News-Letter

Last September, I was in Florence, Italy studying abroad at Hopkins' Villa Spellman. I was just getting settled when, on Sept. 11, my country was sneak attacked. Like many other Americans, I can tell you exactly where I was when I heard the news, exactly what I was doing, who was with me and what I felt. Among the many emotions that I experienced was one of extreme patriotism, a feeling and mentality that solidified during my stay in Italy and subsequent travels through Europe.

It was not necessarily a political feeling; despite my anger over the attack, I was often skeptical of our government's rhetorical and actual response to the attacks on New York and Washington. Rather, my patriotism was experienced as a feeling of pride. I simply was never more proud to be an American.

I was pleased, then, when last December both houses of Congress passed a resolution to mark Sept. 11 as a national holiday called Patriot Day. This designation was no coincidence. Memorial Day could have been used as the day to remember those that perished from these horrific attacks, but it was not. Sept. 11 was proclaimed Patriot Day not only because we are supposed to commemorate the dead, but also to give us an opportunity to feel a love for our country, sing its national anthem, and reaffirm our allegiance to its flag -- the same flag that flew atop the World Trade Center.

What happened on this past Sept. 11 at our campus, then, while heartfelt, was at the same time disappointing. The Johns Hopkins' Administration decided to have a day of vigils and commemoration, but not one of patriotism. The reason for this omission is a mystery to me. Perhaps Hopkins was attempting to be sensitive to those students, faculty and workers who are not American. Our administration and those in charge of running the Sept. 11 ceremonies should have realized that being patriotic does not necessarily mean agreeing with all of the United States' policies. Instead, they could have focused on the patriotism that affirms our pride in our nation that so genuinely stands for the principles of "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." The fact that at an American university we did not present this side of the day is disgraceful. We should have celebrated Sept. 11 as Patriot Day just as we mark July 4 as Independence Day.

An hour before the campus memorial service, there was a separate service held for Jewish students. As a Jew, I chose not to attend this service feeling that Sept. 11 affected me and everyone around me especially as an American, regardless of race, religion or creed. Thus, I wanted to participate in a ceremony meaningful to me on that level -- appropriate for all as Americans. Yet, at the campus-wide memorial, I was disappointed to here Campus Chaplain Sharon Kugler preach for the necessity to show love for our brothers and sisters, but glaringly exclude a tribute to our country.

The attacks of Sept. 11 that killed 3000 innocent people were directed at attacking America specifically and not at any specific person. It is the people whose tragic deaths we mourn and it is the country's ability to regroup and persevere that we should extol. America and its citizens were attacked. Its values challenged. Why did Hopkins not feel right in commenting on this?

I realize now that I should have gone to the Jewish service, because at least there they sang "America the Beautiful." Other groups may, too, have had a patriotic message. In the future, Hopkins should worry less about offending any foreign students or faculty, and focus more on affirming pride in our own country.

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