Monday, July 25, 2005
Can't Win
The London Police acted decisively and now they are in the position of having to defend themselves.
The word "war" carries with it a number of implications. Chief among them is that there may be ramifications for the "home front." In wars past, there was rationing, women having to take men's jobs, sons and husbands lost forever, adjustments to government expenditures forfeiting some domestic benefits, and collateral damage. How much would these ramifications be amplified if the war front and the home front are the same?
So, in my mind those that argue against the use of the term "war" argue that they do not want to bear the price. They say in essence, "I was not hurt by the terrorist action, why should I be forced to bear those ramifications?" Those who argue against the term war are, in the end, selfish, childish, spoiled little brats that want to play in their room and let the world revolve around them.
It is tragic, truly tragic that someone apparently unrelated to the recent incidents was killed in this war. It cannot; however, be claimed that he was an "innocent" for an "innocent" would have followed the police directions. And further, tragic though the death of this one man may be, it is 50 time less tragic than what happened on 7/7. At a minimum there should be 50 times the outcry at the bombers as there is at the London Police commissioner.
Here is all I ask -- if you are one of those that do not want to pay the price for this "war," then please stay out of our way. We have for years paid our taxes and supported programs at public expense to support people such as yourselves, and certainly without the vitriol and derisiveness that you seem so willing to banty about these days.
All we ask of you is the same. Disagree if you must, but be civil and honor the good intentions of your opposition. Debate, but do not hinder. Minimize your personal cost if you must, but please for the sake of the dead, give those of us willing to make the sacrifices the opportunity to do so in peace, and allow us to pursue our goals with earnestness.
It is simply perverse to turn the efforts of those that are doing their absolute best to save your life into some sort of crime. At this point, gratitude is not even necessary, simply staying out of the way is sufficient.
London's police commissioner expressed regret Sunday for the slaying of a Brazilian electrician by officers who mistook him for a suspect in the recent terror bombings, but he defended a police shoot-to-kill policy as "the only way" to stop would-be suicide bombers.The phrase "War on Terror" is being hotly debated, and has been for some time. There are two essential questions in the debate, one concerns the word "war" and the other concerns a proper identification of the enemy. I want to address the first question.
The word "war" carries with it a number of implications. Chief among them is that there may be ramifications for the "home front." In wars past, there was rationing, women having to take men's jobs, sons and husbands lost forever, adjustments to government expenditures forfeiting some domestic benefits, and collateral damage. How much would these ramifications be amplified if the war front and the home front are the same?
So, in my mind those that argue against the use of the term "war" argue that they do not want to bear the price. They say in essence, "I was not hurt by the terrorist action, why should I be forced to bear those ramifications?" Those who argue against the term war are, in the end, selfish, childish, spoiled little brats that want to play in their room and let the world revolve around them.
It is tragic, truly tragic that someone apparently unrelated to the recent incidents was killed in this war. It cannot; however, be claimed that he was an "innocent" for an "innocent" would have followed the police directions. And further, tragic though the death of this one man may be, it is 50 time less tragic than what happened on 7/7. At a minimum there should be 50 times the outcry at the bombers as there is at the London Police commissioner.
Here is all I ask -- if you are one of those that do not want to pay the price for this "war," then please stay out of our way. We have for years paid our taxes and supported programs at public expense to support people such as yourselves, and certainly without the vitriol and derisiveness that you seem so willing to banty about these days.
All we ask of you is the same. Disagree if you must, but be civil and honor the good intentions of your opposition. Debate, but do not hinder. Minimize your personal cost if you must, but please for the sake of the dead, give those of us willing to make the sacrifices the opportunity to do so in peace, and allow us to pursue our goals with earnestness.
It is simply perverse to turn the efforts of those that are doing their absolute best to save your life into some sort of crime. At this point, gratitude is not even necessary, simply staying out of the way is sufficient.
