September 23, 2001

The following is a Minute expressing an urgent Statement of Faith and Concern of the Red River (Fargo) and Bismarck Meetings of the Society of Friends.

Following the attacks in New York City and Washington, D.C., on September 11, 2001, we find ourselves injured, confused, lonely, angry, and desperate for some kind of justice. People are looking to the community of faith for help in making sense of what is happening. It is important that our faith communities respond, because we will be listened to and we may help define the course of future events.

We find important definition in the words from the Gospel of Luke 6:27-38. They read:

But to you who hear I say, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. To the person who strikes you on one cheek, offer the other one as well, and from the person who takes your cloak, do not withhold even your tunic. Give to everyone who asks of you, and from the one who takes what is yours do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you. For if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do the same. If you lend money to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, and get back the same amount. But rather, love your enemies and do good to them, and lend expecting nothing back; then your reward will be great and you will be children of the Most High, for he himself is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. Stop judging and you will not be judged. Stop condemning and you will not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven. Give and gifts will be given to you; a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing, will be poured into your lap. For the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you. [NAB]

In this passage we are invited to be Children of God if we hear the message that we must love our enemies, even those who hate us. Love and forgiveness is the underlying nature of our faith, it is what we are called to do, and it is how we can lead in this particular crisis. These circumstances demand justice, but we believe it should be justice begotten of love and forgiveness.

To that end we join with people across the country and around the world in expressing the hope that those who planned and orchestrated these terrible acts will soon be brought to justice under the rule of law.

We are concerned, however, about how our government responds now. First, we are concerned that the United States not avenge these attacks with attacks upon other innocent people who may happen to be of the same nationality, faith or ethnic group as the alleged perpetrators. This concern extends to protecting the safety and rights of people here at home. Many in this country of the Islamic faith or of Middle Eastern descent are worried that they may become the unwarranted focus of suspicion in their communities or, worse, the subjects of unjust persecution.

Second, many in the administration and Congress have declared that a state of war now exists. We are concerned that these public statements may be stirring the popular will and expectation for war. We and many others ask: War against whom? Cool minds and hearts must prevail in the U.S. Government during this time of crisis. War will only compound the tremendous assault on humanity that has already occurred. War is not the answer. The people who committed these acts struck with hatred. They saw the people in the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and the aircraft as faceless enemies. They denied the humanity of their victims. The United States must not commit the same error by compounding the injustice of these attacks with its own acts of terror against other people who are innocent of these crimes.

Third, the people who planned these suicide attacks were able to draw volunteers from a growing number of people around the world who harbor deep resentment and anger toward the United States. It is important that we in the United States try to hear and understand the sources of this anger. If we in the United States do not seek to understand and address the roots of this anger—poverty, injustice, and hopelessness—then the violence may well continue, no matter what the United States does to try to prevent it.

As Friends we witness to that spirit of love which takes away the occasion of war. We pray that out of darkness and tragedy, God may show us the path of true and lasting piece.