On Sept. 11, 2001, a horrible crime was committed. Overcome by grief and shock over that crime, we made a serious error. Instead of calling it a crime, we called it a war.
That error led to others. Because we called it a war, we fought it with soldiers instead of police. We looked for nations to invade instead of criminals to arrest.
This error should now be corrected. We should keep our soldiers at home, and send police out to find the criminals. We should use law instead of violence. We should offer other nations peace and security instead of force and fear.
This tragedy has united America. It should not divide America from the rest of the world. The definition of “us” has been broadened; it should be broadened still further. The tears of Afghanis or Iraqis weeping for their loved ones are as important as those of Americans. Terrorism is a threat to everyone. Let us fight it united, not just with other Americans, but with the rest of the world.
There are two ways to be defeated. You can be overcome by your enemy, or you can be transformed into your enemy. A year ago, we were attacked by people so filled with hatred that their own lives meant nothing, if their deaths allowed them to kill thousands of innocent people. If we now fill ourselves with hatred, if we risk the lives of our sons and daughters in order to kill thousands of innocent people, then we will have transformed ourselves into our enemy.
A year ago, we were attacked by people who hated freedom. If we now abandon freedom, if we allow people to be imprisoned with no charge and no trial, then we will have transformed ourselves into our enemy. To win the battle with terrorism, we cannot transform ourselves into the image of the terrorists.
Lynnwood
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