The tragic stories seem endless. This event is so very difficult to fathom. The roll of names of victims is over 6,000 and rising. I am still being struck with the horror of it all. I don't know if I am truly angry, or depressed, or fearful, or all of that and more. Nothing like this ever has happened. And the probability is that it may never be actually clear what happened, who did it, and if any reactive event will have any effect. The "bottom line" is that this war is about to unfold...and , unlike any other in history,the vampires have the keys to the blood bank. I fear this international situation like none other in my lifetime. I want to believe that divine intervention will occur and The Shrub Gang will find correct and just guidance, but I am beginning to doubt that this will happen.

I made a reference to Islam on earlier web logs. I have been wondering how Minister Louis Farrakhan's Nation of Islam would react. To say the least, I am impressed with the technical aspect of their presentation. If you have a spare hour and twenty minutes, his message is streamed at: http://www.finalcall.com/media/mlf_press09-16-2001.htm The message holds an interesting mix of philosophic truisms and emotional value judgements...but is on the whole very similar to others I have heard recently. I wonder what coming months will bring. I look for deeper explanation of the cause but am set to believe that these monsters just wanted to kill Americans.

 

And, now, how will America welcome any criticism, no matter what the action we take manifests? Will there be another Alien and Sedition Act? If so, where can I go and hide from the prospect of false accusation? Know the words to Oh Canada! or will that alternative also close? In the venacular of days gone by, FREAKY!

Read my other web log.

I am being reminded, by the heroism at hand in New York City, of "Yippie" Abbie Hoffman chucking cases of canned food groceries out the back of a semi-trailer. He had promoted it through a half-threat/half-humanitarian appeal to local Trenton national chain grocers. There were street race riots in New Jersey and monthly welfare checks had been held up. Innocent people were getting very desperate. Stores were closed and cupboards were getting bare. Abbie saw that and did what had to be done. This was much like Emmett Grogan used to do for "Digger" free feedings in the late '60's Haight-Ashbury.

This was without the sanctions of government at any level. It was to me enlightenment on all sides. Yes, New Yorkers are made of stern stuff, real stuff. This is true of the entire Northeast...in actual fact, of our entire nation. We continue to take pride in this continuing heroic effort.

Aboard one of the four hijacked aircraft, it has become apparent heroism was contributor to a common fate. I think that, if proven true, the site of that crash must become location to a memorial for this horror and the people lost in this senceless act.

We have been invaded. Innocence has veen violated, destroyed without reason. We are at war. I can understand acting on desperation, anger, and other emotions. I cannot understand destroying innocence. I believe that the only true crime is the violation of another's innocence.

I am told that Islam requires the preservation of innocence. These perpetrators were sentient beings willing to give up their essence in acting solely to take human life. These are intelligent men. They are all men unwilling to share their politic or religeon with their women. They reject any mentally unstable applicant to their cells of terror, as security risks.
It will take a force not seen in my lifetime to defeat an enemy as mobile, invisable and dedicated as these Hydra-like zealots. It will take a commitment to kill human beings with acceptance of collaterial causalities. It will take waring worth its cost in lives and dollars and the future. Its costs will be high. Winning or losing will depend on committing ourselves to the task at hand. Keeping faith will depend on the wisdom of leadership and their decisions about how much, what and when we will learn of the coming long war.

Meanwhile, for awhile...

Keep an eye open, and do something about anything that seems out of place. We do not know the smoke screen from the real thing. Err on the side of caution. Find a workable policy. Have faith; give it to others.
We do need each other.
BUT,
I fear that necessity may stunt the liberties we have grown comfortable with and come to expect. Not the least of which is the Internet. War always brings limitations on civil rights. Already, Congress has passed legislation curtailing some rights regarding the Internet. This is as expected in making a total effort to defeat an enemy. Some liberties we will surrender gladly in view of the total effect. However, Republicans are in power. The are conservatives of everything they want to project on the rest of us. Errors will be made in the name of their self-righteousness. That has not changed. Yet. If we are fortunate and they are more human than they have demonstrated, they may.

I have said many times that my reason for doing military service was,
"to defend unto death, your right to be absolutely wrong."

You see, that way, I may thereby also be free to be wrong.
However...there are limits to anything.
Like the rules of physics,
humanity will only allow so much to go just so far.

My other web log.