Posted on 07/23/2002 8:06:27 PM PDT by Texasforever
You can always tell your critics you cribbed it from the UN.
If this Presidents only answer to 9-11 is to attack the Bill of Rights and Civil Liberties, his popularity will tank and is tanking. He certianly did himself no favor in plainly displaying the exclusivity of his "conservative compassion" which reacts with horror at the thought that a terrorist might not attain a visa, or an illegal alien might not be able to get a drivers license or bank account, and stops cold at 80 year old caucasion grand mothers being strip searched at Airports. His displeasure at Israel's "heavy handedness" for doing in the Gaza Strip what we have done in Afghanistan and better do in Iraq if we want our troops brought home alive.
Who can blame a rational population for looking at this situation, open borders, planes landing every day from terrorist nations, visa's being issued to people from terrorist nations, the INS being protected from destruction, "no plans on the desk for a war with Iraq", 245i, for believing that the real war is not against terrorists, but against Americans and their freedom. I think most people feel if the only thing that comes from this "War of Terror" is the curtailing of civil liberties, the demand that for the sake of "racial profiling" that all of us become terrorist suspects, the forming of agencies with great potential for great abuse, then forget about it, we will pass thank you.
I think you and Tex are being a little too pessimistic here. This isn't the first time we've been hit and hurt. Pearl Harbor comes to mind. People were complacent prior to that attack but eventually The American people rose to the occasion. I believe we will again despite the gloomy picture you both paint.
By the way, Texasforever, your writing skills are quite good.
Normally war would get more attention. But this unconventional war and a lot of it will be fought covertly and not make the headlines. We were advised about that from the start if you recall.
I agree. I think a great many of us haven't lost sight. We just don't get much press.
But I don't think the publics priorities have changed all that much. After all there are kids to be raised, food to be put on the table and bills to be paid. But I still see more American flags being displayed than I ever have before.
Think of it in these terms, the terrorists thought that 9/11 would bring us to our knees and it didn't. Living a normal life is the best way the average American can thumb his nose at those blood thirsty bastards.
I think it depends on what part of the country you live in. I have been mildly surprised to see the number of American flags still adorning cars or flying from shops and stores. And I still see a lot of people are still wearing their flag pins. I live in Oregon...so this response has been even MORE surprising (although, it was only 3 counties in Oregon that elected Gore). I did NOT expect the patriotism to last this long. And I think the public display of patriotism carries the message that no, we haven't forgotten we are at war.
Whenever I read a post about the civil liberties we are losing (although most can't name one)....or the inconvenience that is being imposed on us, I think back to the stories my Mom used to tell me about WW2. Driving the coastal highways without headlights, IF you had gas or tires. The rationing, no meat, nylons, coffee. The black-out curtains. And I realize that MOST of the whiners and naysayers, even if their fear is generated by honest concern, have NO concept of what MIGHT/COULD be coming.
I think another attack(s) will occur. THEN we shall see how much inconvenience is tolerated, I guess.
Yes we will.
Yes as it should be, and an excellent point you make.
I will after you answer the question I asked you first.
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