While gathering my horses from the pasture on the early morning of that fateful day, Tuesday, September 11, 2001, Grand County deputy Steve Brownell stopped by and related the dreadful news. His words seemed unreal - a commercial jet-plane smashed into the World Trade Center.
I took the scheduled trail ride, and on my return I hastened to the television and the shock of what I saw horrified me - realizing that thousands of innocent people perished under the rubble of the collapsed towers.
The haunting truth of this terrible and tragic event slowly sank in. This wasn’t a movie or a nightmare; this was real.
All over America, our "normal lives" were shattered. My mind, like millions of others, failed to comprehend its full significance. The collapse of the towers created many painful emotions. Why this? Why here?
In trying to find an answer and a spiritual search for meaning, I tuned into inspirational memorial service programs held across America. Places to mourn and find comfort. Many beautiful sermons were preached extolling the love of God and attempting to explain it all.
I wondered silently where God stood on this. A friend of mine tried to explain to me the meaning of The Second Coming when anarchy would prevail in the world, and he talked of The Armageddon. He didn’t make me feel any better.
I hope that President George Bush will not carry this dreaded war to innocent victims like we did at Hiroshima. If he does, there will surely be more hatred against us and more terrorist attacks. It was my hero, Gandhi, who said, "An eye for an eye and tooth for a tooth will only make the world blind and toothless."
There are many war hawks out there. Utah Congressman Jim Hansen exclaimed: "Let us clench our fury in an iron fist that will rid the world of this evil in a swift and terrible blow."
In pondering life’s priorities, I fought the feeling of despair.. Having witnessed several American-led wars: World War II, Korea, the Cold War, Vietnam, Grenada, the Gulf war. What next? Blood-lust is at a fever pitch right now. Each war brings on many environmental and social disasters and preparation to combat them are in order.
We only need to study history to better understand the present.
In 1812-1814, our new country engaged in a war, on land and sea, with Great Britain. Many innocent men, women and children were assaulted and murdered. British forces burned the White House, the Capitol, the Library of Congress and other buildings in Washington, D.C. Citizens fled the city.
Our Civil War slaughtered many thousands of innocent victims.
As a 12-year-old kid, I deeply felt the carnage at Pearl Harbor. A ruthless and unprovoked surprise attack changed our world immediately. Our family and neighbors painfully listened to the tragic radio reports coming in.
The legacy of World War II - some 60 million dead - brought us the Manhattan Project and the atomic bomb and other nuclear weapons. Many in Utah suffered greatly from the horrific nuclear fallout from the Nevada test sites.
When I was in Korea, at Chunchon, with casualties pouring in, I prayed that our forces would not resort to nuclear tactical weapons. I remember my faith in President Eisenhower that he’d not drop the big one; he didn’t and he brought us home.
After the war, the resultant prosperity, brought us the likes of the Glen Canyon dam and a degradation of our heritage The dam bears a witness of that in the destruction of the most beautiful and enchanting canyon on the face of the earth.
There are problems ahead. We are now engaged in a major conflict on two fronts: a war on the environment and now a major war on terrorism. We must win both of them.
In the war on the environment, President Bush’s policies and actions will be strongly debated as we know that America’s natural heritage is at risk. What role foreign policy and the aftermath of the World Trade Center and Pentagon bombings will have on the environment in this country and worldwide must be scrutinized in utmost detail. It’s too early to know.
We do know though that the environment needs our continued help. Staying the course would be a memorial to the thousands upon thousands who have lost their lives due to environmental degradation.
We are aware of these environmental problems and the initiatives being taken by the Bush administration, and I’ll not linger on them here. But right now we are engaged in a major action against terrorism that must be dealt with immediately.
The future of America, brought on by the tragic and horrific bombing of the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, is surely America’s top priority at this writing. If we don’t solve this problem soon then surely all of our past and present efforts in fighting for the environment will be diminished or even for naught.
Actually, in effect, terrorism is our number one environmental priority. We need to act against the terrorist world without delay. There will also be thousands upon thousands of casualties before it is over.
American democracy is in a dangerous situation, and we need to restore its health and vibrancy.
There are things that we can do as a nation.
We must transform our anger into a renewed struggle to push for a foreign policy that centers on human rights, demilitarization and sustainable development.
Protecting human rights is the best long-range basis for developing U.S. foreign policy. When our policy serves narrow economic and political interests, we undermine the chances for shaping a world in which our children and grandchildren can live in peace.
Our military needs reform. Next time around the terrorist plan may not include 200-ton flying bombs, but instead may include nuclear weapons and chemical or biological weapons of mass destruction.
We must place diplomacy with all nations on the front burner. Terrorism will continue as long as there are no long-term peaceful resolutions.
We need the support and cooperation of the Muslim nations. To subdue bin Laden, we may need to go through Pakistan, and will Pakistan cooperate? What will the other Muslim nations then do? We’re flirting with World War III - a possible major war between Islam and the West in which millions of innocent people would die.
We must resist those who call for the use of nuclear weapons to attack the bin Laden camps. A series of low-level, tactical nuclear strikes in the Afghanistan desert would have adverse effects to populated areas and the radiation fallout would be widespread.
To drop the atomic bomb on Kabul is unthinkable. The bomb is no respecter of persons and does not distinguish between the bad and the good or the guilty or the innocent. Though God seemingly refuses to take sides on this issue, one of the Ten Commandments cries out "Thou shalt not kill."
America will round up Osama bin Laden and others of his ilk. However, when they’re gone others are sure to take their place.
All forms of hatred at innocent Muslims must be extinguished. Let us protect our civil liberties and human rights and call for peace, justice, and tolerance - not revenge. The perpetrators of these terrorist crimes must be found and dealt with according to international law. The United Nations must play a major part.
Can we retain our rights to a free democracy ? History shows that civil rights and liberties during and after periods of war and great cataclysmic events is compromised. During World War II, in the name of security, innocent Japanese-American citizens were locked up at Topaz, Utah and other desert locations during World War II. We must not now trade away our basic civil liberties.
Let us pray for President Bush and all of our leaders at this critical time that they may make wise and judicious decisions in dealing with these horrible acts. And by our working together and supporting each other may the world eventually be bathed in peace - a fitting memorial for all of those whose lives were so suddenly taken.
September 11, 2001
- by Ken Sleight
While gathering my horses from the pasture on the early morning of that fateful day, Tuesday, September 11, 2001, Grand County deputy Steve Brownell stopped by and related the dreadful news. His words seemed unreal - a commercial jet-plane smashed into the World Trade Center.
I took the scheduled trail ride, and on my return I hastened to the television and the shock of what I saw horrified me - realizing that thousands of innocent people perished under the rubble of the collapsed towers.
The haunting truth of this terrible and tragic event slowly sank in. This wasn’t a movie or a nightmare; this was real.
All over America, our "normal lives" were shattered. My mind, like millions of others, failed to comprehend its full significance. The collapse of the towers created many painful emotions. Why this? Why here?
In trying to find an answer and a spiritual search for meaning, I tuned into inspirational memorial service programs held across America. Places to mourn and find comfort. Many beautiful sermons were preached extolling the love of God and attempting to explain it all.
I wondered silently where God stood on this. A friend of mine tried to explain to me the meaning of The Second Coming when anarchy would prevail in the world, and he talked of The Armageddon. He didn’t make me feel any better.
I hope that President George Bush will not carry this dreaded war to innocent victims like we did at Hiroshima. If he does, there will surely be more hatred against us and more terrorist attacks. It was my hero, Gandhi, who said, "An eye for an eye and tooth for a tooth will only make the world blind and toothless."
There are many war hawks out there. Utah Congressman Jim Hansen exclaimed: "Let us clench our fury in an iron fist that will rid the world of this evil in a swift and terrible blow."
In pondering life’s priorities, I fought the feeling of despair.. Having witnessed several American-led wars: World War II, Korea, the Cold War, Vietnam, Grenada, the Gulf war. What next? Blood-lust is at a fever pitch right now. Each war brings on many environmental and social disasters and preparation to combat them are in order.
We only need to study history to better understand the present.
In 1812-1814, our new country engaged in a war, on land and sea, with Great Britain. Many innocent men, women and children were assaulted and murdered. British forces burned the White House, the Capitol, the Library of Congress and other buildings in Washington, D.C. Citizens fled the city.
Our Civil War slaughtered many thousands of innocent victims.
As a 12-year-old kid, I deeply felt the carnage at Pearl Harbor. A ruthless and unprovoked surprise attack changed our world immediately. Our family and neighbors painfully listened to the tragic radio reports coming in.
The legacy of World War II - some 60 million dead - brought us the Manhattan Project and the atomic bomb and other nuclear weapons. Many in Utah suffered greatly from the horrific nuclear fallout from the Nevada test sites.
When I was in Korea, at Chunchon, with casualties pouring in, I prayed that our forces would not resort to nuclear tactical weapons. I remember my faith in President Eisenhower that he’d not drop the big one; he didn’t and he brought us home.
After the war, the resultant prosperity, brought us the likes of the Glen Canyon dam and a degradation of our heritage The dam bears a witness of that in the destruction of the most beautiful and enchanting canyon on the face of the earth.
There are problems ahead. We are now engaged in a major conflict on two fronts: a war on the environment and now a major war on terrorism. We must win both of them.
In the war on the environment, President Bush’s policies and actions will be strongly debated as we know that America’s natural heritage is at risk. What role foreign policy and the aftermath of the World Trade Center and Pentagon bombings will have on the environment in this country and worldwide must be scrutinized in utmost detail. It’s too early to know.
We do know though that the environment needs our continued help. Staying the course would be a memorial to the thousands upon thousands who have lost their lives due to environmental degradation.
We are aware of these environmental problems and the initiatives being taken by the Bush administration, and I’ll not linger on them here. But right now we are engaged in a major action against terrorism that must be dealt with immediately.
The future of America, brought on by the tragic and horrific bombing of the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, is surely America’s top priority at this writing. If we don’t solve this problem soon then surely all of our past and present efforts in fighting for the environment will be diminished or even for naught.
Actually, in effect, terrorism is our number one environmental priority. We need to act against the terrorist world without delay. There will also be thousands upon thousands of casualties before it is over.
American democracy is in a dangerous situation, and we need to restore its health and vibrancy.
There are things that we can do as a nation.
We must transform our anger into a renewed struggle to push for a foreign policy that centers on human rights, demilitarization and sustainable development.
Protecting human rights is the best long-range basis for developing U.S. foreign policy. When our policy serves narrow economic and political interests, we undermine the chances for shaping a world in which our children and grandchildren can live in peace.
Our military needs reform. Next time around the terrorist plan may not include 200-ton flying bombs, but instead may include nuclear weapons and chemical or biological weapons of mass destruction.
We must place diplomacy with all nations on the front burner. Terrorism will continue as long as there are no long-term peaceful resolutions.
We need the support and cooperation of the Muslim nations. To subdue bin Laden, we may need to go through Pakistan, and will Pakistan cooperate? What will the other Muslim nations then do? We’re flirting with World War III - a possible major war between Islam and the West in which millions of innocent people would die.
We must resist those who call for the use of nuclear weapons to attack the bin Laden camps. A series of low-level, tactical nuclear strikes in the Afghanistan desert would have adverse effects to populated areas and the radiation fallout would be widespread.
To drop the atomic bomb on Kabul is unthinkable. The bomb is no respecter of persons and does not distinguish between the bad and the good or the guilty or the innocent. Though God seemingly refuses to take sides on this issue, one of the Ten Commandments cries out "Thou shalt not kill."
America will round up Osama bin Laden and others of his ilk. However, when they’re gone others are sure to take their place.
All forms of hatred at innocent Muslims must be extinguished. Let us protect our civil liberties and human rights and call for peace, justice, and tolerance - not revenge. The perpetrators of these terrorist crimes must be found and dealt with according to international law. The United Nations must play a major part.
Can we retain our rights to a free democracy ? History shows that civil rights and liberties during and after periods of war and great cataclysmic events is compromised. During World War II, in the name of security, innocent Japanese-American citizens were locked up at Topaz, Utah and other desert locations during World War II. We must not now trade away our basic civil liberties.
Let us pray for President Bush and all of our leaders at this critical time that they may make wise and judicious decisions in dealing with these horrible acts. And by our working together and supporting each other may the world eventually be bathed in peace - a fitting memorial for all of those whose lives were so suddenly taken.
Email comments to ksleight@lasal.net
