Really? So that is the storyline everyone has been missing. How American timidity and passivity ruled the day on 9/11.</end sarcasm>
As you probably recall, passengers in Flight 93 fought back and seemingly won. Had the cockpit been secured, they would have landed safely. Cops and firefighters perished by the hundreds, while saving thousands.
Let me be perfectly blunt. I am more than a bit unhappy with the insinuation that American reaction on 9/11 was characterized by cowardice.
As I recall, it was still a minority of the folks on board that fought back. And on 3 of the other 4 flights, either no one, or very few, fought back.
As for "winning", the passengers had a 10:1 numerical advantage and wound up dying anyway. If you want to call that "winning", be my guest.
I'm not interested in playing "feel-good emotional" games on this issue. The truth is that 19 thugs overpowered 300 Americans and killed 3000 people on 9/11.
So it's important to examine why this occurred. I don't think 19 foreigners could have taken 300 Americans 100 years ago. Or even 50 years ago. So what changed?
My point is simply that the "warrior mentality" has nearly been eradicated by the gov't in this country. People are taught from the time they are in gov't schools that you "shouldn't fight back" and "do what the bad guys say", and "weapons are bad". Well, the results of this corrupt ideology were seen on 9/11.
Had the cockpit been secured, they would have landed safely
Up until 20 years ago, the cockpits were quite secure since pilots could carry guns. And 40 years ago, planes were even more secure since passengers could bring guns on board.
I am more than a bit unhappy with the insinuation that American reaction on 9/11 was characterized by cowardice.
What happened on those planes wasn't "cowardice". It was the result of 40 years of programming by the gov't, law enforcement, the media, and the education establishment, that "average citizens" should not resist tyranny. In many areas, it is even a criminal offense to "fight back". (This mentality still persists today in many areas-- a retired NYC cop was recently arrested in New Joisey for "fighting back" against a carjacker)
Fortunately, a few brave passengers on Flight 93 overrode this conditioning, fought back, and saved hundreds of lives.
In the aftermath, *some* Americans have snapped out of this submissive mentality and acquired the tools and skills to successfully fight back (although their government still bans them from being armed on planes). And other Americans have become even more servile.
Let me be perfectly blunt. I am more than a bit unhappy with the insinuation that American reaction on 9/11 was characterized by cowardice.
Read this poster's statement again. He was referring to the mindset that we had prior to 9/11.
Airlines and airports were rated based on their "ON TIME" rate versus security. Hell, you sure wouldn't want to inconvenience sore important traveler for something as trivial as security now would you? The bitching still goes on about being inconvenienced by security at our airports. Might as well get used to it.