2001-09-11: Terrorists or Freedom Fighters?

Terrorists or Freedom Fighters?

Americans have forgotten that our War of Independence was peppered with acts of terrorism. In February of every year, we are bombarded by the image of George Washington crossing the Delaware River, but very few Americans can tell you when that event took place, or why he did it. In the 18th Century, "civilized" nations did not wage war on Christmas Day. Washington knew from experience that the Hessians (German mercenaries who had been hired by the British) in the garrison at Trenton, NJ, would spend Christmas Eve drinking in celebration.

So, George Washington and his men crossed the Delaware in the pre-dawn hours of Christmas Day in 1776 in order for them to enter the Hessian barracks unopposed and massacre the drunken soldiers in their sleep! Simply put, it was to commit an act of terrorism in contravention of the rules of civilised warfare.

(See http://www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionary?book=Dictionary&va=terrorism and http://www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionary?book=Dictionary&va=terror)

Were George Washington, Geronimo, John Brown, Patrice Lamumba, and Ho Chi Min terrorists, or freedom fighters? In each case, you can argue both sides, but the truth is, they were all a little of both. History labels them based on the success or failure of their cause.

America has a long history of backing the wrong side ... Iran, Nicaragua, the Philippines. (Does the phrase, "Chickens coming home to roost," have any meaning for you?) I don't applaud what those anonymous men did 9-11, but I do feel the pain that drove them to give their lives for a cause in which they believed, whatever that cause may have been. (They left no manifesto or explanation.)

On the other hand, my attitude about this has probably been affected by my memories of coming home from elementary school in Washington, DC, and sitting for an hour or more each day (until the police came) at the lunch counter in a drug store a few block from my home where they refused to serve me or my classmates, and having the white patrons spit on my back and shout racial epithets at us for not giving up our seats to them.

DAHarrod, WebMaster@366th.org
366th Infantry Regiment Veterans Association