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The Day the Music Died - 911
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By Paul M. Jerard Jr.
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Remember when the Berlin wall came down, and some of us hadhoped for world peace? One by one, former Soviet Block countriesbecame democracies and we all hoped for the best. The concept ofdemocracy is difficult for anyone who has not lived in a freesociety. Therefore, this is the reason for a "learning curve" inthe upstart democracies of Eastern Europe and some of the formerSoviet republics.
In the United States, we hoped for an end to nuclearproliferation and a chance to make new friends from oldadversaries. Some of us also hoped for a Middle East peacesettlement, took an eye off terrorism, and "let our guard down."New words were created like "new world order, global economy,and politically correct."
We assumed that all of our "allies" were our friends, and youcould count on them - like they counted on you. We thought an"open society" was a good concept. We were going to concentrateon domestic flaws in education and health care.
Then, one September morning, we woke to see a different world.When the Twin Towers went down, we saw what some factions feelour lives are worth. We saw it, "up close and personal." We sawPalestinians cheering in the streets, the French government'sconcept of loyalty, and realized the British have been our bestfriends "through thick and thin."
For America, nothing will ever be the same again. Shooting aperson who pretends to have a bomb is "acceptable." We willinglygave up our rights for tightened security measures. MostAmericans could care less about terrorist rights. If you took apoll today, most Americans would prefer they be executed on thespot. Americans actively boycott most products that state, "Madein France."
The rest of the world is puzzled by this sudden "about face" inthe care for human rights. The terrorists and our former alliesshould get a copy of an American history book. We haven'tforgotten 911, and we are not "sheep." Part of our culture iswarm and loving, while another part of our culture is decisive,bold, militaristic, and wants immediate retribution.
We know that fundamentalism is an idea, and it cannot be "killedoff." However, the terrorists didn't bank on the wrath of theAmerican government and its people. They should also realizethat you cannot kill the concepts of freedom and democracy.
The scales have been tipped, and like it or not, blood has beendrawn. Some of us need to be reminded that 911 was not asituation that the American government, or its people, chose,but we cannot afford to forget.
? Copyright 2005 - Paul Jerard / Aura Publications
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