For a few eerie days, Lansing seemed united in horror, disbelief, fear and patriotism by the tragic events of Sept. 11. Merchants ran out of flags, which appeared everywhere – on homes, on cars, in the windows of businesses, in galleries (Todd Mack draped a large flag with black crepe and a mourner’s ribbon in his window in Old Town. A sign below it said: "September 11, 2001), a lawn statue of Christ on East Saginaw Avenue. Citizens gathered in churches, at the Islamic Center, at Oldsmobile Park. The Midwestern disdain for New York City disappeared, replaced by expressions of sympathy, such as "Our hearts are with you N.Y." on Sue Casa’s sign on South Cedar.

But as President Bush engaged in the most hawkish language America has heard since his father’s administration, divisions began to appear locally. Several hundred marched for peace from the MSU campus to the Capitol.

An even deeper rift, though, presented itself: A few citizens dared to say that while the thousands who died in New York, Washington and Pennsylvania may have been innocent victims, America, though its foreign and economic policies, was not quite so innocent a victim. The clash of ideals emerged vividly at the forum Rep. Mike Rogers organized at Lansing Catholic High School on Sept. 17. Rogers called on Ron Whitmore, a downtown Lansing resident, who thanked the congressman for organizing the event. As Rogers stood on a podium bedecked with American flags and shared by Lansing Mayor David Hollister, who sported three flags on his tie, Whitmore began this exchange:

Whitmore: "I came here tonight primarily to say that its very important in the United States at this time to follow due process, to follow the rule of law, both American law and international law. I do not support the recent decision to give the commander in chief basically the right to be judge, jury and executioner, … which I feel we have done. I do not think that war is the answer to the problems we have, whether it is this case last week or the other problems we have in the world. It is going be impossible, I think, to root out all the terrorists. You cannot simply root out all evil-doers in the world, as President Bush has said, because for every person you kill or every enemy you think you have destroyed, five, 10 more will rise in their place. The way to address true injustice in this world is to address issues of inequality, of economic oppression -- the real root causes of much of the injustice in the world and many of the terrorist acts that we've experienced. Genuine security, I think, comes through equality and justice for all, not through stronger defenses or through more violence. So I would encourage you and your fellow Congress members to pursue peaceful alternatives as a response to these terrible acts."

Rogers: "I appreciate your comments, I appreciate your concerns. The great thing about America is we can civilly disagree. I could not disagree more. We have had a declaration of war on the United States like we have never seen before. And this enemy … (it) is not the first time he has struck America, it is the third time he has struck America. We can no longer idly sit by and pretend that by education alone or economics -- America is investing a lot of money in other countries. We continue to be the most compassionate, loving, most benefactor country the world's ever known. We'll continue to do that, but when you strike at innocent women, children and men just going to work to live the American dream right here on our soil, there is one answer we will tolerate with that – that will be sure, swift destruction of you and all of you who will bring that violence and hatred to the United States of America."

Rogers then called on Allan Martling, who lives in the West Side neighborhood of Lansing.

Martling: "I bring a message from my 91-year-old mother, who was not able to be here, and she has been through several of these cycles of crisis in her life time, and one of the things that she wanted me to say tonight was that a cycle of violence-revenge will hurt everyone and resolve nothing, and Israel and Palestine understand that now. … Last Tuesday, the world experienced a terrorist attack on the military-industrial complex as it is expressed in two very symbolic facilities, the Pentagon and the World Trade Center. The World Trade Center has been for many in First World and Third World countries the hub of an industrial economy known for its invasion and pillage of nonrenewable resources, the destruction of the fabric of political and social and economic systems, the degradation of the environment through the spreading of toxic waste and the virtual slavery of those who work in its factories. I believe the attack was not on the United States, although the facilities were within its boundaries. The attack was on a system of domination and exploitation that President Dwight Eisenhower warned against at the end of his presidency. Some want revenge. There are many in higher places of government who want to equate the military-industrial complex with America. They are not the same. I call upon more mature and faithful leaders to recognize those terrorist organizations responsible must be brought to justice. But this country must first be willing to sit down at the world's table and find out how this small planet can have an all-encompassing and integrated system of creation where values and powers and necessities are parceled out and exchanged based on need in a world where there really is enough for everyone."

Rogers: "Again, I appreciate your comments. Again, I think the reason the United States has been such a good benefactor is the very system in which we live, democracy and the principles of liberty. I talked to some friends of mine who happen to be Muslim, and I asked her why the United States, and she told me, ‘Because I can’t practice my religion at home like I practiced it here in the United States. ... We have something very, very special. That is why we're the greatest nation on the face of the face of the Earth. They didn't attack any military complex or any brick or any mortar, they killed innocent American citizens like you, like me. They attacked children in the streets, the day-care folks who were walking in and out. This was an attack on a system of America that believes that our very principles of freedom, freedom of speech for you to come here and disagree with me. That's a country I was ready to die for when I signed up for the military, it is a country I am willing to defend in the United States Congress, and it is a country that I voted on Saturday night at 12:30 worth defending overseas. They’re not done, they're coming back, and we're going to be ready."
All three citizens received applause, but the greatest applause was for Rogers, whose teeth were clenched and chin stiff, as if on the scrimmage line ready both to attack the opponent and defend his team’s honor.