09.14.01

Hi, All -

I have received dozens of things from folks - about the Flower Vigil, light a candle, articles from all over, but, with the exception of one news commentary, I'm not forwarding any of it. Feel free to copy me on things, if you're so moved.

I am flying a flag, and sorting through my thoughts and feelings about what the events of the past few days mean. One of the detriments to working at home is that during the day, I have no one to share this with, and frankly, it has affected me.

I'm not shocked that it happened, nor am I shocked at the scale of the devastation or loss of life. I'm surprised that it wasn't worse. There are far more dangerous things out there than jetliners full of fuel. Any of which could have, and might still be, turned against our country and our citizenry.

What concerns me is that we, as a people, are so used to quick-fixes, the instant replay and jolts of adrenaline. In our entertainment, our sporting events - our politics. The average American (East and West coast at least) has the attention span of a three-year old. Those of us who read; who have paid attention to the lessons of history, know that this is a big deal. It IS on par with Pearl Harbor.

But there are major differences too: most significantly, it is the enemy. There is no big, bad enemy for us to attack; no country to invade, no soldiers to fight, no city to bomb, no economic infrastructure to isolate in order to effect a less destructive but no less-effective solution.

So, this is my rant, I guess. My hope is that our President means what he says, and that each and every one of us understands that to back him, the Cabinet, the Congress, and our military means an expensive and protracted struggle against a very shadowy enemy. That enemy lives in the hearts of people throughout the world. That enemy is an IDEA. The idea that the United States in particular, and many other Western nations in general are responsible for evils in the world, be they economic, political or spiritual.

Ideas are difficult things to kill.

So what we appear to be left with is what we've been watching on TV, reading in the newspaper or hearing on the radio: we and civilized nations everywhere will hunt down the holders of the idea, the perpetrators of the heinous acts against our country and our citizens. We will hunt them down and jail them where possible; kill them when we "have to." Cut them off and isolate them.

Will we as a nation have the perseverance to do that? Will we stand behind the full might of our economic, political and military power to really make a difference in the world? Sec. of State Colin Powell said we must destroy them "root and branch." I agree with him - that's the only long-term solution. The events of September 11th should offer all of the proof that we need that we can no longer stand inside our own comfy little borders, saying "Tsk-tsk, isn't that awful," when some nut-bag blows up a street full of shoppers outside of Harrod's, or gasses a train full of commuters in Japan. Or destroys some bar in Munich, or some other place that we neither know, or love.

I don't like this. Any of it. I watch my TV and feel helpless. I want to DO SOMETHING. There is, for now, nothing to do.

A STEP BACK

In 1974, while going to school in France, I went to England to spend the Christmas holidays with an English friend. On our way to Surrey, we had a short layover at a rail station. Seeing no harm in it, Amanda and I left our bags sitting on a bench in the station, while we went across the street to have a pint. Innocents.

After a while, we noticed a commotion at the station - Bobbies and dogs began to arrive, while people came streaming out; hurriedly walking away - some as far as two or three blocks.

Curious, Amanda and I crossed the road and asked a policeman what was going on. His reply?

That there were two suspicious bags lying on a bench. They were concerned that they might be I.R.A. bombs. After describing our bags, and offering embarrassed apologies, we collected our bags and decided to wait for the train outside, away from the withering stares of our follow travelers.

Later, we laughed about it, but the reality is that the Brits knew about the dangers of terrorism and took it seriously. As a young, naive American, it was incomprehensible to me that such a danger could exist. That stuff only happened in movies or books. Certainly not anywhere where I lived.

TWO STEPS BACK

During the middle of the Viet Nam war, I was a high school student. I was (as all reasonable, thoughtful people were, right?) opposed to our involvement. I was swayed by the media, and my friends. The anti-war movement was glamorous, passionate, inspiring and seemed to be MORE patriotic than the hard-hats voting for the likes of Richard Nixon and Spiro Agnew. Besides, wars were started by old white guys and fought by the young. It wasn't fair.

Now, I am one of those old men. It won't be me that has to "travel to foreign lands, meet exotic people, and kill them," as it was once popular to say of military service. It will be my sons, or my nephew... Older, hopefully wiser, but unfortunately more cynical too. And much more aware that my freedoms and sense of privilege were earned for me by someone else, before I was born.

THREE STEPS FORWARD

My perspective has changed over the years. I have learned to respect our political system, as imperfect as it may be, and our men and women in uniform. It may be jingoistic, but I honestly believe that this is the best country in the world to live and raise a family. We have opportunities and freedoms that just don't exist in this scope or magnitude anywhere else on the planet.

Osama bin Laden and his ilk have poisoned the well, and we're all feeling the effects. I want to live in a world where people feel safe; where children can go for a walk without fearful parents tracking behind them; where I can leave my car keys on the table and know they'll be there when I return for them. I want to be free to carry my knapsack on an airplane without getting nervous looks from fellow passengers and flight attendants. I want to be free to leave my bag on the bench and cross the street for a beer.

Very idealistic, I know. But you don't get what you don't ask for. I'm not afraid for my personal safety, and I refuse to be intimidated by some terrorist, the media or my own government. The realist in me knows that for my ideals to be made real, even if only partially, we MUST declare war - war against terrorists. It will take time. In that time, I will back my country's efforts to root out the cause for fear. I will support my President, even if I don't like him and didn't elect him.

It isn't a case of "My country, right or wrong," but it is definitely about patriotism, as I perceive it. I love my country, and it has been attacked. By cowards who won't even stand up and say, "I did this." As my wife would say, "They must be destroyed." I want my children free to travel to foreign countries without fear. I want some guy in the Sudan or Israel to be able to start his car, assured that it won't blow up when he turns the key. I want criminals to be dealt with by police, not armies. In the words of John Lennon, I want "the world to live as one."

For now, I am grateful for my friends and family. Community has seemed to grow less as I've grown older. Maybe it takes something like this terrible event to bring us all closer, I don't know. Right now, I don't feel close to anyone. I just feel numb, working towards something else. I'm concerned for the future, because it will change us all. There will be some terrible things coming down, and there will be some public outcry against the deaths of innocents abroad. I hope that concerns for those innocents are carefully weighed against the longer-range good; we are not a nation of murderers, nor a murderer of nations. I hope the goal is to help create safety for ALL, and that that goal is attainable.

It is a worthy enough one to me.

-- Lenny Wiuff