September 19, 2001

To the Community of Doctors for Global Health, present with us:

For all who have lost family and loved ones in the recent terror of New York, Washington and Pennsylvania; for all who have lost family and loved ones in any act of terror, be it within the United States or elsewhere in the world; we condemn that terror, and we grieve with you. May you encounter guidance to the light of hope.

The images many of us saw on 11 September (already a dark date, recalling the Coup of Pinochet in Chile, 10,000 dead, 1973) have left a world-shock and a USA post-trauma mindset that threatens to continue the work of terrorism by amplifying hate. Revenge seems a sweet emotion, but it is empty and deceitful, especially so when guided toward other innocents. Every day now we hear debate:

"Bomb them in Afghanistan, men, women and children," says a security guard today, "Whatever it takes."

Another guard responds, "And so we show ourselves equally capable of terror."

"Yes, but we have to do something," says the first.

Such polarization is exactly what the persons who themselves want hate desire for all the world. We are just informed that three have been killed since September 11th in apparent retribution due to perceived race or religion: an Indian man in Arizona, an Asian man in Texas, and an Egyptian man in California, all long-time US residents, all shot while working at service stations or convenience stores. A mosque was machine-gunned in Texas; children are threatened in schools. Racial profiling has now become business-as-usual on news reports as citizens of the USA are whipped by the leaders to a frenzy of hate based on national origin, religion and race. Something must be done to prevent more terror. But, this? Such is our present disorder of post-traumatic stress.

But there are rays of hope, even in the epicenter of this attack. In New York's Union Square (some blocks from the tragedy) appears a different picture, as persons from all religions and races gather with candles, remembrance with photos of the missing, and prayers. "We remember." In an interfaith memorial on the Brooklyn promenade, overlooking the former site of the World Trade Center, speakers called for tolerance and love and the crowd spontaneously started chanting, "God bless the whole world." If shell-shocked New Yorkers can stand together with love and hope, so can the rest of the country.

This sort of unity--hope, sharing and tolerance amid grieving--is every terrorist's nightmare. Let us in the DGH community be part of that hope by speaking-up in small conversations at our schools or workplaces and reasoning that innocent people are innocent, no matter where they live or were born. Let us also petition our leaders to lead sanely.

On their own, as volunteers or as part of our jobs, many DGH members have been helping from the first night in New York City to the present. At DGH this tragedy has only strengthened our resolve to continue our work to help make the world better, more loving, and safer for all on a global level. It is a great responsibility, and a terrible opportunity. Again, thank you for being part of who we are.

In Health and Human Rights,

Steve Miller, MD
DGH President

Lanny Smith, MD, MPH, DTM&H
DGH President's Council

DGH Board of Directors
Presente

"The ultimate weakness of violence is that it is a descending spiral, begetting the very thing it seeks to destroy. Instead of diminishing evil, it multiplies it... Through violence you may murder the hater, but you do not murder hate. In fact, violence merely increases hate.... Returning violence for violence multiplies violence, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out hate; only love can do that."

– Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.