4 4A - Friday, September 9, 2011 The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com Edited and managed by students at the University of Michigan since 1890. 420 Maynard St. Ann Arbor, MI 48109 tothedaily@michigandaily.com STEPHANIE STEINBERG EDITOR IN CHIEF MICHELLE DEWITT and EMILY ORLEY EDITORIAL PAGE EDITORS NICK SPAR MANAGING EDITOR d" e / i) r 7 ~ All rw CULLENMAXOM t t"afr11 601 1 Unsigned editorials reflect the official position of the Daily's editorial board. All other signed articles and illustrations represent solely the views of their authors. 7$iti o, f Printed Sept.12, 2001 4 SEPTEMBER 12, 2001 FR THE DAILY: SEPTEMBER 13, 2001 There are certain images in history that stand the test of time: These include Times Square filled for V-J Day, mourners gathering outside the Dakota Apartment on Central Park West to lament the death of John Lennon and the multi-mile line to view the body of fallen President John F. Kennedy lying in state at the U.S. Capitol. For University students, one of the many images that will define Sept. 11, 2001 is the sight of 15,000 people gathered in the Diag the largest gathering of its kind in University history. , Just as we gathered on the Diag on Tuesday, our university must remain united in the days, weeks, months and years to come. Quiet, solemn and respectful, students, faculty, staff and administrators still in shock and quite unsure of what the future holds gathered to comfort one another. Since most students are away from home, it is the University community that must serve as one large family. Although Tuesday"s attacks on the United States occurred hundreds of miles away from Ann Arbor, they were still close to home. And in the upcoming, uncertain days ahead, it will be essential to maintain the genu- inely close-knit University community that emerged that evening on the Diag. As Michi- gan Student Assembly Vice President Jessica Cash said, the University "seemed a whole lot smaller" Tuesday night. The University has offered its resourc- es for students to deal with the stress and uncertainty of terrorist attacks. Student should take advantage of counseling services in the residence halls and in the University unions. Thesother promising sign that came out of Tuesday's events was the fact that so many student groups of differing backgrounds and viewpoints came together to organize the vigil. The organizers, from MSA to Students Organizing for Labor and Economic Equal- ity to the Black Student Union to Hillel and so many others, should be thanked for their commitment to the University and to the stu- dent population. The heated Palestinian-Israeli debate that has placed great stress on the campus com- munity this past year, was put aside on Tues- day. At the vigil, Muslims stood next to Jews, Palestinians embraced Israelis. We can only hope that Tuesday"s horrors in New York and Washington will serve as a foundation for tolerance. There is no doubt that the Israeli-Palestinian crisis will be fur- ther debated and connected to Tuesday"s terrorist attacks. Just as we gathered in the Diag on Tues- day, our university must remain united in the days, weeks, months and years to come. FROM THE. UNIVERSITY The University of Michigan prides itself on its longstanding history of acceptance and tolerance- of all cultures. These assets are the cornerstone of our education, and are integral in good times, and an utmost necessity in times of stress and trying. Yesterday morning's events have thrown us into a catastrophe on a magnitude;never experienced before. The day has been tumultuous; we don't know what to believe; we don't know what to think. This crisis is an opportunity for us to practice what we preach; it is an opportunity for us to come together, recognize and pay proper respect to the tragedy, and unite behind one another. We are all in the same boat - confused. Things are difficult right now, and they will be for some time to come while we try to interpret what has happened. Let's take this opportunity to unite behind our common values of diversity, tolerance and acceptance. Terrorism only succeeds when it forces its victims to change their practices, and we refuse to let terrorism succeed. As noted by President Bollinger, if you have any questions regarding counseling, help lines, or anything else, www.umich.edu will have continual updates as they occur. Sincerely, E. Royster Harper Vice President for Student Affairs Matt Nolan President Michigan Student Assembly Jessica Cash Vice President Michigan Student Assembly PRINTED SEPTEMBER 12, 2001 Y the wor soil. In an unde surroun motivat but cau events t tragedy erbated Sti g fu in tog tha safe an to point cedes p objectiv this poi immedi It is< seek an questior of this lash tot by a si ity. Alr tors hav between the 1941 Navy"sl that pre entry in analogy nitely cc the mad this eve mislead Wher bor was against another that yes more th trated b terrorist of war-I esterday morning, the col- culate does nothing but fuel lective sense of American hysteria and promote fear the security was shattered by United States has been attacked, but rwhelming terrorist attack the nation is not "at war." rst of its kind on American The Pearl Harbor analogy should the face of this catastrophe, also remind us of the horrific con- rstandable feeling of futility sequences of the mass-hysteria that ds the people of this nation. A swept the nation after the bombing. ion toward action is justified, Fearing a Japanese invasion of the tion must be exercised. The west coast, the United States govern- hat transpired yesterday are ment (later with the blessing of the enough, without being exac- U.S. Supreme Court in its Korematsu by the immediate scramble decision) forced Japanese-American civilians into internment camps. While the situation in the Pacific was igmatizing any tense and invasion fears could be jus- tified, the forced internment of Amer- ican citizens in internment camps of racially- regardless of how likely an attack from imperial Japan may have been eled motives is was a tremendous national disgrace. excusable and Unfortunately, the race-baiting experienced by Japanese-Americans e should come in the wake of Pearl Harbor seems to have been visited upon Arab- and 'ether to ensure Muslim-Americans following recent t everyone feels terrorist attacks. In the days imme- diately following the bombing of the on this campus Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in I in Ann Arbor. Oklahoma City, arsonists attacked mosques and Arab-owned business- es across the country Even more disturbingly and closer fingers. This situation super- to home, in "enlightened" Ann Arbor olitical ideals, affiliations or reports of harassment and violence es. Of utmost importance at against Arab and Muslim students nt is respect for the lost and trickled in yesterday. The harass- ate action to aid the living. ment caused enough unease in the a natural human instinct to Arab/Muslim student population swers to the multitude of that the Muslim Student Associa- ns involving who is guilty tion distributed an e-mail cautioning crime. However, the back- Arab/Muslimstudents to, "alwaysbe this event must be tempered ingroupsoftwo or more," and "never ncere attempt at rational- be out after dark, unless absolutely eady, esteemed commenta- necessary." Stigmatizing any group e attempted to draw parallels because of racially-fueled motives n yesterday"s tragedy and is inexcusable and we should come Japanese attack on the U.S. together to ensure that everyone Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbor feels safe on this campus and in Ann cipitated the United States" Arbor. to World War It. While this Members of minority groups are is useful to a degree it defi- not the only people who have to ommunicates some sense of worry about irrational responses to gnitude and significance of terrorism. Terrorist acts have been nt it can also be dangerously used before to promote reckless ing. crackdowns on civil liberties. The 'eas the attack on Pearl Har- Espionage Act of 1917, for example, an act of war by one nation exploited World War I to target dis- the military installation of sentingpoliticalgroupswho opposed nation, there is no indication American policies during the war. terday"s attack was anything The perpetrators of yesterday"s an an elaborate strike perpe- assault have alreadytaken more than y an independently-financed we can comprehend we should not t organization. The rhetoric allow their actions to be an excuse to hawks that continues to cir- take our rights as well. There also exists the danger of this event being exploited for parti- san agendas. The most fearful reac- tion would be one that validates a cornerstone of President George W. Bush"s administration: Increased militarization.. Bush has been a tireless advocate for increased defense spending, but his plans dump billionsofdollarsinto creating a military state that fails to offer any real protection in today"s world. Bush has largely ignored crit- ics from both major political parties who point out that his plan ignores terrorist organizations and other non-state actors. Bush"s missile defense plan is based on an antiquated view of the international theater. Bush"s proposed defense plan would have been wholly ineffective against yesterday's terrorist attack. The United States needs to be more concerned with the allocation of its defense spending, and not nec- essarily on beefing up any and all military programs simply because they once worked. The question is not whether the United States will react to the worst act of terrorism in our history, but what sort of reaction there will be. These attacks willillicit a response unheard of in American history. The question is not whether the United States will react to the worst act of terrorism in our history, but what sort of reaction there willbe. Our nation needs to temper its response and avoid knee-jerk reac- tions to this disaster. Even as Americans try to com- prehend the tragedy of yesterday"s events, the nation must begin to cope with the harsh prospect of an insecure tomorrow. Although our efforts, first and foremost, must be directed toward helping the victims of the present calamity, our collec- tive minds must turn to the preven- tion of an equally bleak future. I 4 aI a a I JOINT STUDENT STATEMENT n light of yesterday's tragedy, we stand united in condemnation of these heinous attacks. Together, we must grieve and ultimately overcome. This crime forces us to contemplate every held belief about ourselves, our community, our nation, and our world. This attack could make our world appear dark and dismal, or could be an opportunity for cohesion and growth. It is vital that we stand together as a united community, held together by the bonds of humanity, love, and compas- sion. By virtue of the community in which we are a part, the value of diversity has been deeply embedded within all of us. The University of Michigan is unique, special, and a place which we are proud to call our home, as a result of this diversity, but also tolerance. This tolerance has never been more crucial than now. The microcosm that we call our home can serve as an international example of diversity, tolerance, and peace. It is in our hands. This statement was co-signed by the following studentgroups. CAMPUs RELIGION NETWoRK PROJECT SERVE MICHIGAN STUDENT ASSEMBLY STUDENT ORGANIZING FOR LABOR AND IECONOMIC itt" .AITS In solidarity, ALPHA IOTA OMICRON AMERICAN CIVn. LIBERTIES UNION EL TRONSTEIN OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN RACH .,.. President LSA Student Government As'AD TARSIN President Muslim Students Association TzEDEK: A JEWISH SOCIAL JUSTICE CONSORTIUM BLACK STUDENT UNION COLLEGE DEMOCRATS LA Voz PERSIAN STUDENTS ASSOCIATloN ISRAELMIcIGAN PUBLIC ACAIRts COEMrTEr UNIVERSITY ACTIVITIES CENTER I I LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: Readers are encouraged to submit letters to the editor. Letters should be fewer than 300 words and must include the writer's full name and University affiliation. Send letters to tothedaily@michigandaily.com PRINTED SEPTEMBER 12, 2001