Raising Cane
By Rob Perez
Wednesday, September 12, 2001
This is getting ugly. Calls for quick revenge paint
the innocent in strokes of guiltEven in this land of aloha, reaction to yesterday's devastating terrorist tragedy has taken a decidedly nasty turn in some quarters.
People are so intent in exacting quick revenge for the worst terrorist attack in U.S. history that they've lost a sense of reason. Go in shooting and ask questions later.
Never mind that U.S. authorities haven't determined who was behind yesterday's cowardly attacks, though terrorist Osama bin Laden was named a prime suspect.
One caller to KSSK radio suggested responding in a fashion similar to what the United States did after the Pearl Harbor attack.
His solution: Drop nuclear bombs on Middle East targets, especially in Afghanistan, where bin Laden has been given asylum.
Never mind that thousands of innocent Afghan civilians, including children, would be killed.
Another caller's solution: Bomb Saudi Arabia.
Never mind that the Saudis usually are on our side.
Some were quick to condemn large groups of people, even without any evidence indicating who was involved. The broad strokes were used anyway.
"The Arabs probably were behind this," said Robert Cruz, a mainland resident visiting downtown Honolulu.
At the nearby Dillingham Transportation Building office of attorney William Fenton Sink, a hand-written sign on the door said the office was closed "because of the dastardly attack by the enemies of Christian civilization on the United States."
So who said these terrorists were out to get Christians?
In a letter to the editor published in today's Star-Bulletin (Page A14), Sink implored Hawaii politicians to abandon "their hand-wringing and political correctness just long enough to deal with terrorism directed against this nation."
Among other things, the attorney advocated deporting all illegal aliens and anyone whose loyalties lie with our enemies.
He recommended bombing Kabul, Khartoum and Baghdad "until not one stone is left on another. I would say bomb them back to the Dark Ages, but their 'culture' is so barbaric, that would be an insult to the societies of the Dark Ages."
He also said we should treat "the American Civil Liberties Union and its like as the enemies of Christian civilization they are."
The ACLU as champions for terrorists?
With U.S. residents falling victims once again to terrorists, this time in the heart of the nation's political and financial capitals, such over-the-top reactions can be expected. People are angry. They're frustrated. They want quick action.
But move too quickly and this could get even uglier real fast.
Star-Bulletin columnist Rob Perez writes on issues
and events affecting Hawaii. Fax 529-4750, or write to
Honolulu Star-Bulletin, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., No. 7-210,
Honolulu 96813. He can also be reached
by e-mail at: rperez@starbulletin.com.
