“We Chose Honor”

“We Chose Honor” by Elie Wiesel, the beginning of the Anglo-American war on Afghanistan. My opinion on this article is that I like what the author had to say it was very personal very sincere and I feel that it so rightly caught the views of a downright patriot who has a very balanced view on such a tragic event. One of the most ideological parts of this excerpt was the determination of the American spirit to ignore danger and death to help another in a selfless act of courage. The biggest example of this is when it was right after the incident had occurred and volunteers poured in to help remove debris along with fireman and police, as well as standing in lines for hours to give blood to someone who may quite possible be in need of this substance of life. In an unknown force the volunteers were actually overwhelming in numbers to point of actually hindering the efforts of the rescue workers. It had gotten so overwhelming that the Mayor, Rudy Giuliani, had gone on TV to tell people to stop coming to speed up the original rescue effort. And this is when the American determination came in to play, the people just kept coming and eventually it was known that they weren’t going away and somehow they were going to have to work with each other and change up the plans to include a much higher number of rescuers and volunteers. The second was the author's opinion on the views of the terrorists. This first view, “If they could, fanatics of violence would slaughter all those who do not adhere to their ideological or religious principals. But this they cannot achieve and so they resort to simply arousing fear...” I think that this is the basic cornerstone of one or more individuals who simply lack the social etiquette to know that just because some disagrees with you is not a crime it is that persons god given right no matter what god you believe in. And he goes on to suggest that to attack America is a fruitless act for a terrorist for the simple and plain fact that the American ideals are far superior and more complex than just “follow us or die”. I believe this passage was not written to prove something is wrong or right but it is written to show the American spirit under very unusual and trying circumstances. And if this article is biased in any way it is that you can’t topple the American spirit to live free and pursue happiness. I quote, “If the terrorists believe they can isolate their living targets by condemning them to fear and sadness, they are mistaken. Americans have never been as united. Nor has our hope been as profound and as irresistibly contagious.” I am on board with this author in the belief that when 9/11 happened the days to follow there had never been a more united America that worked to a common goal of justice and through this tragic event I feel that a lot of stereotypes and prejudices had disappeared through working for that common goal. I also would definitely recommend this based on what I have pointed out it is a great piece really gives what I feel is a balanced view on the event as a whole but it does bias to one side on some of the author's views on the terrorists but overall a great piece that can be enjoyed and strengthen the American spirit.