Ten years already.  Many of us will be reliving that fateful Tuesday morning, 8:15 a.m. central time, where we were, what we were doing, what we were feeling.   It was a gorgeous day, not unlike our recent weather.  I was in the middle of my morning drop-off routine, hearing about the first plane in the middle of an interview about something else, probably Chandra Levy, remember her? After walking the kids into pre-school I returned to and started the car, and with it the radio, which resumed it's regular program.  By the time I got back home the second plane had not yet met it's target.  

When I got home I immediately turned on the TV to see what was going on, and saw the second plane collide.  I was sitting on the floor, mouth agape, feeling like someone just kicked me in the chest.  

As a rule I don't consider myself all that outwardly emotional, the most recent display of which was crying like a baby at my Mothers funeral more than ten years prior.  I remembered that because the weeping that ensued when the second tower fell was so familiar.

I wept for grief on so many levels, the largest at the realization that in this day and age the civilization we had been lulled into believing was so advanced really, truly, wasn't.  When a group of people, even if only the tiniest fraction of a major religion, was of the mindest that an act such as this was in any way justifiable all of mankind must have, in some way, failed.   

I wept at the massive lost of innocent life at the hands some fanatic sect hell bent on destroying my country.  I wept in knowing life as we knew it had changed, forever, not likely for the bettter.  I wept knowing somehow, some way, war was inevitable and possibly for admitting I was all for it.   

I remember talking with a friend on the phone, needing someone to calm me down as much she did.  I remember doing an ammo inventory in my head, not knowing what the follow up to the air attack might be.

As the next few days dragged on the emotions ranged from despair to rage and everything in between.  As a form of therapy I began to articulate my emotions in writing mostly as a way to sort them out.  The following essay is the result of that sorting which I sent to my email list.  The reaction was heartfelt and wide ranging.  Most of my conservative friends were totally on board but the most encouraging responses came from some of my most liberal friends.

As I reread this September 2001 missive I find my resolve has not changed much but has actually stiffened. Even though we have not suffered a similar domestic assault on Amercican soil rogue elements have tried and succeeded elsewhere, and on a smaller scale in the case of Hassan's Fort Hood massacre.  Reports of threatened anniversary attacks are todays news. 

That tiny fraction presented itself as a malignancy requiring eradication.  It took almost all of these ten years to remove the source tumor.  As I stated then and since a massive dose of self policing within the religion that spwaned this scum would be most welcome.  

All due apologies if there has been any, but if there has been they must have the worst public relations ever.  One would think leadership of a major religion who has any regard for its standing in the world would make a great display of cleaning its house but, as a news junkie, I haven't seen much.   Most noise from the so called religion of peace is of complaints of bigotry or that we infidels blame the actions of their tiny fanatical sect on the entire religion, apparently oblivious to the possibility that their lack of aggressive internal cleansing can justifiably be construed as complicity.

The mystery of how they could have let it fester to the point of mass murder in their God's name then is only surpassed by the mystery of why they are not the front line in the war on terror now. Subsequently I don't think it unreasonable to equate inaction with complicity.

Recent poles show a groundswell of support for a military response to the recent atrocities in New York and Washington DC. Oh that it could be so simple. If only this could be handled like swatting an annoying bug. Unfortunately, this particular bug is viral and if there is a cure it will be eventual rather than swift. I am afraid my four-year old son will reach recruitment age before this is over. 

In Madison and other liberal strongholds they're organizing peace rallies. We can’t blame the students. Society has traditionally afforded them this time for enlightenment and to ponder various ideologies to form their worldview. If the events of September 11 didn't do it, perhaps the body bags of their non-student contemporaries will help them see the difference between the world we have and the world we want. Rally to your bleeding hearts content but ignoring reality will not help. Our soft underbelly is those without the stomach to respond with force. If that mentality prevails we might as well replace Old Glory with a white flag.

 

They are in school to learn so let’s urge them to study the lessons of contemporary history. The original World Trade Center bombing was our wake up call and the attack on the USS Cole was a shot across the bow, though deliberately low. The tepid responses to those events brought us the events of September 11. The painfully clear lesson is that our unwillingness to render harsh consequences escalates terrorism. Given this lesson it is easy to see why this enemy considers us a paper tiger.

 

If, like many believe, this is an attack on our national psyche, it is not paranoid but practical to believe that this enemy is relying on the pacifist movement as an unwitting collaborator. It is also prudent to note that both targets may well have been chosen because they were icons of conservatism, capitalism and military might. 

 At the very least, a deepened political chasm works to their advantage because divisive rhetoric compromises our unity and diffuses our focus. Right wing nut Jerry Falwell’s claim that we deserved this because of God’s displeasure is no less damaging than left wing nut Michael Moore’s open question, “why bomb the blue states, they didn’t vote for Bush”? For the good of the country this brand of rhetorical rubbish should be shelved until we regain the luxury of debating relatively petty concerns like social security. 

For the time being we have bigger fish to fry. Liberals should note that their fear of reckless retaliation decreases with each passing day and new coalition ally. Conservatives should not confuse patience with a lack of resolve. 

We have no quarrel with the majority of Afghanistan, or Iraq for that matter, but at what point do we hold the citizenry of a country accountable for the actions of their government? Oh that it could be so simple to carpet bomb terrorism out of existence. 

We need the maturity to accept that difficult problems do not have easy solutions and keep our obsession with instant gratification from justifying excessive force. It was the killing of innocent people that awakened this country from the dreamy slumber of complacency and to respond in kind would make matters worse. More of the same would help the recruitment of brainwashed zealots and alienate more countries.

Conversely, we cannot let the fear of a tarnished reputation compromise our resolve. Our response must be fierce but measured, lethal but precise. Anything less would be tantamount to surrender and an invitation for more. Terrorism unanswered makes it perpetual and allowing it to continue is equally immoral.