SU reacts to attack on American icons

Four American planes were hijacked by armed terrorists for the deliberated purpose of bombing American government buildings in the hope of killing thousands of individuals.
On Tuesday, September 11, two of the captured American planes were rammed into the World Trade Center, in Manhattan, N.Y.; a third plane was flown into the Pentagon located in Washington, DC and a fourth plane crashed in a Pittsburgh field. All individuals on board the four planes were believed to have been killed.
Was the International Conference on Racism the cause of this attack? This was the question raised by Doris White, an instructor of History at Southern University. White went on to say that if it were, perhaps the United States should have tried to solve the situation amicably instead of drastically walking away from the conference.
Kingsley Esedo, SU’s interim chairperson of political science, said he believed international terrorists are responsible and that they are harbored by host states. He stated that, according to Europe, the United Nations will view this attack as an attack on North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and not as an attack solely on the United States.
President Bush, in a televised address has promised to find the terrorists and punish them, as well as any country involved in hiding their whereabouts.
“I hope we do not become bigots, racists and intolerant because the government thinks someone of an Arab descent did this thing. This would lead to mass hysteria,” said Eva Baham, associate professor of History at Southern.
Albert Samuels, assistant professor of Political Science at Southern, stated that while America spends billions on high tech military weaponry, it was ironical that Tuesday’s attack accomplished devastating consequences with the use of such low-tech tactics. He also stated that he hoped this attack would cause the United States to rethink their position in the world and how people view America.
It is believed that several hundred firefighters and policemen have been killed in this incident, while speculation is circling around that the dead within the United Towers and the Pentagon will be massive.
“I believe we should attack the same way we were assaulted, in full force. We should plan strategically, effectively and quickly. We absolutely should incorporate air strikes in our strategy,” said Catherine Jordan, a sophomore art major from Baton Rouge.
Thousands of Americans have rallied to the forefront to aid in any way they possibly could. People have been standing in line, in some cases, for as many as nine hours just to donate blood. Some have been told to go home and to return later only to refuse in doing so.
Dr. Chris Howell who is an adjunct professor of political science at Southern said he has been delighted with his class attendance since Tuesday’s incident. He said it has been 100%.
Howell stated that he had heard on the radio that in New York, one elderly lady on the third floor of her apartment building had been confined to a wheel chair. She went into her linen closet and took out sheets to throw down to an officer below her window. She told him to use them as bandages, she stated that she just wanted to help.
“I asked my classes, why are you here?” said Howell. “The barbarians who did this want you cowering under your bed in fear. The fact that you are here proves that you are not cowards and that we will win.”