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9/11 – Why we are not afraid Mühltal, September 11th 2005 Dear Debbie, four years later, will the church bells that have been ringing against the war in Iraq be ringing to remember the victims of 9/11? I doubt it. That is what makes this 4th anniversary of the September 11 attacks even more sad than it already is. What makes me optimistic, on the other hand, is the reaction of the Americans. Americans, just like the Londoners after 7/7, decided not to let terrorism dominate their lives. "We are not afraid" was the answer to terrorism. It did not mean the absence of fear, but to go on living despite the terrorist threat. We Germans are not afraid either. But in our case, I suspect, it is not a sign of courage. No, we are not afraid because we do not feel threatened. This really makes me worry, for you can only fight a danger when you are aware of it. But we have not yet understood that terrorism threatens the whole Western world - and we still belong to the West, don´t we? Sadly, sometimes it seems as if Germany was heading East or not heading anywhere but hiding the head in the sand, believing this could be the best of all possible worlds if only the U.S. and Israel stopped threatening world peace. I hope I am wrong. But only when we all see the danger, when we are all afraid, we all could be less afraid. Until then the terrorists smile. My thoughts are with you and the families of the victims, Karin
Mühltal (Germany), September 9th 2003 Dear Debbie, I am lacking the words to describe my anger: Two days before the second anniversary of 9/11, the theories about these terrible attacks are growing wild. So-called investigative journalists are blaming the CIA for having destroyed the Twin Towers in order to create a reason for a war against Iraq. The planes we have all seen - just a manipulation? This is outrageous. It is like killing the victims a second time. But there is even worse: Every 5th German is said to believe this nonsense! And these books are bestsellers! As if this was not yet enough, these anti-American theories are linked with antisemitism. What a shame! I am not only angry, I am scared. My thoughts are with you. Love, Karin © Karin Quade September 9th 2003 Mühltal (Germany), September 11th 2003 Dear Debbie, no bells are ringing in Germany for the victims of 9/11. Two years ago, there were special church services the same day and the following days. But today - nothing. There are a few exceptions, fortunately, in Frankfort e. g. the „Alte Nikolaikirche" is ringing bells at 14:45 p.m., when the first plane crashed into the WTT. But exceptions only prove the rule. Are the victims and their families already forgotten? Do we really feel not concerned any more? Just because we have not been hit yet? Do we really believe that if we do not participate in the war against terror, terror will not come to us? If this is our strategy it is cynical and it will not work. In Darmstadt, my birth-town, bells are ringing today, but at 23: 55 p.m., the time when in 1944 British forces started bombing Darmstadt. There will be a church service today and it will also remember the victims of the September 11th attacks in the States, but following the article in our local newspaper the emphasis is clearly put on the victims of the British air-raid which is called a terrorist attack and thus put on the same level as the September 11 attacks in the United States. But one should not forget that the British attack was the answer to German bombing of British cities, that Germany started World War II and that in Darmstadt the nationalsocialists got more votes than in a lot of other German cities. So what shall I do to remember 9/11, to be close to the victims and their families? Watch CNN. Thinking of you. Love, Karin PS: I am not being sarcastic, but sometimes life is. I just got to know that the priest who organized the bell-ringing at "Alte Nikolaikirche" is American-born. © Karin Quade September 11th 2003 |
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