This sums it up for me:

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Well folks, I've been trying to lay low about recent events (and doing a poor job, I might add), but I just got an email that pretty muchs says what I've been thinking about this whole mess. I thought I'd share it:

By Leonard Pitts Jr.
Syndicated columnist


They pay me to tease shades of meaning from social and cultural issues, to
provide words that help make sense of that which troubles the American soul.

But in this moment of airless shock when hot tears sting disbelieving
eyes,the only thing I can find to say, the only words that seem to fit, must

be addressed to the unknown author of this suffering.

You monster. You beast. You unspeakable bastard.

What lesson did you hope to teach us by your coward's attack on our World
Trade Center, our Pentagon, us? What was it you hoped we would learn?
Whatever it was, please know that you failed. Did you want us to respect
your cause? You just damned your cause. Did you want to make us fear? You
just steeled our resolve. Did you want to tear us apart? You just brought us

together. Let me tell you about my people. We are a vast and quarrelsome
family, a family rent by racial, cultural, political and class division, but
a family nonetheless. We're frivolous, yes, capable of expending tremendous
emotional energy on pop cultural minutiae, a singer's revealing dress, a
ball team's misfortune, a cartoon mouse. We're wealthy, too, spoiled by the
ready availability of trinkets and material goods, and maybe because of
that, we walk through life with a certain sense of blithe entitlement. We
are fundamentally decent, though - peace-loving and compassionate. We
struggle to know the right thing and to do it. And we are, the overwhelming
majority of us, people of faith, believers in a just and loving God.

Some people - you, perhaps - think that any or all of this makes us weak.
You're mistaken. We are not weak. Indeed, we are strong in ways that cannot
be measured by arsenals.

Yes, we're in pain now. We are in mourning and we are in shock. We're still
grappling with the unreality of the awful thing you did, still working to
make ourselves understand that this isn't a special effect from some
Hollywood blockbuster, isn't the plot development from a Tom Clancy novel.
Both in terms of the awful scope of its ambition and the probable final
death toll, your attacks are likely to go down as the worst acts of
terrorism in the history of the United States and, indeed, the history of
the world. You've bloodied us as we have never been bloodied before. But
there's a gulf of difference between making us bloody and making us fall.
This is the lesson Japan was taught to its bitter sorrow the last time
anyone hit us this hard, the last time anyone brought us such abrupt and
monumental pain. When roused, we are righteous in our outrage, terrible in
our force. When provoked by this level of barbarism, we will bear any
suffering, pay any cost, go to any length, in the pursuit of justice. I tell

you this without fear of contradiction. I know my people, as you, I think,
do not. What I know reassures me. It also causes me to tremble with dread of

the future. In days to come, there will be recrimination and accusation,
fingers pointing to determine whose failure allowed this to happen and what
can be done to prevent it from happening again. There will be heightened
security, misguided talk of revoking basic freedoms. We'll go forward from
this moment sobered, chastened, sad. But determined, too. Unimaginably
determined.
You see, there is steel beneath this velvet. That aspect of our
character is seldom understood by people who don't know us well. On this
day, the family's bickering is put on hold. As Americans we will weep, as
Americans we will mourn, and as Americans, we will rise in defense of all
that we cherish. Still, I keep wondering what it was you hoped to teach us.
It occurs to me that maybe you just wanted us to know the depths of your
hatred. If that's the case, consider the message received. And take this
message in exchange: You don't know my people. You don't know what we're
about. You don't know what you just started. But you're about to learn.

 

That was touching.....

 

I can't write nearly as well, but I want to add my bit.

For two centuries our country has stood as the foremost bastion of freedom in the world. We represent wealth for the impoverished, hope for the despairing, and liberty for the oppressed. Millions have come to our country in pursuit of the American dream. We have fought many wars on behalf of those whose rights were being trampled. In some of these wars, our men were taken prisoners by nations whose leaders placed little value on human life. Our soldiers were tortured, brainwashed, and treated in many horrible ways. But through it all, the American spirit held fast.

No matter what happens, our courage and pride in our country stands fast. Were the tables to be turned, and the war to be truly carried onto our own soil, this would not change. We might be taken prisoner as well; oppressed in body and mind; even killed. Yet we will not bow. Our spirit will remain free.

We are Americans -- we are the Unconquerable.

 

Let me add something about "americans" from an european point of view, and my personal one, too:

During my visits to the US, I have come to love you, folks. You are friendly, you are upright, you respect the freedom of your fellow men and women. I often say to myself that I would like to live in the US once, because I feel at home there.

But there are some things I really don't understand. In some ways, I have had the feelings that there is a widespread naivety amongst the american people. Like this good vs. evil thingie. If a european president would stand up and say: we'e gonna rid the world from evil, we would certainly think that he's, well, let's say strange. We'd tell him: boy, we are evil in some ways, too, selfish, shortsighted, as much as others are good and sensible as well. So don't tell us this black and white stuff, please. We made you president because we trusted your intellect. So please use it and don't make us think you think WE are stupid.

Another thing I don't quite get is the unreflected patriotism I observe sometimes. The US isn't the greatest country in the world, because there isn't such a thing like the greatest country. You had your fair share of fuck ups, I'd say. You have made mistakes like everyone has. You are a great country, granted, full of opportunities, and you allow hard working, creative people to make their dreams come true, and this is more than one could say about most of the other countries around the world.

Sometimes I wish you could step out of your shoes a little, and take a look at yourself and the world from this new position. Self critizism isn't a sign of weakness, but strength.

Take this as a loving, friendly comment

 

Rendelius, I agree wholeheartedly that there is no black and white. Every one of us has some good and some evil within him. I believe this has been reflected in my posts.

I don't agree so much about my country. Granted we've made mistakes; still, I think of all the countries out there it's far and away my choice of a place to live. I have a lot of disagreements with the way our nation is run currently, but I can't find a better government to point to.

 

Rendelius Europe and America isnt as black and white as you put it. To use your pun.

Tony Blair said that he would "put all effort in eradicating all evil from the face of the earth". So an european president has talked of evil......

EDITED HERE: These are his precise words. Took some time to dig out but its worth it.

TONY BLAIR:

[This message has been edited by Nobleman (edited September 15, 2001).]

 

Yes, I heard him say that - I had to giggle when I heard it. I still think this is childish *g*

A reporter in the austrian television put it that way after the speeches of Mr. Bush and Mrs. Clinton: "The speech of President Bush was that of a 6 year old. The speech of Mrs. Clinton was that of a heavyweight politician".

Although it's rather pointed, I tend to agree

 

I would say Rendelius that your post reflect the European relativism that spread like wildfire since the likes of Sartre at least and possibly before. The US isn't a place of relativism (indeed almost all philosophy Phd's in the world now reject relativism as, well, a silly philosophy.) but more of a rule utilitarian society (distinguished from classical utilitarianism.) Prior to that I would say we were historically,(70 years and back say) a deontological society.

The "silly" speeches given by the leaders of the US and Britain probably happened because the US shares so much with England philosophically (when I said Europe above I should have said Continental Europe.)

Most Americans view the responses, for example, of today's French politicians as cowardly. The first immediate response to them I heard were two jokes: "Why do the French line their streets with trees? The Germans like to march in shade." and "How many Frenchmen does it take to defend Paris? Don't know, it hasn't happened yet."

Because of the different philosophical backgrounds and mindsets it is easy why you might not be able to understand the American mindset. The one thing that bothers me though is that Europeans and the rest of the world to a lesser extent (and I don't mean you in particular so please don't take offense)not understanding the American psyche label us as stupid or lazy. Ossama bin Laden has referred to the American soldier as a "paper tiger" who "crumbles when hit." I believe he is gravely wrong. I also believe that the Austrian journalist is gravely wrong in his estimation of our President. You don't mobilize a nation for war by saying that it was a great tragedy and we need to understand why this happened yada yada yada. You say: we're good, they're evil and we're gonna whip 'em. Now, obviously the situation is complex, but you discuss that with your cabinet not with a nation that is thirsty.

This is really just a rambling post sparked by what I read and I appologize. But these sort of non-relativistic speeches are the sort which are remembered fondly by Americans. Whether it be the Gettysburg address or the President's address following Dec. 7 1941. Patton said: "I have never given a damn what the enemy was going to do or where he was. What I have known is what I have intended to do and then have done it." That to me in many ways sums up why many Europeans may not understand the current American attitude. They want to understand the enemy. We don't give a damn.

 

Mrs. Clinton's speech? Do you have a link for that?