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Not In Our Name website: www.notinourname.net<\/a><\/p>\n \tStatement by Meg Bartlett \tGround Zero for Peace<\/strong><\/p>\n \tWe, a group of 9\/11 Ground Zero rescue workers, \tWe, a group of people who ran for our lives on 9\/11, \tWe, a group of people who watched as mothers and fathers jumped to their death, \tWe, a group of 9\/11 uniformed public servants, \tWe, a group of people who searched hour after hour for survivors \tWe, a group of people celebrated for our bravery, \tWe, a group of people have the work experience and skills \tWe, a group who gave our best on our nation's worst day, \tAnd finally, we, a group of 9\/11 Ground Zero rescue workers — FAIR USE NOTICE<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" < Not In Our Name website: www.notinourname.net Statement by Meg Bartlett EMT-D, emergency medical worker on 9\/11, Ground Zero for Peace We, a group of 9\/11 Ground Zero rescue workers, Take this pledge of nonviolent resistance — Because we feel … Continue reading
\n\tEMT-D, emergency medical worker on 9\/11,<\/p>\n
\n\tTake this pledge of nonviolent resistance —
\n\tBecause we feel we have a responsibility to those we could not save
\n\tAnd to those who call us heroes
\n\tTo do everything in our power to make sure that no one, ever again,
\n\tExperiences such horror, here or abroad.<\/p>\n
\n\tTake this pledge of nonviolent resistance —
\n\tBecause we know that we are not the first or only people
\n\tTo run so fast and run so hard
\n\tAll the while knowing that if the buildings don't kill us
\n\tSurely our shattered hearts will.<\/p>\n
\n\tTake this pledge of nonviolent resistance —
\n\tBecause we believe it is unpatriotic to care only for American families.
\n\tWe believe that there is no competition in grief,
\n\tWe know first hand that gut-wrenching loneliness is so powerful that it
\n\tTranslates into every language.<\/p>\n
\n\tTake this pledge of nonviolent resistance —
\n\tBecause we resent our President telling us how we represent the best
\n\tAmerica has to offer
\n\tWhile simultaneously withholding funding for our medical treatment.
\n\tAs soon as we are told how thankful he is for all we have done,
\n\tHow proud he is of our bravery,
\n\tOur efforts and suffering are used as the excuse for further violence.
\n\tPlease know that we do not want to be repaid with vengeance
\n\tAnd we will not allow it to be perpetrated on our behalf.<\/p>\n
\n\tFueled only on hope and adrenaline,
\n\tTake this pledge of nonviolent resistance –
\n\tBecause we are tired.
\n\tWe are tired of being told
\n\tThat if we do not hurry and get back to "normal"
\n\tThat we are letting the terrorists win.
\n\tWhile such a simplification of terror insults us, if the game must be played
\n\tLet us remind you, the terrorists have already won.
\n\tNot just because we lost so many dear lives,
\n\tBut because the terror of September 11th has actually made
\n\tPeople in this country so frightened
\n\tThat they have stopped thinking.
\n\tTerror makes well meaning people so scared and so tired
\n\tThat it becomes easier for them to believe
\n\tWhat the media and the government tell them,
\n\tThan to trust their own thinking.
\n\tWe have become so frightened that we have convinced ourselves that
\n\tRacial profiling "just makes good sense."
\n\tBut of course, it is inhuman.
\n\tWe understand that when fear this intense is used
\n\tIn place of thought
\n\tThat we become so defensive
\n\tThat we will set out to kill others
\n\tBefore they kill us.<\/p>\n
\n\tTake this pledge of nonviolent resistance —
\n\tBecause we are scared.
\n\tWe have seen the loss of life that results
\n\tWhen two planes crash into two buildings.
\n\tWe have witnessed enough to understand that a nuclear attack
\n\tWould look a lot like Ground Zero — only it would span for miles —
\n\tAnd the effects would linger for years.
\n\tWe are so scared that we become physically ill
\n\tWith the anticipation of another attack.
\n\tHowever we do not believe that war will make us safer.<\/p>\n
\n\tThat would benefit the US Armed Forces,
\n\tTake this pledge of nonviolent resistance —
\n\tFor self-preservation.
\n\tWe are made up of laborers, people of color, and recent immigrants.
\n\tGiven our nations' racist and classist military history,
\n\tOur male colleagues
\n\tWill be amongst the first to be recruited for the War on Terror.
\n\tWe have already lost far too many of our coworkers.
\n\tWe are a shattered community but
\n\tWe will not let the rest of our good men be treated as disposables.<\/p>\n
\n\tTake this pledge of nonviolent resistance–
\n\tBecause we are courageous, resourceful and compassionate.
\n\tAnd we know that this world is full of people exactly like us.
\n\tWe are a world of smart, creative, thoughtful, kind hearted people.
\n\tAnd there is simply no reason we cannot build
\n\tA just and peaceful world.<\/p>\n
\n\tTake this pledge of nonviolent resistance —
\n\tSimply because we are rescue workers.
\n\tWe do not choose to save only the victims who look like us,
\n\tShare our faith, or were born in our country.
\n\tInstead we faithfully attempt to save the lives
\n\tOf any one who needs us.
\n\tGiven this, it doesn't make sense that we support
\n\tThe creation of any more casualties here or abroad.<\/p>\n