On Terrorism, and the "War on Terror"
- Sept. 11, 2001, was a really, really bad day. But it did not, without our consent, "change" Americans as a people.
- Anyone who says that "all Americans were traumatized" by Sept. 11, 2001, is either a liar, a fool, or a salesman.
- Americans do not want to confront the uncomfortable truths of 9/11 any more than they want to consider the Spookworld conspiracy theories that surround the event. Among those uncomfortable truths is this secret: We kinda liked it. Aside from the families and friends of people in the airplanes and buildings, most Americans experienced Sept. 11, 2001, as an exciting day of reality TV. Later on, we enjoyed feeling united, justified and resolute. We rejoiced in the reassuring patriotic rituals and ceremonies that followed.
- When the towers collapsed, most people's first thought was not "O! Those poor people inside!" but "WHOA! HOLY SHIT! THAT'S INCREDIBLE!" The compassionate response was real and true, and we all felt it. But it wasn't the only response. This element of our nature shames us.
- The continuing public rhetoric of American victimization and
vengeful self-righteousness is totalitarian kitsch. It is fundamentally
dishonest and intended to maintain a particular social order.
- Killing enemies who attack us is a good thing. Making more of them isn't.
- Fighting terrorism is necessary, but it will never end terrorism. The only solution to terrorism is justice.
- A permanent war against an enemy we never see is a familiar concept to anyone who ever read George Orwell's 1984.
Editor's Note: The original Xarker Manifesto was published on this site on June 29, 2005. Subsequent changes and additions appear with a date attached.
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