1. I never said that I had anything personal against the Bushes- Do I like thier politics? NO!
2. In the year 2001 an Indian earthquake took 20,000 lives- does anyone remember that? Each year 15,000 Americans die by homicide.
Suppose we had reacted to 9-11 as we did to last Septembers auto deaths. That would not have lessoned the destroyed property, lost lives and livelihoods, and personal bereavement of family and associates of the WTC victims. But no billions of dollarswould have been needed to prop up airlines. Congress might have enacted prescription drug benefits as it was poised to do before 9-11- which has a more direct and lasting effect on many more lives in this country than the acts of 9-11.
As Franklin D. Roosevelt said: "the only thing we have to fear is fear itself." We can help ensure that terroists don't win if we minimize our fears and react more constructively to future terrorism.
To date- due to the actions and over-reactions of the USA: the terrorist have won. A recent news headline in which three middle eastern medical students were detained for 17 hours because a overzealous and possibly prejudice Georgia woman heard more than what was said shows how the terrorist have won. as Bin Laden and his crews sit in caves and middle class American homes they chuckle and snigger at the paranoria they have brought to the USA and the freedoms they have cost us.
Our greatest vulnerability to terrorism is the persisting, irrational fear of terrorism that has gripped the country. We must start behaving like the informed, reasoning beings we profess to be.
The terrorist have effectively sidelined our domestic issues- issues that will effect our citizens for years to come- and possibly generations to come. By minimizing our negative reactions, we might contribute to undermining terrorists' goals as effectively as by waging war on them or by mounting homeland defenses.
History bares out that the anglos sacrifise prudent action by stopping in their tracks to seek revenge against all who step on them. Bin Ladin knows our traits better than we ourselves.
I do not support the likes of Sadam. I support balance. As my elderly mother suffers through having to pay full price for needed medications, as millions of others in this country also, just to the north of our borders, in Canada- they pay greatly reduced prices for the same drugs. Why? Because the Canadian government has more concern for it's citizens than it does for international domination.
Right after 9-11 our leaders urged Americans to get back to a normal life- unfortunately this was meant more to support the airline industry than to support the American way of life. To our shame and disgrace the terrorist have us running from ghosts. They have halted us in our tracks. We are willing to totally change our way of lives due to 9-11.
Yes, I believe prudent action is needed. Balanced action. Not action lead by polularity and politics. Not over reaction.
Where were the headlines of JOY when we learned that much fewer died in the WTC than we thought? Even on the anaverary of the event when the names of the victims were read from groud zero we learned (in sub articles) that many listed as dead were NOT dead. We are so set on seeing the terror that we refuse to stop and rejoice over how due to our assets a much lesser number was lost than expected. No great joy expressed.
One life is too many to be lost. Whether it be because of a drunk driver or a domestic dispute or terrorist attack.
