September 11 Reflection

This 9/11 reflection, by John-Charles Duffy, was posted to the MESJ electronic list on September 11, 2002.

I discovered something interesting a few weeks ago. September 11 is not only the anniversary of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. It is also the anniversary of the Mountain Meadows Massacre.

I'm grateful for that coincidence.

I'm dreading the September 11 anniversary. Certainly the victims--and heroes--of the terrorist attacks deserve to be remembered. Certainly there is much for me to be grateful for on this day. I'm grateful that in the wake of the attacks, the majority of Americans were sensible enough not to scapegoat an entire ethnicity or religion. I'm grateful that the attacks have led to increased discussion in this country about problems with globalization and American foreign policy. I'm grateful that the initial wave of uncritical patriotism and jingoism shows signs of beginning to subside. I'm looking forward to walking with MESJ in NCCJ's Walk and Gathering for Freedom, Diversity, and Remembrance.

Still, I'm dreading this anniversary. I'm dreading the inevitable expressions of wounded self-righteousness, of self-congratulation, of triumphalist nationalism and militarism. I don't believe our country has learned from these attacks what it should have. Americans are still, as Spencer W. Kimball warned years ago, a warlike people. We are still an arrogant people, convinced that God has appointed us first place among the nations. We still think we're entitled to act unilaterally on the world stage. We still think we're entitled to the lion's share of the earth's riches. We still imagine ourselves to be the "good guys."

That's why I'm grateful that September 11 is also the anniversary of the Mountain Meadows Massacre. I like to think that if more Latter-day Saints were aware of that coincidence, it would help temper the nationalist pride, the self-righteousness and self-congratulation that the September 11 anniversary will otherwise evoke in this state. If it's true that on September 11, 2001, our people were victims of a horrific attack, it's also true that on September 11, 1857, our people were perpetrators of a horrific attack. That's humbling to remember. Our hands are not clean. We are not the "good guys." Our world's a terrible, terrible mess, and we all bear responsibility for it.