Responses to the College Republicans on Remembering 9/11: From the College Democrats

To our Campus Community,

On Sept. 21, the Muhlenberg College Republicans released an open letter to President Williams condemning the college’s silence on the 15th anniversary of the Sept. 11th terrorist attacks. The Muhlenberg College Democrats would like to formally offer our support to the College Republicans for taking this initiative.

The attacks that took place on Sept. 11, 2001 resulted in a devastating loss of life for our community, both locally and nationally. Being that many students at Muhlenberg College are from the greater New York area, 9/11 was a lived experience for many within our community and their loved ones. For many, 9/11 was not only a national tragedy but a personal one, and the lack of acknowledgement of its somber significance is a failure on the part of the college. For years, campus vigils and the ringing of the bells have been ways for students to mourn the lives of innocent victims as well as pay respect to emergency responders who died in the line of duty. The decision by the current administration to not offer this most basic tribute to the victims of 9/11 is disappointing.

While we applaud the agency of the College Republicans in ensuring that 9/11 did not pass unforgotten, we are concerned about the rhetoric of their letter. When you frame such a universally devastating event as a conflict between “global jihad and the free world,” you are reinforcing a dishonest narrative about the false dichotomy of the “West” and the “Rest.”

Language is powerful, and such divisiveness serves no purpose in our globalized world in which international friendship and respect are more important than ever. Jihad is a religious concept that refers to a spiritual struggle: to the vast majority of Muslims, wrongfully politicizing such a concept is not only offensive, but simply inaccurate. We say this not to be intentionally confrontational with our Republican colleagues, but to illuminate the implicit problems in their rhetoric so that moving forward we may all promote a truly inclusive community.

While we rightfully mourn the victims of 9/11, let us not lose sight of the fact that Muslim communities worldwide are the greatest victims of Islamic terrorism. We promote a type of global citizenship that compels us to stand in solidarity not only with American victims, but also with the millions of Muslims whose lives continue to be traumatized by Islamic extremism and the lasting effects of western military intervention.

To some, remembering 9/11 is an act of patriotism. But for all, such a remembrance is, most fundamentally, a sign of humanity. We the Muhlenberg College Democrats would like to urge President Williams to reinstate memorial events for future anniversaries of that terrible day that will never be forgotten by our nation or our campus. We also thank the Muhlenberg College Republicans for continuing their tradition of the 9/11 Flag Memorial on the College Green—it was a comfort to many members of our community to know that the devastation that occurred on 9/11 did not pass by forgotten.

Respectfully,

Muhlenberg College Democrats