Four more years?

What did I do on September 11 this year? Forgot about it totally and went shopping, of course. I only remembered about it when I read an article on the Sydney Morning Herald site (Wasted lives, then wasted opportunity by Francis Fukuyama)

I think if America hadn't used it as an excuse to invade Iraq, I would give the day more respect. As it is, George Dubya Bush has trashed the memories of the people who died on that day four years ago by using it as an excuse to create wars, attempt to settle old scores and commit a hell of a lot of war crimes/crimes against humanity/human rights breaches/etc. And if he doesn't respect that day, well, who else can? Especially when the Pentagon pairs the anniversary with a tribute to the military...

Don't get me wrong, I honestly do feel sad for those people who died that day.

But I also feel sad for the American (and other nationality's) soldiers who have died in stupid wars since then. And for innocent civilians who have been killed in Afghanistan and Iraq. For innocent people who have been attacked in their daily lives here in Australia and in many other countries overseas simply because they're 'Muslim.' For families who have lost loved ones. For laws to be passed by politicians that will see Muslims and other religious groups targeted. Does it make more sense for a President to organise to have more people killed than for a terrorist organisation to do the same thing?

It's people's lives, for goodness' sake. You can't get them back - once they're gone, they're gone forever.

Surely September 11 should be used to remember the proper Christian mandate of not killing. After all, that is one of the 10 Commandments. Unless people have forgotten about what God really wants from us in their pursuit of 'revenge' or oil or non-existent WMDs... Hmmm.

And now they're saying that the use of nuclear weapons will be acceptable to 'destroy stockpiles of nuclear, biological or chemical weapons.' I guess that's as good an excuse as any for them to use. And they call Osama bin Laden a terrorist.