Why is it so hard to find any mainstream politicians or commentators willing to state this simple fact after an attack like the one in London today? Of course there was an attack -- we're in a perpetual state of war now, aren't we? It's awful what happened, but yes, I do find a moral equivalency between the attack today and politically motivated killings all over the world today, this week, this month, this year. And the more you attack people, the more likely they are to attack back.
If the "most powerful nation" can't seem to refrain from using violence to solve problems, how can we expect other nations -- feeling far more vulnerable to "outsiders" -- to follow a path of peace? What kind of absurd, twisted model of behavior are we setting here? The macho abusive Dad who bullies everyone in sight? Is that really what we want the USA to stand for?
It is a sickness, this national insecurity that leads anyone to believe that "might is right", that we have to "stand tough", "fight back", etc. etc. Bush today in his comments immediately following the bombing said "We will find them; we will bring them to justice, and at the same time we will spread an ideology of hope and compassion that will overwhelm their ideology of hate." I wish I believed a word of it. I wish he wasn't using us vs. them language (the avoidance of it would show that he was truly compassionate). But I have to admit that I was happy to hear a public offical -- no matter how odious and deceitful -- actually talk about living an affirmative ideal of hope and compassion.
If only we could find a way to call his bluff and actually make his actions match his words.
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