Who We Are

Diverse Backgrounds and Viewpoints Come Together
to Challenge War on Terror, And Seek Positive Responses to 9/11

By Frank Farkas

    The members of Bronx Action for Justice and Peace come from different walks of life and backgrounds. Some of us are religious; some not. Some are confirmed pacifists; others less so, or not at all. Our political viewpoints too are not identical. What brought us together was a desire to find an appropriate response to the terrorist attacks on September 11. (More than anything, we agree on what we think is the wrong way to respond.)

    Like the rest of the nation, we were appalled and saddened by the attacks and the tremendous loss of life. We condemn terrorism in any form and whatever the source--whether carried out by powerful states, or by networks of individuals. We believe that those responsible for September 11 should be brought to justice just like anyone else accused of a crime. We are determined to prevent future acts of terrorism.

    By the same token, we are opposed to the Bush administration?s war on terrorism. Contrary to the administration spin about the war as humanitarian, we find evidence in the newspaper every day that the war is resulting in the deaths and maiming of thousands of civilians, and is magnifying the suffering of the people of Afghanistan. The bombing of Afghanistan has resulted not so much in a defeat for the Taliban, since nullified by the reemergence of war lords notorious for their human rights violations, as it has in the collective punishment of Afghanistan for September 11.

    Moreover, we do not think that the war will solve the problem of terrorism, nor make our country safe and secure from terrorism. Violence begets violence; the war will only succeed in making our country, and the entire world, less secure. Only non-violent counter measures by international bodies can address the problem without producing a violent backlash. A successful struggle against terrorism requires the participation of every country. No one nation, including our own, should act alone as if it had a unilateral right to lead a war against terrorism.

    Although there is no justification for the terrorist attack, we recognize that terrible and longstanding inequities and injustices provide the fertile soil from which terrorism springs. In the interest of world peace and security, and justice, these wrongs must be remedied. Nothing less will truly solve the problem of terrorism.

    We also believe that the wrong way to respond to the terrorist attack is to turn our country into a garrison state by surrendering our freedom and our civil liberties; and by forfeiting our dreams and aspirations of equal opportunity, and economic security and wellbeing for all, to pay for it. It is wrong to scapegoat an entire immigrant population for the acts of a few individuals; xenophobic and racist attacks are wrong. Our country should be guided by the rule of law, not vigilanteism; by reason, not hysteria; by justice, not vengeance.

    We are part of a growing network of organizations and community groups opposed to the war. We invite you to join us.

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