email32.xml

email32.xml

born-digital

email

unknown

yes

2002-02-27

XXX 09/19/01 01:35PM wrote:
It seems that our government at least cares enough about us that they make sure that we still matter to the rest of the world. All around the world,
there are vigils for the NY victims. That doesn't happen when Afghanis and
Nicaraguans and Kosovians are blown to bits. Why? Is it just money, or is
it more? Is it that the US stands for freedom, something the rest of the
world is aspiring to? Does the US stand for freedom anywhere but here? I
don't know anymore...

Good questions, XXX I don't know either. I have been both deeply moved by the emotions elicited by other nations (see photo link below) and sadly skeptical of what they mean. Why don't we grieve like this when Kosovars, Rwandans, or Colombians burn? They suffer in incomprehensible ways EVERY DAY. Is it because of money or is it because ultimately an attack on Rwanda really cannot be labeled an "attack on the world" or an "attack on freedom" as this has? The world will be implicated in our response; maybe they just want to be sure that they're on the good guys side. But are we the good guys...?

I question everything as you do these days, Kev. I too hear talk of biological warfare on this city and my flight instinct kicks in. But I know that I'm not going anywhere.

Is that stupid? I don't know. What can we know right now? I don't know.

Conversation is healthy. Fear is normal. Confusion is frustrating but, sadly, with us for a while.

I have been taking a lot of time to reevaluate my work in the context of this crisis and feel that, now more than ever, public health is another notch in that interminable pitch for social justice. I will continue to fight the war for equal access to quality health care, the right to choose when and if to have children, and for sexual freedom. I will continue to question political systems, including our own, that deny these things to the people that they claim to (do?) care about. I heard that TomPaine.com recently called Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson the Taliban of the US. We all have our evils.

I'm tired too, Kev...and scared. Really fucking scared.

Love, XXX

PS: Here's the photo link \

XXX wrote:

We're now discussing Canada and upstate NY. Probably more doable. :-)

I read the (Michael) Moore piece. I agreed with what he said, but I think he
should've waited a couple of days. His timing was brutal and, I think,
somewhat insensitive.

I don't know what's right and wrong. The US' socio-political engineering in
the Middle East has been largely ineffective. Will it continue? Are we now
going to get the Iranians to help us against the Iraqis? Are we now going
to get the Russians to help us against the Afghanis? Didn't we put the
Iraqis and Afghanis right where they are now intentionally to give us a
strategic military advantage against Iran and Russia, respectively? Ugh!

I don't want any more strikes to happen. I think they will. I'm scared.
In the simplest of terms, as a US citizen, my taxes go towards the military
so that it will PROTECT US. Not only does it seem wholly incapable of
protecting us, but it may take actions that will put us in greater danger.

Do I want Bin Laden's team of terrorists disbanded and imprisoned? Yes.

Do I care if the terrorists are killed in the process? No.

Do I care if innocent Afghanis are killed? Yes, it's no better than killing
innocent Americans.

Unfortunately, it's during times like these that lives have different
values. The Taliban leaders have gone into hiding, leaving the citizens of
Afghanistan to fend for themselves. What does this say for them? For the
value of their people to them? How does it compare with the value of
American citizens?

It seems different to me.

It seems that our government at least cares enough about us that they make
sure that we still matter to the rest of the world. All around the world,
there are vigils for the NY victims. That doesn't happen when Afghanis and
Nicaraguans and Kosovians are blown to bits. Why? Is it just money, or is
it more? Is it that the US stands for freedom, something the rest of the
world is aspiring to? Does the US stand for freedom anywhere but here? I
don't know anymore...

I'm tired, XXX, tired of all of this. Now everyone's discussing biological
weaponry. If I understand it correctly, I don't want to be within 50 miles
of New York City. But I live here, and you live here, and we all live here,
and it's not as simple as driving off into the sunset to let everyone else
fend for themselves. I don't know what to do, but the meaningless work I do
all day certainly isn't helping anyone.

Here's to hoping things improve. At least the Israelis and Palestinians
have temporarily stopped beating the shit out of each other.

Love,
XXX

09/19/01 01:35PM wrote

fear, worry