posted on December 14, 2001 06:04:39 PM
On the Tragic Events of September 11, 2001
The San Francisco Labor Council (AFL-CIO) joins the nation and the world in mourning the devastating loss of life resulting from the vicious attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, as well as the crashed plane in Pennsylvania. We condemn the criminality of those attacks and those responsible.
Many of those killed were union members and other workers killed on the job. Our hearts go out to our sisters and brothers and their loved ones. We particularly honor the rescue workers who continue to risk their lives to save others.
No one, in this country or any other, should suffer the fate of the victims in these attacks. We demand that the perpetrators of these crimes be brought to justice. The United States has a responsibility to establish with irrefutable facts the identity of those who were behind these attacks. The tragic attacks of September 11 should be treated as a heinous crime rather than an act of war.
As we mourn this tremendous loss of life, we declare our resistance to efforts to use this tragedy to engage in military actions that can lead only to more carnage and senseless loss of life. We reject the idea that entire nations should be punished for the actions of a few. Bombing raids and military strikes will only fuel an endless cycle of revenge that can only bring the deaths of more innocent civilians, both here and around the world.
In the face of such sorrow, we urge all people, particularly members of the labor family, to stand united against prejudice, hatred and intolerance wherever it arises. Within our own borders, we call upon all in our communities to join us in immediately confronting any anti-Arab, anti-Muslim, anti-Sikh or other anti-immigrant hate speech or acts of violence, whether in our neighborhoods, our workplaces, or in the media. We strongly oppose efforts to curtail the rights of immigrants and refugees, including expulsion of suspect foreign nationals without due process.
We also declare our resistance to efforts to use this tragedy to curtail our civil liberties. Militarization of our society inevitably leads to erosion of civil liberties and workers’ rights. We must remain vigilant in the defense of our democratic principles, including the protection of our civil liberties. Already proposals have been put forward to allow increased federal surveillance of private activities, and there is a strong push for greater use of racial profiling. In the past, national security has often been used to justify interference with our rights to freedom of association, to organize, to strike and to picket. We must redouble our efforts to fight for justice, and must not allow those who oppose our goals to use a national crisis as an excuse to assault our civil and economic rights.
We encourage open discussion as to the origins of this crisis and the most appropriate response to the atrocities that have taken place—particularly about the need for a foreign policy that is based on economic and political justice.
A century ago, Samuel Gompers, first President of the American Federation of Labor, said that labor wants more justice and less revenge. Our greatest memorial to our fallen sisters and brothers will be a world of peace, justice, tolerance and understanding, underscored by the solidarity of working people.
posted on December 14, 2001 06:45:19 PM
"What do you think about this?"
I wonder, did he (Samuel Gompers) use the sweaty thigh or rely upon machinery?
Now, what do *you* think about *this*:
"Despite his immigrant background, Gompers demanded the restriction of immigration in order to protect the competitive position of workers in America."
The San Francisco Labor Council has affixed its name to all kinds of endeavors throughout the years, but has lost much credibility and support by continuing to stump for Willie Brown.
Visit San Francisco sometime, Helen -- you'll see...
(As to the bulk of the message above, it sounds like just another rewording of what has already been said elsewhere by others. In short, it's just more "official" drivel from yet another organization that will in all likelihood pad George W. Bush's presidential campaign in 2004 when "push" meets "shove".)
Find a National Figure or Organization with some CLOUT who is speaking out against some of the current policies we're being fed. Where is Good Ol' Bill these days? Doesn't he have an opinion about our current Guvmint? Has Senator Hilary bothered to vote against anything Bush wants lately? For that matter, when's Laura Bush going to do a follow-up piece on the clothing restrictions imposed upon women under the Saudi regime?
The Voice For Democracy is going to require a good old 1960's effort -- smart kids taking to the streets shouting "What the #*!@ is going on!?"
But, I don't think that will happen. Do you?
"The Voice For Democracy is going to require a good old 1960's effort -- smart kids taking to the streets shouting "What the #*!@ is going on!?"
But, I don't think that will happen. Do you?"
Good answer...Nobody gives a dam! You are exactly right.
posted on December 14, 2001 08:12:04 PM
When you have complete international cooperation, terrorism could be handled as a criminal/police action. In point of fact, I seem to recall the U.S. calling for the Taliban to arrest the criminals and turn them over.
When you have overt or covert state sponsored terrorism, it requires war. State sponsored terrorism is no different than an act of war. The plausible deniability due to the acts of a few no longer washes. We're not dealing with a group of children of which one threw a rock through a window. We can no longer afford that tact as the terrorists and supporting governments have used this protection to shield and harbor terrorists.
In any event, I am sure the position of the national AFL-CIO will be quite different than the SF local. It usually is.
