The First War of the 21st Century |
President Bush declared earlier this week that we are now embroiled in the “first war of the 21st Century”. Terrorists struck out at the most famous symbols of America’s capitalistic and military might – the World Trade Center, Pentagon, and (possibly) White House. I have decided to abuse the privilege and forgo my usual pithy comments about GPM matters to offer up a few general comments about this tragedy here.
In recent times the media has cheapened the word “hero” to include people fighting solely for self-preservation. But for me, a true hero is a person who puts his own life at risk to save others. The firemen and cops who raced up the stairs into the bowels of the burning towers of the World Trade Center to save the lives of others are heroes in the truest sense of the word. Unfortunately, many lost their own lives as a result of their heroism. They deserve our utmost respect and admiration.
As I recall from a comparative religion class from long ago, the Koran which is the Islamic holy book, teaches love of life and respect for your fellow man. Religious justification of the attacks by a small minority of Muslims is the latest example of how zealots can twist religious precepts around to justify evil behavior. This does not diminish the value or “truth” of the underlying religion itself. Christianity also has been perverted on occasion by zealots to justify all sorts of abhorrent behavior.
Many “experts” and government leaders are telling us that we Americans must now give up some of our freedoms for the sake of greater security and safety. But there is a danger, I think, that we could be asked to give up too much of the American life-style that we have worked and fought for in the past. I would like to believe that wise decision-makers are making balanced trade-offs between safety and freedom. But that is probably naive. And too many citizens seem to be over willing to give up too much for the illusion of greater security.
The FAA has just announced “tough” new security procedures for airports. These include new curbside, terminal parking, and gate restrictions. Spokespeople tell us to expect long delays now at the airports as a result. These new security procedures seem to be mainly political window dressing designed to give the impression of greater flying safety. The problems are mainly at the security checkpoints not at the curbside. Poorly trained people, making only minimum wages, will not provide the level of security that we expect and deserve.
One of the saddest stories resulting from the recent attacks in New York was reported by a man who got caught up in the mob that was rushing down the stairs to safety after a hijacked airliner struck his tower. This man noticed that at the landing on each floor there was a group of people in wheelchairs and handicap scooters that were looking with forlorn expressions at the stairs and the rushing mob. The elevators were not operating and these folks knew they could not navigate the stairs in their wheelchairs and scooters. Probably many of these poor souls perished when the buildings collapsed.
As I write this, Billy Graham is on about ten different stations on my TV. President Bush has declared today to be a day of prayer and mourning. Earlier this week hymns and prayer could be heard in the halls of the U.S. House and Senate. It is interesting how, even today with all the legal wrangling over the separation of church and state, in times of crisis people still turn (at least in public) to religion for support and comfort.
Next month I will get off my soapbox and report on local GPM matters. I promise.