9/11

Here we are, seven years out from the 9/11 attacks. Almost 3,000 people were killed that day and our nation was shaken by the actions of a group of 15 Saudis, 1 Egyptian, 1 Lebanese and 2 men from the UAE, many of whom lived in the US. Our leaders responded by invading Afghanastan and Iraq. In the ensuing seven years, those decisions have lead to the deaths of hundreds of thousands of Iraqi and Afghanastan civilians and the injury of millions. Thousands of young Americans have died and tens of thousands been injured. We've spent over a trillion dollars causing those casualties, and it's looking more and more like that might be more than our economy can bear. now there is a Democratic nominee for President whom we're all very excited about, myself included, for how great a change he'll bring to Washington. Yet he wants more troops in Afghanastan, and while he calls for a reduction of forces in Iraq, it's a reduction on the order of two-thirds, not a withdrawl. At some point, we've got to stop thinking about moving our troops from one overseas post to another, and start thinking about how to change the paradigm.

Arundhati Roy is one of my favorite writers and activists. Six years ago today, she gave a brilliant speech about nations, power and what September 11 means to the world. That speach is here in video, and here in text.

"May we see the day when war and bloodshed cease
when a great peace will embrace the whole world

Then nation shall not threaten nation
and humankind will not again know war.

For all who live on earth shall realize
we have not come into being to hate or destroy

We have come into being
to praise, to labour and to love.

Compassionate God, bless all the leaders of all nations
with the power of compassion.

Fulfill the promise conveyed in Scripture:

"I will bring peace to the land,
and you shall lie down and no one shall terrify you.
I will rid the land of vicious beasts
and it shall not be ravaged by war."

Let love and justice flow like a mighty stream.

Let peace fill the earth as the waters fill the sea."

The Execution of Troy Davis

Troy Davis was convicted 17 years ago for the murder of a police officer. He is scheduled to be executed by the state of Georgia in two weeks. In his trial, no physical evidence was presented to link him to the crime. He proclaimed his innocence but was convicted on the testimony of nine witness for the prosecution. Since then, seven of the nine witnesses have recanted their testimony, saying they were pressured or coerced by police. One of the other two witnesses is Sylvester "Red" Coles, the other principal suspect, who is implicated in the crime by affidavits signed by 9 people. Davis was issued a 90 day stay against his execution last summer, but his appeal to the Supreme Court has been denied.

In the interest of justice and sane policy with regard to the human rights of the citizens of our country, please sign Amnesty International's petition to stop the exectution of Troy Davis. Then, if you are so moved, write to your legislators and tell them what you think of a death penalty that is applied nearly exclusively to the black and poor.