28 September 2001
As I write this, the events of September 11, 2001 are still with me.
For the first time in it's history, terrorism struck at the United
States, not from a domestic source, as with the Oklahoma City bombing of
Timothy McVeigh and his associate, but rather from what seems to be
foreign nationals - specifically, the al Qaeda organization of Osama bin
Laden.
My youngest daughter had called me from school to tell me of the
attack and to turn on the television. I sat, stunned, sobbing, and in
utter horror as I beheld the images of the first tower in flames,
as I watched, along with millions of other viewers, as the second plane
impacted the other tower. Scarcely believing, I watched as the images
replayed, again and again. Still stunned, I went and awoke my wife, who
had wakened briefly with a migraine -- at approximately the same time as
the first crash.
Over 6,000 persons are dead, several hundred more injured. The
continued fallout from the attack still looms large in the media. People
are afraid: afraid to fly, afraid to travel, afraid to shop, afraid to
get on with their daily lives.
From 1978 to 1980, I lived in Spain, stationed at a US naval facility
hosted at a Spanish military base. The base where I was stationed was
under constant threat of attack by Basque Separatists, and we were
locked down several times during that two-year period. During that time,
I traveled (courtesy of temporary duty assignments) to Greece, Italy,
Israel and several other countries that have a long acquaintance with
terrorism. While I was in Israel, there was an attack in Beirut, not far
from where I was. Friends were there.
The objective of a terrorist is to bring terror. The means to
defeating a terrorist (simplistic though this sounds) is to not allow
yourself to give into the fears that they bring. Get on with your daily
routines, go about your normal business. Never forget, but do not live
in constant fear of the next attack -- and, like many others, I am
certain that there will be further attacks. They may not come in the
forms of airplanes being diverted into high-rise office buildings,
but they are likely to come.
We already are experiencing the longer waits at the airports with
tightened security checks. Some grocery stores are experiencing
shortages as people start to stockpile food, water and other household
items. The stock markets have plunged to their lowest points in nearly a
decade, causing minor panic among smaller investors (the larger
investors are not so sure minded, either). Gas prices have jumped in the
days following the attacks -- there were reports of gasoline prices
going over $5.00 per gallon in the Midwest -- despite assurances from
the oil companies that there is no shortage, now, nor in the foreseeable
future. Persons of African, Middle-Eastern and Asian descent have been
assaulted by confused people who have mistaken them for the terrorists.
The idea of national identity cards has been resurrected; the Attorney
General has asked Congress for easier access for the federal government
to examine and track your movements, both online and in real life. The
President and Congress are working on waging a "War Against Terrorism"
which is all well and good. But does it go far enough? Does it go too
far?
Americans are not known for easily giving up any semblance of
personal liberty or freedom. We must decide for ourselves as to how much
personal freedom we are willing to surrender in pursuit of freedom for
all. The one thing we must not do is give in to paranoia and fear.
I must not fear.
Fear is the mind-killer.
Fear is the little death that brings total obliteration.
I will face my fear.
I will permit it to pass over me and through me.
And when it is gone, I will turn the inner eye to see its path.
Where the fear has gone, there will be nothing.
Only I will remain.
(Bene Gesserit "Litany
Against Fear", Dune © 1965 Frank Herbert)
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