Attention: TDR Forum Junkies 
As I climbed in my truck to go to work on Tuesday, I turned on the radio to hear that the WTC had been hit by an airplane. I listened intently for the punchline. It came to the gut, a sickening feeling I hate having. You know the one... . that terrible feeling when you know something is terribly wrong, but your mind is not grasping it. As I drove to work, I was still in an expectant mood, "knowing" that, as Orson Welles had done decades before, this was just a joke on the station to which I had tuned.
It wasn't.
I study history. We are supposed to learn from it or be doomed to repeat it. Apparently Pearl Harbor was lost memory, as deemed so by some unseen keepers of world history. I want to tell them that we learned. We learned well. And we refuse to abridge our freedoms to prevent it from recurring.
I also want to tell them that the enemy seems to have failed their lessons. The attacker at Pearl Harbor knew that he had less than a year to run, and then the end would come. I feel sure that once again, this is the case.
But we need to remember, as United States citizens, that simply "nuking" small countries into glass parking lots is not the solution. Because we have held to a set of principles, others in the world do not like us. Because we are able to enforce our principles, others hate us. Because we have the power to protect ourselves, others attack us. If we drop our principles now, they will have achieved their goal.
I feel very strongly that we follow our principles. We MUST do the work to find proof beyond a shadow of doubt of the guilty parties. We MUST work to find the individuals, so the masses do not suffer our retribution. I also believe we need to send a message that we are very serious about stopping terrorism.
There are many options at our disposal. If the guilty find themselves in our custody while alive, they should remain that way, even after sentencing. Death to them is a reward for causing others harm. Solitary confinement, lacking any outside contact, is where these individuals need to be. I am told (by people I know who see this criminal on a daily basis) that the bomber who hit the WTC in 1993 was up early on Tuesday, watching CNN in his cell, waiting for something. (This prisoner is being held in solitary confinement now, mostly to protect him from the staff. ) It is clear that these people plan far in advance. We need to end that planning cycle. We need to put these individuals in more secure, barren cells.
If they find themselves hidden away, they should be pursued and dealt the punishment they deserve. We have the ability to pinpoint a target. We should do so after allowing due time to take custody of the individuals. And we should pull the trigger if we do not have custody in due time.
But merely collecting one is not enough. As soon as one goes away, another appears. It is time to cut this off at the root, and burn the root. It is time to make an example of these bands of terrorists. It is time to use the awesome power we have built for the good of mankind. We should foot the bill, do the work, and make it impossible to threaten any innocent lives without retribution while we are the greatest nation on earth. Some will argue about the cost, and I'll agree, there are many worthy causes which need attention.
But at this point, many families are bearing a cost which none of us would willingly pay. Yet in four hours today, a local radio station raised $12,000. (the next day, they raised an additional $30,000) This may seem small, but note as well that they did it in a small college town. The kind of place that doesn't have wealthy individuals to spare, that barely keeps its own social programs running. If we are willing to raise money for the families in need, perhaps we should be willing to raise money to prevent individuals from making the families pay to begin with.
In the end, it is important to note that many stories of selfless giving are emerging. Many gave their lives knowing the best they could do was prevent and airplane from reaching its intended target. Others, I feel sure, gave their lives in helping co-workers escape. Still others died while carrying out their trained profession.
Some were able to call home one last time. I urge you all to make such calls without the dire circumstances. As a general rule, we are very lucky. We have time to complain about the big game. We have homes, jobs, "toys. " We have families, friends, and climate control. We have running water. We have microwaves, surround sound, and swimming pools. We have SUV's, suburbs, and fast food. We have baseball, apple pie, hotdogs, and Mom.
But this week, some don't have Mom. Or maybe its Dad. And its only September. Look around, after making that call home. Who is going to be in a jam at Christmas? Or at the start of school? Who do you know that needs a job? A bike for their kids?
Maybe its just me riding the crest of a wave... . but its a good wave to be on. Take the feelings you have today, and carry them for at least four months. See if something neat happens. That kid who is put out because he/she isn't so quick? Take the time to show them something new, like a museum. How about the kid without a present for Christmas? drop a $20, and get them something. . anything. How about that family without heating oil? Take time to talk to your local supplier, cut a deal, make some one a warm home for a while. Or the family without food for Christmas? Supermarkets will often help out in getting cut rates for food.
What is the cost to us? A few hours, maybe a few dollars. Next time you bear the cost, do it because you want to, not because some jerk highjacked a plane. I'll bet all of us can bear the cost. Will we?
It wasn't.
I study history. We are supposed to learn from it or be doomed to repeat it. Apparently Pearl Harbor was lost memory, as deemed so by some unseen keepers of world history. I want to tell them that we learned. We learned well. And we refuse to abridge our freedoms to prevent it from recurring.
I also want to tell them that the enemy seems to have failed their lessons. The attacker at Pearl Harbor knew that he had less than a year to run, and then the end would come. I feel sure that once again, this is the case.
But we need to remember, as United States citizens, that simply "nuking" small countries into glass parking lots is not the solution. Because we have held to a set of principles, others in the world do not like us. Because we are able to enforce our principles, others hate us. Because we have the power to protect ourselves, others attack us. If we drop our principles now, they will have achieved their goal.
I feel very strongly that we follow our principles. We MUST do the work to find proof beyond a shadow of doubt of the guilty parties. We MUST work to find the individuals, so the masses do not suffer our retribution. I also believe we need to send a message that we are very serious about stopping terrorism.
There are many options at our disposal. If the guilty find themselves in our custody while alive, they should remain that way, even after sentencing. Death to them is a reward for causing others harm. Solitary confinement, lacking any outside contact, is where these individuals need to be. I am told (by people I know who see this criminal on a daily basis) that the bomber who hit the WTC in 1993 was up early on Tuesday, watching CNN in his cell, waiting for something. (This prisoner is being held in solitary confinement now, mostly to protect him from the staff. ) It is clear that these people plan far in advance. We need to end that planning cycle. We need to put these individuals in more secure, barren cells.
If they find themselves hidden away, they should be pursued and dealt the punishment they deserve. We have the ability to pinpoint a target. We should do so after allowing due time to take custody of the individuals. And we should pull the trigger if we do not have custody in due time.
But merely collecting one is not enough. As soon as one goes away, another appears. It is time to cut this off at the root, and burn the root. It is time to make an example of these bands of terrorists. It is time to use the awesome power we have built for the good of mankind. We should foot the bill, do the work, and make it impossible to threaten any innocent lives without retribution while we are the greatest nation on earth. Some will argue about the cost, and I'll agree, there are many worthy causes which need attention.
But at this point, many families are bearing a cost which none of us would willingly pay. Yet in four hours today, a local radio station raised $12,000. (the next day, they raised an additional $30,000) This may seem small, but note as well that they did it in a small college town. The kind of place that doesn't have wealthy individuals to spare, that barely keeps its own social programs running. If we are willing to raise money for the families in need, perhaps we should be willing to raise money to prevent individuals from making the families pay to begin with.
In the end, it is important to note that many stories of selfless giving are emerging. Many gave their lives knowing the best they could do was prevent and airplane from reaching its intended target. Others, I feel sure, gave their lives in helping co-workers escape. Still others died while carrying out their trained profession.
Some were able to call home one last time. I urge you all to make such calls without the dire circumstances. As a general rule, we are very lucky. We have time to complain about the big game. We have homes, jobs, "toys. " We have families, friends, and climate control. We have running water. We have microwaves, surround sound, and swimming pools. We have SUV's, suburbs, and fast food. We have baseball, apple pie, hotdogs, and Mom.
But this week, some don't have Mom. Or maybe its Dad. And its only September. Look around, after making that call home. Who is going to be in a jam at Christmas? Or at the start of school? Who do you know that needs a job? A bike for their kids?
Maybe its just me riding the crest of a wave... . but its a good wave to be on. Take the feelings you have today, and carry them for at least four months. See if something neat happens. That kid who is put out because he/she isn't so quick? Take the time to show them something new, like a museum. How about the kid without a present for Christmas? drop a $20, and get them something. . anything. How about that family without heating oil? Take time to talk to your local supplier, cut a deal, make some one a warm home for a while. Or the family without food for Christmas? Supermarkets will often help out in getting cut rates for food.
What is the cost to us? A few hours, maybe a few dollars. Next time you bear the cost, do it because you want to, not because some jerk highjacked a plane. I'll bet all of us can bear the cost. Will we?
