September 11, 2002
WE REMEMBER . . .
From EQUAL PARTNERS in FAITH:
[9-11-02]
One year ago, terrorists attacked the United States, killing innocent
people and shattering the sense of security we had as Americans. They
committed their demonic acts in the name of God, religion and Islam.
In response, leaders of the Religious Right blamed
gays and lesbians, pro-choice Americans and advocates of church-state
separation. Since that time, these same right-wing leaders have
continued to malign Islam and blame all Muslims for the kind of
terrorism that so horrified us a year ago.
As we take time to remember the tragedy of 9-11, let
us reflect deeply on what it means to us as people of faith, what it
means for our democratic freedoms and what it means for peoples of other
nations.
Below, for purposes of memory and reflection, is a
selection of statements made by individuals and organizations just after
the terrorist attacks last year. Some statements are by the very groups
that the Religious Right blamed for the attacks. Others are from
responsible religious leaders and organizations.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Eight Statements Responding to the Horrible and Tragic Events of
September 11, 2001.
Statements by: Americans United for the
Separation of Church and State, People For the American Way, The
Interfaith Alliance, the National Council of Churches, the North
American Islamic Society, the Union of American Hebrew Congregations,
the American Civil Liberties Union, and the Alliance for Tolerance and
Freedom.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Statement by The Rev. Barry W. Lynn
Executive Director, Americans United Advisory Board Member, Equal
Partners in Faith
September 12, 2001
At this time of national tragedy, we extend our
deepest sympathy to the families of those killed and injured in the
horrific attacks in New York City, Washington, D.C. and Pennsylvania. As
a people, we cannot -- and will not -- allow these repugnant crimes to
weaken our commitment to the American values of democracy, pluralism and
freedom of conscience. Our nation stands united in our determination
that terrorism will not triumph over constitutional government and that
those guilty of these crimes will be brought to justice.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Statement by Ralph G. Neas President, People For the
American Way
September 13, 2001
Like all Americans, we continue to struggle with the
aftermath of the devastating terrorist attacks in New York City and at
the Pentagon.
We grieve for the victims of these heinous acts. We
salute the courage and heroism of so many individuals, from passengers
and crew on the hijacked airliners to the police, firefighters, and
other rescue workers, many of whom have lost their lives in the line of
duty. We praise those political leaders who have acted in ways that have
drawn us together in the midst of overwhelming loss. This is a time for
bipartisanship. It is a time for making a shared national commitment to
bring to justice those responsible and for acting appropriately to
prevent future such attacks.
But there are other dangers we must guard against, as
well as terrorists. While we seek to defend ourselves against future
threats, we must also guard against allowing our own anger and fear to
cause us to act against our own interests as a free people. We have
already seen pundits and political leaders suggesting that the fight
against terrorism requires us to sacrifice the constitutional liberties
that are at the core of what it means to be an American. That would be a
victory for our nation's enemies.
We have already seen acts of harassment and violence
directed against Arab- Americans and Muslim Americans. We call on all
Americans to reject that kind of scapegoating and to stand up against it
in their own communities. Targeting people based on their ethnicity or
religion was not the American Way when Japanese-Americans were taken
from their homes and shipped to internment camps during World War II. It
is not the American Way today, when Muslim Americans are taunted or
attacked on the streets of the country that is their home.
People For the American Way's 500,000 members and
activists are guardians of the Constitution and the democratic values
that sustain our free society. We will vigorously support the
government's efforts to identify those responsible for these acts of
terror and to bring them to justice. And we will just as vigorously
oppose efforts to exploit this tragedy in ways that diminish the
constitutional and civil rights for which generations of Americans - in
the armed forces and social justice movements - have fought and died.
Now, more than ever, we will act to promote and protect the ideals of
the American Way.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Statement by The Interfaith Alliance
September 12, 2001
(WASHINGTON - September 12, 2001) The Interfaith
Alliance (TIA), The Interfaith Alliance Foundation, their Board of
Directors and staff send their heart-felt condolences to the families
and friends of those injured or killed in yesterdays horrific attack on
this great nation. While we may never fully grasp the devastation and
overwhelming sense of loss that have occurred, we continue to pray for
everyone affected by this tragedy and offer our strength and support. We
also pray for the gift of wisdom for the leaders of this nation as they
carry us forward.
While these cowardly terrorists have stolen the lives
of many innocent people, we must not allow them to rip apart our souls,
alter our historic commitment to freedom and break our spirits.
Even though the great religious traditions of in our
nation differ significantly, they do share a set of core values. Let us
face into our fears, holding fast to those values. Such a posture will
prevent the kind of dangerous stereotyping evidenced in despicable acts
of hate and violence fomented upon Muslim and Islamic centers of worship
in our land.
Guidance from the sacred scriptures and oral
traditions of our varied religions will keep us on a path characterized
by respect for the dignity and worth of all people, appreciation of
diversity, and a compassionate pursuit of community.
In these turbulent hours, I call upon the people of
TIA/F to serve as voices of reason, advocates for liberty, supporters of
diversity, patriots with civility and a fellowship of compassion as well
as people of prayer, meditation and good will.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Statement by the National Council of Churches
September 12, 2001
We join all in our nation and world in shock and anger
at Tuesdays horrific chain of attacks on the World Trade Center and the
Pentagon, claiming yet-uncounted innocent lives. In particular, we hold
the families of the victims in our prayers. We acknowledge the grief,
sense of vulnerability, loss and fear that result from these attacks. We
condemn these vicious attacks in the strongest possible terms.
Even as our national sites are under attack, we call
on all people to manifest the best of our national spirit. At such a
time as this, we must hold together. We call on people of faith to reach
out to one another. We especially urge churches, synagogues, mosques and
other houses of worship to join in prayer and practical help. We must
stand united against the temptation to retaliate against innocent
persons. We can all pray. We can respond to calls for donations of blood
and other practical assistance. In this the worst attack on U.S.
territory since Pearl Harbor, we must turn our eyes to the God of us
all. In Psalm 23, we are promised Gods care even "in the presence
of our enemies." May God guide us in these days of pain.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Statement by the Islamic Society of North America
September 11, 2001
The Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) joins Muslim
Americans and all Americans in expressing its deep sorrow over the
deliberate air-crashes in New York and Washington, DC that have led to
the loss of countless innocent lives.
ISNA joins Muslim organizations throughout North
America in condemning these terrorist attacks and calls upon Muslim
Americans to come forward with their skills and resources to help
alleviate the sufferings of the affected people and their families.
ISNA condemns these senseless acts of terrorism
against innocent civilians, which will only be counterproductive to any
agenda the perpetrators may have had in mind. No political cause could
ever be assisted by such immoral acts.
We join with all Americans in calling for the swift
apprehension and punishment of the perpetrators, and call upon our
justice system to maintain strict standards of justice and fairness in
these trying times.
We also urge the media to exercise restraint, and to
act responsibly when reporting on these terrorist attacks. Until the
perpetrators are brought to justice, all media reports should be
accurate, restrained and sensitive.
Let us pray to God that He may Guide us all to keep
firm in following our principles and offer relief to the victims of
violence wherever they may be.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Statement of the Union of American Hebrew
Congregations and the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism
September 13, 2001
Together with all Americans, we are still in shock, reeling from the
devastation of Tuesday's terrorist attacks.
At times such as these and we pray that there will no
more such times it is especially important that we behave with
deliberation, lest trauma distort our actions. Specifically, we need to
bear in mind that this conflict is between the United States and those
who would see our way of life destroyed. It is not between some
Americans and others. We must not allow this attack on America to divide
Americans
We are concerned, in particular, with reports that
some in our nation have directed their understandable anger at Tuesday's
carnage at individual ArabAmericans and Muslim Americans. We are
outraged at reports of attacks on Arab Americans, Muslim Americans, and
their mosques and businesses and condemn all such acts of lawlessness.
Such attacks, such scapegoating, are deeply un-American. They also
violate what is perhaps a preeminent lesson of Jewish history the danger
of group hatred, of imputing to a group the actions of a few
individuals.
We know that like all Americans, Arab Americans and
Muslim Americans overwhelming share our revulsion at the terrorist
attacks, and our commitment to American values. We know that they, too,
have family and friends injured or killed in the attacks, and our
condolences go out to them, as to all who are grieving.
On Tuesday, evil was evident, but humanity will
prevail. Since Tuesday, we have witnessed a remarkable outpouring of
human kindness, as Americans instinctively insist that evil's victory
would be limited and that we would not permit inhumanity to prevail. We
believe, deeply and stubbornly, that goodness and kindness are more
powerful than cruelty. We therefore call on all Americans in their
interpersonal dealings, and especially in dealing with those rendered
particularly vulnerable by these events, to be fully American to act
with kindness and with courtesy, to seek to express, as Lincoln put it,
the better angels of our nature.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Statement by the American Civil Liberties Union
September 12, 2001
The American Civil Liberties Union joins the nation
today in grieving over the devastating loss of life resulting from the
joint attacks against the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and the crash
of the airplane outside of Pittsburgh.
We strongly applaud the words of our national leaders
who, in reaction to this unparalleled tragedy, have promised to preserve
the free and open society that has made this nation great.
We welcome, in particular, the eloquent words of
President Bush who told the nation last night that, "America was
targeted for attack because we're the brightest beacon for freedom and
opportunity in the world. And no one will keep that light from
shining."
Similarly, Attorney General John Ashcroft pledged
that, "the determination of these terrorists will not deter the
determination of the American people. We are survivors, and freedom is a
survivor. A free American people will not be intimidated, nor will we be
defeated."
In the difficult days ahead, the ACLU will work with
our nation's leaders to help the nation achieve its goal of protecting
the security and freedom of all people in America.
We will urge our leaders to continue to uphold the
principles of liberty the nation holds dear as they pursue those
responsible for this devastating attack on American soil. Finally, we
take a measure of comfort in the fact that one of the greatest symbols
of freedom and democracy in our nation still stands: through the
billowing smoke of destruction in lower Manhattan, the Statue of Liberty
lifts her torch to freedom. Long may she survive.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Statement by the Alliance for Tolerance and
Freedom
Laura Montgomery Rutt, Executive Director and Board member of Equal
Partners in Faith
September 14, 2001
The Alliance for Tolerance and Freedom wishes to
affirm our commitment to diversity and equality during this time of
crisis. We offer our condolences to the individuals directly affected by
this tragedy.
Already, violence against Arab-Americans and Muslims
has taken place as a result of misguided stereotypes and prejudice
against individuals based on their nationality, religion and race. As
American citizens, we need to insure that all people in our nation are
given the same protections from violence and discrimination and assured
the right of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
We are the envy of every nation because of our
freedoms and our diversity, and this is our strength. Yet we are not
perfect. Discrimination and verbal and physical abuse against
individuals based on their race, religion, nationality, gender, ability,
marital status, gender identity and sexual orientation takes place on a
daily basis in this nation.
This is a good time for us to reflect on the violence
we can cause to one another as a result of our bigotry and fears, and
make sure that we do not turn on each other in our anger, reversing the
great progress we have already made as a nation. Let us not make the
same mistakes we have in the past, and single out innocent individuals
as targets of retribution. Now is the time for healing and we can begin
now, we can begin at home.
As we try to make sense of what happened to our nation
on September 11, 2001 and seek ways to help each other in this time of
disaster, we ask everyone to stand up against hatred and violence in
this country, and work to protect the rights of all people, whether
Arab-American, Asian, African-American, Latino, Muslim, Jewish, Pagan,
Christian, gay, or straight. We can to pull together as a nation, and
now is the time.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
EQUAL PARTNERS in FAITH is a multi-racial national
network of religious leaders and people of faith committed to equality
and diversity. Our diverse faith traditions and shared religious values
lead us to affirm and defend the equality of all people, regardless of
religion, race, ability, gender, sexual orientation or gender identity.
As people of faith, we actively oppose the manipulation of religion to
promote inequality and exclusion.
Join us and help us promote a more inclusive vision of
religion and society. www.us.net/epf/SupportEPF.htm
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