OUTRAGE AND PAIN

Paul Cummins
Mirror contributing writer

   We are a nation outraged. And quite properly so.  Several thousand innocent citizens were murdered by terrorists in a single day. We are quite properly outraged and feel profound pain, both of which sometimes translates into feelings of fear. We seek action — immediately.
   Along with my own horrendous outrage at the attack of September 11, I would like to toss a few questions into the public dialogue regarding other outrages.
   The same day that our 5,000 citizens died, according to a recent UNESCO report, over 35,600 children around the globe died of starvation, malnutrition, and disease. [Following this UNESCO report there were no press conferences, no denunciations by governments, no national response.] Where is the outrage? What immediate action do we envision?
   This year, over 15,000 of our citizens will die as a result of gun violence — making the United States the homicide capitol of the planet. Where is our outrage? What immediate action are we willing to take?
   All over the world, nations, terrorist groups, revolutionary groups, civil-war opponents, and para-military organizations are killing each other with small arms weapons. “American manufacturers signed contracts for just under $18.6 billion, or about half of all weapons sold on the world market during 2000, with 68% of the American weapons bought by developing countries.” (International Herald Tribune, August 21, 2001). While we preach peace abroad, American arms contractors continue arming the world. Where is the outrage over this? If we want peace on the planet, what immediate actions are we willing to take?
   This year, all over the planet, 26,000 people — mostly civilians — will be maimed or killed by stepping on landmines. Yet the United States continues to oppose signing the landmine ban. Where is our outrage? What action are we willing to take?
   If we expect the rest of the world to share the outrage that we feel over the loss of our citizens on September 11, then we may need to display more concern over the losses they suffer each day and each year. There are no landmines in the United States, American children are not dying by the thousands of starvation, but other nations are suffering these kinds of losses. If we wish to convince the world that we want to build a new world of peace and prosperity for all, then we might consider giving up our role as the leading arms merchant of the world and seek instead to provide leadership in eliminating global poverty. We have the talent and the resources to do so.
   The people of Afghanistan were suffering from lack of food prior to September 11. But when we airlift food into their land at the same time we are dropping bombs upon them, it is at best a mixed message and easily viewed as hypocrisy.
   We can be a generous people, and our history is filled full of examples of American generosity.  Unfortunately, we undermine our own generosity by the examples listed above of greed and self-interested use of power. I can only hope that when we get past our current quest for justice and revenge concerning September 11, that we will direct our attention not just at our own outrage and pain, but at the outrage and pain other nations feel at the darker sides of our behavior. We can dismiss other people’s hatred of America as fanaticism or envy, but not all of this hatred is unjustified. Looking closely in the mirror is not an unhealthy activity.
   Paul Cummins is the President of Crossroads School, a founder of New Roads School, and the Executive Director of the New Visions Foundation.