Remembering 9/12

September 11, 2001, was what many have called “the day that changed America, ” and tomorrow, as you know, is the 20^th anniversary of those horrendous terrorist attacks. But I don’t remember 9/11/01, for I was living in Japan and didn’t know about the attacks until September 12. 

(A 9/12/01 photo by Frank Becerra Jr., The Journal News)

Speaking in Chapel on 9/12

While it was still Sept. 11 in Japan when the Twin Towers were hit and destroyed, it was after my bedtime and so it was only early the next morning that I heard that almost unbelievable news.

I got up early, as usual, with the intention of spending time on my final preparation for speaking at the regular Seinan Gakuin High School chapel service that morning. Upon hearing the horrible news from the U.S., though, I knew I would have to change my planned talk completely.

Even though I had been in Japan for many years, it still took a lot longer to prepare a talk/sermon in Japanese than in English—and there certainly wasn’t time that morning of 9/12 to make adequate preparation.

I haven’t been able to find the notes for my chapel talk that morning—and I might be embarrassed to see what I said, or didn’t say. But I did the best I could at the time.

After the chapel service was over, I chatted a few minutes with Manabe-sensei, the high school principal. I remember him saying that what he was most afraid of now were acts of revenge by the U.S.—and I agreed with him.

Seeking Revenge after 9/12

On 9/14, Pres. Bush vowed that the U.S. would take military action in retaliation for the terrorist attacks. Then on 9/18, he signed a congressional resolution authorizing the use of force against those responsible for the attacks.

Before a month had passed, on October 7 U.S. forces begin bombing the Taliban and Al Qaeda in Afghanistan. Retaliation had begun—and Principle Manabe was right: the acts of revenge have been far, far worse than the horrible events of 9/11.

The total number of people killed in the attacks of 9/11/01 is given as 2,997. The total number of people killed in Afghanistan since 10/7/01 is said (here) to be over 240,000. Retaliation ended with roughly 80 times (!) the death toll from the 9/11 attacks.

Leaving Afghanistan in 8/2021

Just a few days more than 238 months after the U.S. began military actions against the “enemy” in Afghanistan, the U.S. withdrew all military service members, other USAmericans, and tens of thousands of Afghan “friends.”

This has widely been called a “defeat” for the U.S.—and Pres. Biden has been strongly criticized for the hectic withdrawal not only by Republicans but by many in his own Party.

The war in Afghanistan might have been considered a success if it had ended in 2002. The major goal had been reached. But the war didn’t end then. It dragged on for 19 more years, perhaps partly (or largely?) because of the military-industrial complex. Some people profited handsomely from the war.  

The bombing in Kabul on August 26 which killed 13 U.S. soldiers and more than 170 Afghans was tragic indeed. And the current danger facing the few USAmericans and many Afghan friends of the U.S. left in Afghanistan is certainly distressing.

But undoubtedly, many more U.S. military personnel and Afghans would be killed in the months/years ahead had the U.S. troops remained.

It is remarkable that there seems to be more outrage over the fewer than 200 who were killed in Afghanistan the last week in August this year than over the average of more than 1,000 a month for the last 238 months!

We do need to be concerned about the oppressed people, especially women—and Christians—in Afghanistan as well as in North Korea, Syria, and many more countries with harsh governments. But one thing is certain: war is not the answer to the problems in Afghanistan or any other country.  

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** Here are some of the helpful opinion pieces I read with profit and recommend to those who are interested in thinking more about this matter.

“Yes, the Kabul withdrawal is a disaster. But Biden made the right decision on Afghanistan” by Washington Post columnist Jonathan Capehart on 8/22.

This opinion piece by David Leonhardt in The New York Times on 8/25.

Biden Deserves Credit, Not Blame, for Afghanistan by David Rothkopf in The Atlantic, 8/30.

Renouncing Revenge

Speaking of movies, which I was in my March 25 blog article, last month June and I watched “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri.” Not just because it was one of the movies nominated for Best Picture of 2017, but because we are Missourians we had looked forward to seeing the movie soon after it came out on DVD.

Praise for “Three Billboards”

Clearly, “Three Billboards” was an excellently made movie with great acting—especially by Frances McDormand, winner of the Best Actress Oscar for her portrayal of Mildred, the sad, angry central character.

Although the film itself did not win the Oscar, it did win Best Motion Picture at the 75th Golden Globe Awards.

Rabbi Jeffrey Salkin declared (here) that at it was the “best religious film” of 2017. He explained that it was “about sin, forgiveness, and redemption.” It seemed to me, though, that it was mostly about the former, and only a very little about the latter two—and even that depended largely on what you think Mildred and the “bad cop” did after the movie ended. 

Criticism of “Three Billboards”

My evaluation of the movie is rather negative. Of lesser importance is my criticism that it didn’t seem authentic to south Missouri—and in fact, it was filmed in North Carolina!

The central motif of there being three large billboards on a two-lane blacktop road outside a small south Missouri town is quite questionable—but not as much as to think they would rent for $5,000 a month.

(Actually, Martin McDonagh, the Irish screenplay writer, got the idea for the film years ago when he saw three billboards on a bus trip down I-10 not far from Beaumont, Texas.)

Also, while there are many foul-mouthed people in Missouri, it is a stretch to think that a small town in south Missouri would have so many--and to think that the police chief would use such foul language even when talking to his young daughters.

On a deeper level, there is the whole matter of how much “redemption” and “grace” is found in “Three Billboards.” On this matter, and with helpful references to Flannery O’Connor, consider this perceptive article in Vox.

I certainly couldn’t see much evidence of forgiveness and redemption. It was mostly about seeking revenge, couched in terms of “penal justice.”

Renouncing Revenge

Revenge is certainly a highly popular theme of movies and TV shows—doubtlessly because it is such a widespread human desire.

That was the main thing, though, I didn’t like about “Three Billboards.” Mildred’s anger was certainly understandable. But her ongoing hatred for those who abused/killed her daughter was making her life, and the lives of those around her, miserable.

Two other popular movies come to mind that, for me, were tainted by their emphasis on revenge. Recently, and for the first time, June and I also watched the classic (cult) movie “The Princess Bride.” It was delightful in many ways—but it was mainly about revenge, so I ended up not liking it.

Then a couple of years ago I went with my grandson David to see the beautifully done 2015 movie “The Revenant.” It was impressive in many ways; the scenery and the performance of the central character played by Leonardo DiCaprio were outstanding. But I ended up not liking that movie either—for the same reason: it mostly based on seeking revenge.

So I renounce revenge, for in the wise words of the noted ethicist Lewis B. Smedes: “The problem with revenge is that it never evens the score. It ties both the injured and the injurer to an escalator of pain.”