House of Representatives Resolution

WHEREAS, The tragedy of September 11, 2001, marked one of the darkest days in American history;

and WHEREAS, The terrorist attacks cost more than 3,000 innocent people their lives;

and WHEREAS, The pain of the families who lost loved ones in the September 11, 2001, attacks is immeasurable;

and WHEREAS, The healing process for those who lost a family member in the September 11, 2001, attacks is still ongoing;

and WHEREAS, It is important for the people of Colorado to aid in and support that healing process;

and WHEREAS, Professor Ward L. Churchill’s essay, “Some People Push Back: On the Justice of Roosting Chickens” related to the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, strikes an evil and inflammatory blow against America’s healing process;

and WHEREAS, Professor Churchill’s essay contains a number of statements and contentions that are deplorable and do not reflect the values of the people of the State of Colorado;

and WHEREAS, Professor Churchill’s essay, which claims that the victims at the World Trade Center were not innocent, states, “As for those in the World Trade Center, … well, really, let’s get a grip here, shall we? True enough, they were civilians of a sort. But Innocent, Gimme a break.” And Professor Churchill goes on to compare the innocent victims of the September 11, 2001, attacks to Adolph Eichmann, the man who executed Hitler’s plan to exterminate the Jews during World War II;

and WHEREAS, The sentiment of these statements strikes at the hearts of those who lost a loved one in the World Trade Center attack;

and WHEREAS, The victims at the World Trade Center were innocent in every sense of the word and should always be remembered as innocent victims of an unprovoked attack on America;

now, therefore, Be It Resolved by the House of Representatives of the Sixty-fifth General Assembly of the State of Colorado, the Senate concurring herein: (1) That the General Assembly expresses its heartfelt sympathy for the victims of the September 11, 2001, tragedy and their families; and (2) That the General Assembly commemorates the lives lost during the September 11, 2001, attacks.

Be It Further Resolved, That copies of this Joint Resolution be sent to University of Colorado President Elizabeth Hoffman, the University of Colorado at Boulder Chancellor’s office, the University of Colorado Board of Regents, and University of Colorado at Boulder Department of Ethics Chairman Ward L. Churchill.