11 September 2001

I appreciate all comments and thoughts on the events that are unfolding right before us. I say us, as a people, who breathe the same air, who live in the same world. This is a very important point: we all excrete the same smelly shit.

Yes, these events will affect each and every one of us. Terrorism is, in fact, a global sickness, something along the lines of drug addiction, or the AIDS epidemic. World War III you say? No, we cannot call this and the events to follow as war. War has always been a clash between two adversaries. This is not war; this is downright barbarism.

I remember my high school days when the sentiment was "Down with the World Bank-IMF", or "the Imperialist USA". There were some of us who attended protest rallies at the public square. I don't know about the others, but the only reason I did so was because they cut our classes short. I remember I was totally amused by the hardcore activists denouncing the "evil American Empire" clad in brand new Nike and Sperry shoes.

I have spent a year and a half strolling around the Middle East. The thing that struck me was that in this part of the world, the disparity between rich and poor is more pronounced. If you are rich, or part of a rich family, you are really rich; if you are poor, you are scum of the earth.

Now this is not my opinion, it's from someone I met in Jeddah. The poor have the most need, and they are being filled with hatred instead of love; violence instead of peace. Unfortunately, the majority of the so called "freedom fighters" in the region are rich, educated people who are after their own interests, and who use the poor under the guise of religious faith. Sounds familiar? It is. It is all around us, although they come in different forms and degrees. Fundamentalists, fanatics, etc. He once told us that he has fled after learning that their leader, who appears as a simple commoner to them during rallies, was actually a rich businessman who owned a huge construction company, and who drives around in a Rolls Royce.

I don't even want to dwell on the angle of the Israeli-Arab conflict. I think these are highly political issues, and are better left to, well, politicians. I just wish that these egotistical maniacs leave the poor common people alone, instead of brainwashing them to think that Abdullah right down the street is the devil. Or that Joe from thousands of miles away is the cause of all life's misery. Anybody with an IQ of at least 45 should be civilized enough to respect each other's right to their own beliefs, or at least the right to leave in peace. But then again, IQ doesn't count much in a lot of corners in this world.

I don't believe that religions are founded on the basis of violence and crime against fellowmen. I don't know much about Islam, nor do I know much about Christianity. All I know is I don't even need religion to guide me to respect the other human beings around me. I think it is the greed of man that has turned religion into a bunch of paper used as an excuse to take advantage of those who are weak. Jihad or the Crusades, all the same crap. Heck, the Prophet Muhammad and Jesus Christ must be rolling in their graves…

I don't believe in violence. But the fact is, there has been a great crime committed. I think it is time for the world to come out in one voice, and say no to this form of harassment. We should not be turned into a society of fearful, doubting, and violent people. The perpetrators of these inhuman acts, and those who support it, must be found and isolated, and punished to the severest level, in such a way that it would discourage others to follow. At the same time, we should help the victims of their false proclamations, by giving comfort and education. They should be taught that they live in a society that promotes peace and prosperity, and that they are part of this beautiful blue earth that we all share.

Peace, love, and harmony to all.