace-loving and compassionate. We struggle to know the right thing and to do it. And we are, the overwhelming majority of us, people of faith, believers in a just and loving God.

Some people -- you, perhaps -- think that any or all of this makes us weak. You're mistaken. We are not weak. Indeed, we are strong in ways that cannot be measured by arsenals.


IN PAIN

Yes, we're in pain now. We are in mourning and we are in shock. We're still grappling with the unreality of the awful thing you did, still working to make ourselves understand that this isn't a special effect from some Hollywood blockbuster, isn't the plot development from a Tom Clancy novel. Both in terms of the awful scope of their ambition and the probable final death toll, your attacks are likely to go down as the worst acts of terrorism in the history of the United States and, probably, the history of the world. You've bloodied us as we have never been bloodied before.

But there's a gulf of difference between making us bloody and making us fall. This is the lesson Japan was taught to its bitter sorrow the last time anyone hit us this hard, the last time anyone brought us such abrupt and monumental pain. When roused, we are righteous in our outrage, terrible in our force. When provoked by this level of barbarism, we will bear any suffering, pay any cost, go to any length, in the pursuit of justice.

I tell you this without fear of contradiction. I know my people, as you, I think, do not. What I know reassures me. It also causes me to tremble with dread of the future.

In the days to come, there will be recrimination and accusation, fingers pointing to determine whose failure allowed this to happen and what can be done to prevent it from happening again. There will be heightened security, misguided talk of revoking basic freedoms. We'll go forward from this moment sobered, chastened, sad. But determined, too. Unimaginably determined.


THE STEEL IN US

You see, the steel in us is not always readily apparent. That aspect of our character is seldom understood by people who don't know us well. On this day, the family's bickering is put on hold.

As Americans we will weep, as Americans we will mourn, and as Americans, we will rise in defense of all that we cherish.

So I ask again: What was it you hoped to teach us? It occurs to me that maybe you just wanted us to know the depths of your hatred. If that's the case, consider the message received. And take this message in exchange: You don't know my people. You don't know what we're capable of. You don't know what you just started.

But you're about to learn.
 
If not psuedo-Elizabethan, what the hell was it? I thought 19century, perhaps from the Amish, or something. Is is a second language? Even so, why the weird archaic constructions (thee/thou, and -eth endings)?

We want to know!

:)
 
I would remind Kiawanna and Leo, from the Miami whatever it is, that you are talking about a country that once belonged to a people in greater synergy with the land - a group of people you slaughtered to the brink of extinction - and a country built on the bloodshed, sweat and toil of slaves raped from Mother Africa. On my continent, people die every day from wars you and your russian enemy funded. Every day my country struggles under the burden of the debt noose you have around its neck. I don't doubt your country will retaliate in rage and anger. Rome obliterated its enemies. You do not have it in in your nature to do anything but look back in anger.
 
Kiawanna;
Scottish Rogue By Birth I Be
With Native Soul, My Heart Lives Free

I was born in the Highlands of Scotland. By Birth right, and Up bringing I be Native scot. Or rather Scottish Indian. When I came here I was 'Accepted'/adopted by my anscestrial association unto the Sioux indians of this nation.
Through these people, I learned a Great Respect for this country and that of the "Land" to which it belongs.
As for the "US Government" it's self - Personally, I do not much care for them Directly.
I have served within that Structure. Worked, fought, and sacraficed within that structure. Suffered great personal Loss due to "Their" Mighty structure.
However due to the Honor that has been placed upon I by the TRUE People of this land, I have a higher understanding and therefore Respect for that of this 'Nation' as a whole. Due of-course to that of my service within such a 'Structure' of service.
I have lived in many a lands, have fought many a battles - arm in arm - with many a different "Brothers". I do in-deed have individuals in their homes across the sea, that I consider to be in-deed Brothers unto I. Brothers/Sisters that, from their own personal views, truly hate this country and all that it stands for. Not only can I say that I understand their views, I also hold great Respect for those views. For I can Live within and Love this country still, even while looking though their eye's.

You wanted an explaination. There it be.

As for that of me writing, and at times speach........Well that be complicated. Best manner in which I know to explain be this:

I have writing's that date back to the early 1400's, from fellow brothers and sisters of me Home land. I also have writing's, teaching's, and histories, from My Native family of this land. Dating back several generations. These writing's and Histories help I to find & maintain me own personal Balance.
Many times within these writing's I am able to gain strength, understanding , and Balance from these things that happen So Long ago....for they relate (at times) so completely with that of modern day. Mayhaps it be a way of spanning the years and putting things into perspective. In any event, by Honor and for self, I also write.
When I right, I find me self adapting to, and adopting ways of old. Within verse as well as within manner. This be where I find me own personal peace. This be me Balance, as well as my strength. So when I find me self rambling on about something. I usually do it in a manner that be comfortable unto I.
http://www.angelfire.com/mb/Kiawanna
 
Thank you, Mr. Lancey, for attempting to teach a lesson in simple reality.

The Americans are not without guilt on the world stage. They have harmed others in advancing their own self interest, and in assisting others whom they considered friends or allies.

Take you Brits, for example. The last time the US came to your aid (aside from various economic bailouts over the last four decades), your grandparents were huddled in their darkened homes while the buzz bombs fell on London, and Hitler was planning the invasion of the British Isles. (For those who have forgotten, Hitler was a misguided product of his upbringing in post WW1 Germany, who, among other things, had a real hate on for the evil British Empire)

There is a good argument that, without the aid of that same US military that you now detest, you would now be wearing leiderhosen and speaking Deutch, unless you happen to be Jewish, of course.

The fundamentalists have picked a fight with a large and terrible opponent. The US must, and will, strike at them, just as you would strike out at a stranger who punched at you in the street. You would probably try to defend yourself even without taking time to ruminate on the psychological makeup of your attacker, or on your own moral rectitude in deserving to have the shit kicked out of you.
 
yep. dude, if you're next in line for president, you've got my vote, i mailed your article to my friends... :)
 
Please note that this excellent thread is now closed and archived for future reference.

[ 09 October 2001: Message edited by: editor ]
 
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