That was the big news tonight as my boy told us and we switched on CNN. They must be pretty sure of it before they would announce it like that. It would be an absolute disaster in so many ways if he is still alive and this is some elaborate fraud. President Carter's failed rescue of the hostages in Tehran with helicopters crashing in the desert sand was such a heartbreak for the nation and certainly didn't help that President's legacy much.
The thing to do now, just as President Obama said tonight, is to allow the country to come together as we did just after 9/11. This should not be for some partisan purpose of the President's or any other political movement no matter how sincere on the part of some or confused or manipulated by TV personalities. It is no time for celebration and cheers outside the White House. It is a time for reflection. It is an appropriate time for a sigh of relief because that man will never again lead others to do what those horrifically misguided and delusional, evil people did on that day in New York City.
We may yet face many terrible things as a nation. There may even be attacks by some inspired by this "martyrdom" as some, but not really that many, will call it. The deceased was an enemy of Muslim kings, nations and peoples even more than he was of us. But this does send a very important message that in spite of all this nation's mistakes, we are still able to accomplish a national goal, we can still successfully defend against the clearest forms of evil, we can still come together as a nation towards that more perfect union.
Sunday, May 1, 2011
13 comments:
Comments are welcome. Feel free to disagree as many do. You can even be passionate (in moderation). Comments that contain offensive language, too many caps, conspiracy theories, gratuitous Mormon bashing, personal attacks on others who comment, or commercial solicitations- I send to spam. This is a troll-free zone. Charity always!
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"successfully defend against the clearest forms of evil"? Grant, what was in your orange juice? This is a non-event, if there ever was one. Bush could have done this years ago, if he had really wanted to. As I see all the celebrations, on FaceBook and other places, I can't help but think, "Idiots". What we'll have to worry about is, not the old bogeyman hidden in Pakistan, but a majority of young, volatile males without any jobs throughout the Middle East, echoed even by our own teens without anything productive to do this summer (90% of black teens in Chicago can't find a job this year). You know what they say about idle hands. Now, that's a danger to worry about.
ReplyDeleteBush didn't really want to?
ReplyDeleteI don't pretend to be privy to Bush's thoughts at the time, but he was caught between a rock and a hard place. He had the same tools available to him that Obama now has. However, how could the leader of our nation admit to the electorate that we supported Pakistan with huge financial help, while they were disseminating nuclear information to the highest bidders and harboring and training terrorists. The masses, Democrats and Republicans alike, don't have the stomach for "real politik."
ReplyDeleteIf Bush could have done it why didn't he?
ReplyDeleteAs I read in today's Slate political commentary, Pakistan was (and is) a "nuclear armed fragile Islamic nation of near unparalleled strategic importance." Bush couldn't risk causing the downfall of a very problematic "friendly" government because there was no way of knowing what would have replaced it. Whether upsetting that cart of poisoned apples can still have disastrous results, we'll know down the road. Oh, dear...Here I was, hoping to follow your blog quietly but my passionate side overwhelmed the moderate one. Your last two posts had me practically jumping in my chair. Please forgive a woman whose heroes are Lincoln and Talleyrand (yes, the diplomat Napoleon called "a lump of...fertilizer in a silk stocking).Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the thoughtful comments.
ReplyDeleteAre these all the same anonymouses? Maybe initials or numbers would help somehow. But I guess that's a "blogger" system problem as I've found it difficult to create whole new profiles as alter egos.
Yes, it's all the same "anonymous". I would have preferred a "nom de blog" but this system asked me for an url with it and I just gave up. It even messed up your question and attributed it to me. Maybe I should have asked my 4-year-old grandson to help me?
ReplyDeleteWell, actually that middle anonymous "if Bush could have done it why didn't he?" wasn't me. Sorry for the Blogger system not being user friendly. Maybe I can do something to transfer this. But I'm no tech expert.
ReplyDeleteAnd I do appreciate your comments. It gives us more to think about- cuz wishy-washy moderate that I am (even if passionately so) I can't figure it all out on my own!
Thanks for your patience. I really enjoyed your other story on Addie May. It was very moving and made all of us think about what we haven't yet done to bring the stories of our ancestors to life. Except for the nose and darker hair, she reminds me a lot of one of your cousins. Keep up the good work. We need a good male feminist in this church.
ReplyDeleteGreat. Now I have an "anonymous" mystery to solve. Maybe if I keep you talking, you will give me more clues.
ReplyDeleteHmm. More conservative than me and a Bush partisan. Could be anyone in my family. Why family? Because you reference how one of my cousins look and seem to appropriate Grandma Addie May. Of course it could be a more generic "we." As far as cousins who don't have dark hair, that doesn't help much as there are only 4 or 5 of us, two being me and my brother, who aren't blond. There is a good level of sophistication and intelligence (even if you are a conservative). But the weirdest thing of all is having Lincoln and Talleyrand as political heroes. I mean Lincoln, sure, he's mine just to the upper right. And Lincoln could be appropriated by a variety of political beliefs (except southern rights fans, and very hard core Libertarians or pacifists). Talleyrand? I guess that fits with a RealPolitik philosophy and a slight sense of cynicism or at least challenge to my idealism here. But Talleyrand? I don't think I know anyone who would name him as a political hero. Most RealPolitikers stick with Kissinger. My niece Jill could come up with all this, but then she would have to be dissembling with the grandchild which would point more to my generation. Vicki I already spar with on facebook. Shana and Debi I've heard from on gmail. Aunt DeeAnn too - and on the blog comments. And encouraging my "male feminism?" Hmm. "nom de blog" and "mea culpa?" Hmm. I guess I need more clues.
More clues? Don't hold your breath. I have a knack for putting myself in hot water and I certainly did it by getting drawn into this discussion, because I felt so strongly about the subject. One thing I want to make clear: I am not, repeat NOT, a conservative (perish the thought!)or a Bush supporter. Neither am I one of your relatives (now, that's funny). I just have some pretty good reasons to stay "anonymous", even if I am doing a lousy job of it. Would I have your permission to use your email (listed in the history blog) if I get some other ideas about your posts, without taking up space on this site? The discussions about the Constitution and states rights I have very little knowledge about and it's better for me to not comment. But, on European history and world affairs, I have a smidgen of knowledge, by experiences and a completely different world view. Thanks again for your patience, and I'll let you return to your regular channel.
ReplyDeleteSure! Use the email. I'd be glad to hear from you!
ReplyDelete(But you do know one of my cousins, right?) And you're more than welcome to post on the blogs. If you haven't noticed, I really don't get that much traffic. Thanks!
I will be in Utah (Logan, SL) until next week for a big wedding, away from computers. I sincerely hope that you will not start a heart-pounding, nail-chewing, jumping-up-and-down discussion during that time. Stay out of trouble and celebrate Mother's Day with your lovely wife. I have a theory that, behind every smart man, there is an even smarter woman who lets him have his fun in the limelight.
ReplyDelete