The Awakening of America

vanity | Redangus

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On Tuesday September 11, 2001, America's innocence and feelings of invulnerability were shattered. In the space of a couple of hours 12-16 crazed, hate-filled fanatics accomplished something which no other individuals or countries had accomplished in over two hundred years of this country's existence. People now are asking how and why did this happen. The how part is easy. A group of individuals, most likely Islamic terrorists, bent on destruction and willing to give their own lives to further their cause, carried out a well planned and well financed attack. The why part will be much harder for some in this country to understand and accept. These individuals and the groups and countries that support them planned and carried out their attack because of hate. Not because of anything this country or its people have done, but rather because of whom we are and what we believe in. After years of worshipping at the twin altars of political correctness and overarching tolerance for all, it may be hard for some Americans to come to terms with the fact that some truly do harbor hate towards us. In a country where we have been taught to believe that all cultures are morally equivalent it may be hard for many to accept that there are many cultures in the world that do not share our beliefs in the sanctity of human life and love of individual freedoms.

Throughout our history we have felt safe and somewhat by protected by two great oceans and long friendly borders. On Tuesday those illusions where shattered. In a modern world of shrinking proportions, oceans and friendly neighbors are not enough. As Americans we must awake to the facts that we alone are responsible for our own safety. These attacks where not aimed at the world community, though they will affect that community in many ways, they were aimed at us. The thousands that died because of these attacks were not global citizens they were American citizens. But the question remains, how to do we as a country react.

First, we must realize that while the perpetrators of Tuesday's attacks were most likely international terrorist, they are only one group. We have within our own borders homegrown eco-terrorist groups such as the Animal Liberation Front and their friends in the Earth Liberation Front. While it is true that as of this time they do not have blood on their hands, they have shown little or no regard for property rights or human life. The Anarchist groups that rioted in Seattle, Rome and Stockholm have caused millions of dollars worth of damage and endangered many lives. And finally we may someday have to deal with the many narco-terrorist groups that are financed by millions in illegal drug money. The important thing to remember whether international or home grown all of these groups have one goal in mind, the destruction of western civilization in general and more specifically American civilization.

Second, we must realize that only our own resolve as a people and as a country can fight the coming war of which Tuesday's attacks were the first battle. We can cooperate with and work with other nations to defeat international terrorism, but ultimately we alone are responsible for our own security. We must never allow world opinion to deter us from taking the right action for the good of our country.

Thirdly, we must accept the sobering fact that there are those in the world who hate us. We must accept the fact that regardless of what we do or say these people will always hate us, and will always feel justified in using that hate as an excuse for committing violent act against us. The people who committed those acts on Tuesday are not like the people you work with or see at the ballgames. They are people who come from a totally alien culture that is the anathema of everything this country was founded on and for which it stands. We must realize that while it would be a wonderfully comforting thought to know that we were most loved among all the nations of the earth, the fact tell us differently. The facts are that there are those that envy us for what we have accomplished and how we live, and there are those who hate us for who we are and what we stand for, but there are precious few who love us.

Finally, we must resolve to fight these terrorists, their sponsors and supporters wherever and whoever they are. We must draw a line in the sand and let every nation know that from this day forward you either stand with us or against us in this struggle. We must use every means at our disposal to utterly destroy these terrorist groups. While not giving up our hard earned freedoms at home, nor being concerned with our image abroad, we must inflict sufficient pain on the perpetrators of these act that it becomes counterproductive for them to continue. We as a nation must wake up from our long slumber and realize we live in imperfect world. We must come to understand that the images we have watched on television and in movies for years don't just happen to others, as of September 11, they happen to us. We must never forget that on Tuesday September 11, thousands of innocent American citizens died. People like you and I who did nothing wrong that day other than show up for work or board an airplane. We must as a nation quit worrying about whether what we do is politically correct. We as nation must be willing to judge and condemn those here and abroad that commit these destructive acts. While tolerance is a lofty goal, we as a nation have become so tolerant that we refuse to condemn even the most vile acts unless they fit the latest politically correct doctrine. Tuesday we paid the price for that foolishness. This will be a long battle. To win it will take the focused will of a great people. It may be bloody, most wars are. It is not a battle that can be fought and won by others, but must be fought by every American in their own way. We will make enemies along the way. We may lose friends. Many will come to hate us even more for what we do, but that is a price we must be willing to pay. The only thing that will stop these terrorists and ultimately win this war is for us to do what is necessary to instill fear in those that would commit these acts against us. Fear of reprisals so swift and devastating that the very thought of terrorism becomes unthinkable. Ultimately a great nation must make choices. Today we are faced with just such choices. Do we continue as in the past to rely on the good will of others for our protection or do we accept the responsibility for our own protection. Do we continue to be a nation that is seen as being more interested in being liked and accepted by the world community, or as one who looks out for our own best interests. After Tuesday I believe the answers are clear. As the great 16th century political observer Machiavelli says in "The Prince", "It is much safer for the Prince to be feared than loved, if he is to fail one of the two."