The Peacemakers Speak: seventeen of the world’s living Nobel Peace Prize laureates react to 9-11 and the U.S.’s response. Some, particularly the politicians, speak in somewhat predictable terms of living together and condemning terrorism, of extending sympathy to those who lost a loved one. Other messages, particularly those of the non-governmental figures among them — Rigoberta Menchu, Mairead Maguire, His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, Jody Williams — are more fervent, anguished and resonant.

Now that war is upon us, I feel it is imperative that the present conflict not be inflamed and extended into a “clash of civilizations,” nor that it be painted as a jihad or a crusade–two concepts that have been sorely abused over the course of history. There is truly nothing more disturbing than killing in the name of God and religion. Today I send my plea to those in the Muslim world, in Indonesia and Saudi Arabia, in Bangladesh and Iran, and in all places where the name of Allah is worshipped, to reject the false call to holy war against the West that is being put out by extremist leaders. At the same time, I call upon the leaders and the people of the West, in societies based upon the Judeo-Christian tradition, to recall that Christianity provides no basis for an assumption of superiority and dominance, quite the contrary. The holy writings of the Torah, the Bible, and the Koran have been twisted so often that it has become difficult for ordinary, good, and compassionate people of all faiths to discern the principles that are primary in all the holy books: peace and justice, fair treatment of our neighbors, and the primacy of love as the supreme value.

–Oscar Arias