Observations 5
In august of 1814 the British armed forces landed on American soil. They fought their way to the capital and proceeded to loot and set fire to the United States capital, the presidents home, the treasury building, a library and other public and private buildings.
You may be asking yourself why I am telling you about this. I want to put things in a broad perspective. Think of the loss of life, civilian and military. Think of the loss of money and wealth. Think of the disarray and chaos caused by the president and congress fleeing the city. The impact on our nation as a whole.
The point is the United States of America is still here, stronger, more secure than ever and is still "the land of the free and the home of the brave".
However, look at us, post 9/11.
To call 9/11 an American tragedy is absurd. It is a very real and distinct tragedy for those who lost their lives, and their friends and family members left grieving. To call this our tragedy as a nation just minimizes and belittles their loss.
I am a little ashamed of our behavior. While brave men and women have put their lives in jeopardy. Fighting in Afghanistan and Iraq in an attempt to bring the persons behind this crime to justice or at the very least prevent them from doing this again. We build barricades around the statehouse, the TSA strip searches old ladies at airports, and we continue to trade our civil liberties for a false since of security. People are dieing in the mid-east to protect our freedom, and many of us are afraid to exercise this freedom. What a bunch of self indulgent, hand wringing cowards we must seem to be.
To help win a war against terrorism we must refuse to be terrorized. Even though it is almost guaranteed that this type of thing will happen again. Just look at the history of this country. It has been attacked before. We must stand strong and yes vigilant but never in fear.
My hope is that 50 years from now I will still be able to say "The United States of America is still here, stronger, more secure than ever and is still "the land of the free and the home of the brave".