Frankfort, 18th September
Mr. Chancellor,
With the terror attacks against the United States of
America on September 11th "the Reverence for life" has been violated
and in a brutal way ignored in a way so unbelievable for our time.
A sorrow beyond thought!
Indissoluble absence of words!
Our prayers and thoughts are with the victims and their families.
The way Albert Schweitzer in the 1960's addressed a
letter to the man and president John F. Kennedy asking him to stop the madness
of nuclear weapons, we appeal to you to act against madness of a new war.
The ethic of "Reverence for Life" for
was Albert Schweitzer the irrefutable fundament of all actions. During his whole
life he fought with words and deads to gain acceptance for the unconditional
reverence of all human beings.
For this reason J.F. Kennedy called him a man with the most outstanding moral
influence of our century.
Today we are deeply worried that the reactions to such
an inhuman act could be an eye for an eye. "Acts of retaliation" are
counter-terrorism without any gain for mankind. On the contrary they would step
up the spiral of hate to dreadful
height.
And however we have to act! Protect life, protect and conserve it.
Relying upon the fact that you
will do the best for our country and people, we beg you to assert your
influence in the United States and Europe. We ask you to raise your voice that
the reaction to this terrorism, who dispises mankind, will be determined by the
"Reverence for life".
"The ethic of "Reverence for life" is
good, as its aim is, to preserve and promote life. All destruction and damaging
of life, in whatever conditions it takes place, is evil".
Schweitzer formulated this ethic in a simple and
absolute way, although he knew:
"The ethic of Reverence for life does not
dismiss all conflicts, but forces the individual to take a decision himself on
each case... He has to judge himself guided by the highest responsibility
towards other lifes."
In 1963 Albert Schweitzer expressed his gratitude to
Kennedy: you had the vision and courage to start a politic of world peace.
We wish the same farsightedness and courage to all
decision-makers in our country and the
whole planet. We ask you: Please do support "Reverence for life"
Yours sincerely
Tomaso Carnetto
President of the German Albert-Schweitzer-Association
for the Hospital in Lambaréné