[Opinion] Blessed Is America Who Endures

The cheers and shouts of joy seen on the faces of the Palestinians on the day America was hit by her worst terror ever were telling signs of their indiscretion. It was disturbing to see them rejoice in the midst of such anti-human crime and dreadful manslaughter, but what was far more troubling was their child-like response that failed to foresee America`s deadly vengeance. Does this not represent the perpetuation of humanity`s myopic infliction and revenge in history?

The potential magnitude of America`s revenge has led even Gadaffi to condemn the terror attack, Arafat to donate blood for the injured, and to top it all, North Korea to make a declaration of censure. Even the Afghanistan government had initially agreed to guide Osama bin Laden to US authorities. Did the terrorists who had prepared so meticulously for several years actually think that their terrorist action would have helped their own people?

They would certainly not have been ignorant of the fact that American would strike back. This is especially so under the leadership of the hard-line President Geroge W. Bush and his Republican government, who would undoubtedly execute a grand scale revenge in order keep America`s prestige intact. Despite America`s fearful revenge, however, they would have `calculated` their attack to be a worthy one since this attack would convey a message that the Arabs are formidable enemies.

Of course this was not based on a rational decision. However, a person burning with vengeance will place so much emphasis on the realization of his hatred that a common sense calculation would be impossible.

Even America having sustained such a horrendous attack cannot make rational judgments right away. Even if the political leaders retain the capability to make informed decisions, they cannot neglect America`s pride, and they must also provide ventilation for the people`s anger escape. If America takes excessive steps in avenging and needlessly high casualties arise among especially the innocent, then not only will the world`s economy be adversely affected, the public opinion currently sympathetic to the US could turn away from her. Should things take such turn, then America will try even harder to make up for the image it has lost, and the excessive display of her power could repeat her mistake with Vietnam.

This could very well be the scenario the Muslim leaders are aspiring for. If Europe and Asia turn away from their support for America, she will find herself wrestling against enemies in the precipitous mountain peaks of Afghanistan, wasting away her national resources to a far greater extent than she did in Vietnam. Not only so, a gradual increase in internal conflict and division will dislodge her from her seat of power, and in the process, several nations of the Free World will fall together with her.

There is nothing more blind and tenacious than enmity among human emotions. Personal enmity can be somewhat overcome by means of expanding generosity and raising concerns. National enmity is another story. In it are embedded patriotism, justice, love for one`s people, and attacking instinct, the amalgamation of which makes it impossible to overcome. As we have seen through this terror attack on America, on one side was the judgment of justice, and on the other side were the anti-cultural terror and inhumane killing of lives.

The ball is already in America`s hands. After the complete demolition of World Trade Center, which symbolized America`s centrality in the world`s economy and stood as national pride, and the crushing of the Pentagon, no one would find it difficult to empathize with America`s wrath. And we all recognize that America, after having suffered such humiliating terror, cannot just stay put as if there were nothing she could do. Now is the time and opportunity for America to display the air of a great nation, so that by means of responding in a wise and cautious manner, she can restore the world`s trust and positively re-channel anti-American sentiments spread throughout the world.

There is a proverb which says, `Two injustice do not make justice`. Although the terror attack on America has infuriated the world, America unregulated revenge will not be tolerated. Even Israel, after thousands of years of humiliation and persecution and after having lost almost ten million people to Nazi Germany, when she forcefully entered Palestinian territory, and slaughtered and banished the Palestinian population from their land, was not overlooked.

The patriotism and love for fellow citizens America displayed since the terrorist attack were truly moving. However, if the people of America are wise patriots, they should try to encourage their government to act with maximum prudence and care. And other countries of the world, should they consider themselves as true allies to the US, while sympathizing with her grief, ought to ask her to be cautious and humane in her revenge. Today is truly the historical moment where the future of all nations will be impacted.

Suh Ji-Moon (Professor of English Literature at Korea University, Editorialist of this article)