World Trade Center Massacre
Copyright Jonathan McNeill 20010919
Our world has been rocked by the sound of our buildings crashing to the ground. Life's fragility is now painfully obvious, and, with this new revelation, we have a great responsibility. We must live every day as if it was our last . . . Don't let needful words go unsaid. Let your loved ones know they're loved, give that stranger helping hand.
I've spent this week weighing what I should say in response to all this, and I've come to realise that this is what I need to say: Yes, America has been attacked, but the enemy isn't Islam or those of Arabic descent. The enemy are those who would hate, and, sometimes, our own citizens are the enemy. There are those among us who would harass Muslims in the name of America. That's no better than assulting America in the name of Allah, the two just don't jive. Drop your bricks, and live in peace with your fellow citizens of America.
There will be a time for retribution, justice, but it won't be against those who live peacefully on American soil. There is no justice in the harm of any innocent, whatever their faith may be.
It does not honour our dead to treat people badly because of their appearance or faith. In fact, it is a great dishonour to those who have passed on. It dishonours the memory of all who have died for freedom, and especially those who have died defending our country.
I would like to thank the artists listed below for something. They have all been an incredible help in the healing process that our country and world are going through right now. They put our feelings into graphic form, and, in so doing, help us to pin-point our greatest emotions. They have helped us to gain a greater clarity, and they have helped us morn. In a time when we are lacking rituals and tradition to cope with a tragedy on this grand scale, they've helped us to morn. So, a big thanks to the following: Piro, Largo, Seraphim, Dom and Ed of MegaTokyo, Krahulik and Holkins of Penny Arcade, and Illiad of Userfriendly.
Also, I'd like to thank Slashdot for giving up their normal fare to cover the WTC Story. That may not seem like much, but it was important. They went through a lot of trouble to gather all of the relevant news sources together, and, trust me, there was a bunch of them.
The graphic below may be used royalty-free in websites that are not incongruous with it's message. If you use this graphic, please send me an e-mail with your link, and, if I deem it appropriate, I will place a link to your website below the graphic. Please do not link directly to the graphic. Download the graphic and put it on your own website. Thank you.
