11 September I 13 SeptemberComrades, I was out in the street in Greenwich Village and I saw part of the first World Trade Center Towers collapse. A man standing next to me seemed to be in shock. He said he worked in the World Trade Center and he was late for work today, all his co- workers were dead. As he spoke to me, I saw the second Tower collapse completely. People were jumping out the windows engulfed in flames. After the first blast, people covered with white ash were running up the main streets, to get away from the wave of smoke that was following them. Clusters of men and women were weeping in the streets. I went to Bellevue hospital to donate blood. Thousands of people are doing the same. I am going to volunteer because they are looking for health care workers to help out in the hospitals. Does the US think they are immune to attack considering what they have done all around the world? The chickens are coming home to roost as Malcolm X said. After reports got back during the Gulf War that the US army were shooting Iraqi's in the back after they had already laid down their arms and surrendered, I remember General Schwarzkopf saying that the numbers of Iraqi dead didn't matter to him, they were just "collateral damage". I just hope this will not be used as an excuse to start a war and kill more women and children. Already the US is looking for scapegoats. It seems the tail will be pinned on Osama Ben Laden. The cable news stations are showing footage of rejoicing on the West Bank, this is obviously meant to inflame people over here. I was surprised however, that many people were remarking that something like this was bound to happen. All areas below Canal street are evacuated. Quite a bit of transportation and daily activity has been suspended. I will keep you posted. Comradely, 11 September I 13 SeptemberComrades, It is two days after the World Trade Center bombing and New York City even now reeling from the attack. Police are still restricting movement in and out of the city. The bridges and tunnels are now police and military checkpoints. The Empire State Building was evacuated last night, bomb threats were made today in Times Square,and army tanks were parked in the middle of the city. Subway lines have been rerouted because it was feared that the vibrations of the subway would cause some of the buildings that are still burning adjacent to the World Trade Center to collapse. Many are wearing surgical masks as far as a mile away from the bombing site because the air is still filled with smoke and the wind is carrying it across the city. Reports of respiratory difficulties were reported as far away as Brooklyn. I have to pass a police checkpoint to enter my home. Across the street from my apartment is the National Guard Armory which is being used as the Information Collection Center for those who are still missing family and friends. Lexington Avenue is filled with men and women who are waiting in line to give any information they may have to aid in identifying the bodies. They are holding photographs of the "disappeared". They are giving information about distinguishing marks such as tattoos or piercings. Some of the grieving families have brought medical records with them. Many of the dead will only be identified due to DNA tests since in quite a few cases all that remains are dismembered body parts. The mood is quite complex and varied. My home is 12 blocks away form the cordoned off "hot zone" which extends from 14th street to the tip of Manhattan at Battery Park. Last night I watched as crowds of young people filled the bars and restaurants, seemingly oblivious to the destruction that had taken place. It seemed as if none of them were able to be alone and they were pretending that life was unchanged. Some of the comrades have reported hearing anti- Arab remarks, but generally many of us were surprised how moderate the comments were. One of our comrades is a truck driver, and expected to hear very jingoistic comments at work this morning. He gathered some of his coworkers together and told them that he condemned the bombings, but that he was against going to war. He went on to explain our analysis of the situation, not expecting many people accept his point of view. He was surprised because quite a few of the workers said that they agreed with him. We are aware that this situation is likely to change once the media whips up the war hype. It is significant however, that after destruction of this magnitude, it is still possible to have an intelligent and reasonable conversation about the root causes of this attack. A number of comrades in New York would like to intervene at a memorial service for the victims of the bombing. We would like to prepare a short and sensitively worded statement that would emphasize that we condemn the bombings and we are in solidarity with those who are grieving their loss, and above all that there is still hope for humanity if society can be transformed on the basis of social justice and equality. These are basic, simple ideas, but I think that it is as much as we can accomplish at this time. It would be a beginning for those who want to understand why we are living through this horror and how we can emerge from it. Comradely, Margaret Collins |
SLP Stellungnahme: Eine sozialistische Analyse der Auswirkungen der Anschläge CWI Statement: World Trade Center and Pentagon Attacks Why Marxists oppose individual Terrorism |