IF ONLY THERE WAS SOMEONE WE COULD BLAME

I had a meeting at my kids' school this morning. As I waited outside, I noticed a small tree surrounded by a chain standing behind an upturned stone. The stone bears a plaque with this inscription.

Liberty Tree Memorial planted in honor of those who lost their lives in the tragic events on September 11, 2001.

The American Liberty elm was named after "The Liberty Tree -- Our Country's First Symbol of Freedom." On August 14, 1765, Boston awakened to discover two effigies suspended from an elm tree in protest of the hated Stamp Act. From that day forward it became known as "The Liberty Tree." It stood in silent witness to countless meetings and celebrations, and became the rallying place for the Sons of Liberty. In August 1775, as a last act of violence prior to their evacuation of Boston, British soldiers cut it down because it bore the name "Liberty."

Information on the plaque led me to the Elm Research Institute, which is dedicated to reestablishing six varieties of American Elm resistent to Dutch Elm Disease. It seems like a good cause and I think the tie to 9/11 is entirely appropriate.

Thus, I feel like a churl for what I'm about to say. I am appalled at the mealy-mouthed circumlocution of referring to what happened on 9/11 only as "tragic events." An earthquake is a "tragic event." A tornado is a "tragic event." The space shuttle disaster is a "tragic event." What happened on 9/11 was an act of war, planned by specific human beings who intended to kill as many Americans as possible while striking at symbols of our power. A memorial should be able to face this truth squarely. Nevertheless, I might not make this comment, other than to myself, if it weren't for the last sentence, stating that the British chopped down the tree because it bore the name "Liberty." Why, exactly, are we willing to accuse British soldiers acting 228 years ago of hating Liberty, but not terrorists acting two years ago? The people who were killed in this deserve a little more honesty from the rest of us. Finally, although I'm sure this was not intentional, I must note that, as written, the plaque memorializes the terrorists as much as the passengers on the planes, the workers in the twin towers, the soldiers in the Pentagon and the policemen and firemen who chose to risk their lives. Posted by David Cohen at June 3, 2003 08:15 PM