It’s
now been over two years since the horrific, unbelievable
terrorist attacks on our nation’s shores. We have,
it would seem, gotten used to color-coded warnings, reports
of death, requests for money, i.e., all of what constitutes
modern warfare in 2003. Yet, how far are we along in protecting
our nation? What has happened to our national psyche?
These are big questions to pose, probably unanswerable in
that what we know about military activity is rightfully
edited. Plus, only so much can be gauged about the country’s
mood by letters to the editor and water cooler analysis.
We are, however, still at the beginning of a major undertaking:
the defeat of a covert, hard-to-detect terrorist threat
and, ultimately, the protection of Western civilization
from these zealots. This much is known. But is it really
thought about?
I personally have seen many of the American flags-so abundant
the first few months after 9/11—put back in the closets
from which they came. The fear so many of us felt initially
has faded, replaced by the nuisance of bothersome airport
checks and nightly Geraldo Rivera reports. Perhaps that’s
natural: you can’t run around in a constant state
of fear looking for the next attack. But I suspect that
many of us have already come close to forgetting, or have
successfully blocked out, what terrorists did to us once
and certainly want to do again.
Combine this selective amnesia with an obvious cynicism
from the media about the war efforts in Iraq, and I wonder
about the nation’s support for what I maintain must
be done to keep us protected and end the threat of terrorism.
Are we all so short-sighted, or easily swayed by media,
or wrapped up in our daily lives to forget what is happening
in this dangerous world today? These same daily lives we
work so hard to cultivate are sustained by the values and
vigor our military—our culture—embodies. Do
we keep this in mind?
Freedom is not a given. It never has been. Yet for many
today it would appear to be just that. Born into a nation
where material comforts and protection are taken for granted,
many—especially in the younger generation—believe
that their rights to speech, travel, and other similar freedoms
are just there, prima facie, for no reason or cause. In
fact, there is a reason. There are many reasons; and these
reasons are under attack by those who would have them taken
away and hate us for having them.
I don’t support the War on Terror as a Republican,
a Democrat, or some blood-thirsty jingoist. I support it
as an American and as a member of a classical liberal civilization
whose values represent a threat to the backward, irrational
terrorists. (The great and horrific irony is that these
zealots use the very technology the West created to attempt
to destroy it). In fact, I wish President Bush would launch
attacks in the two countries which are the greatest sponsors
of terrorism, Iran and Saudi Arabia as well as cut off the
billions of dollars we supply to Egypt. Such, I suppose,
is too much to ask of the bureaucratic, relativistic world
of modern U.S. foreign policy.
There will be more casualties in the War on Terror. Peter
Jennings, Tom Brokaw and Dan Rather know this, yet all appear
appalled and flabbergasted when reporting this fact. The
great compliment to the U.S. military is that there have
not been more casualties, considering the absurd “humanitarian”
restrictions placed on our troops. I, for one, believe their
efforts have been Herculean.
But, of course, I think about these things. I worry about
the war, for my sake, my children’s sake and the sake
of the values I hold sacred. We all should think about what
is at stake in the world today. Not as an obsession, but
as a reminder of the greatness and freedom we in the West
possess. None of it is a given. It has to be protected,
vigilantly and steadfastly, without apology.
I still wear my flag on my lapel, by the way.
In closing, I’d like to call your attention to two
new, regular Delta Business Journal features that begin
in this edition: DBJ Pro/Con and Delta Stock Watch. For
initiating the former, I’d like to thank former Governor
William Winter and Mississippi Republican Party chief, Judge
Jim Herring. Each month, two columnists will debate a current
“hot” issue in this exciting new feature. With
Delta Stock Watch, our other new feature, you will be able
to track the performance of Delta-area publically-traded
companies. These, along with our other recently-added new
features, demonstrate the Delta Business Journal’s
commitment to being the premier business publication in
Mississippi.
Happy Holidays to everyone! Please continue to send press
releases, new hires, story ideas and comments to me throughout
the New Year at jack@coopwood.net. I look forward to communicating
with you all. DBJ
Jack
Criss
DBJ Executive Editor
