The horrific attack on America happened less than 9 months ago, and as we
honor those who lost their lives in war to keep us free on this Memorial
Day, we ought to be reminded of just how fragile our free and open
society is, particularly when political terrorism rears its ugly head --
American style.
Aside from the need to ensure the security of all our citizens during these
perilous times, it simply wasn't necessary for media-driven Democrats to
give their election year political posturing a boost by hyping what turned
out to be a phony story about "what President Bush knew and when did he know
it" before the attack on America. Nor is it that necessary for media-driven
Republicans to react with increased terrorist warnings of every description.
And it certainly isn't responsible journalism for the "need-to-feed" news
media to saturate the public mind with thoughts and fears of terrorism, when
we know that must live with the fact that it's going to happen again.
The war in Afghanistan is far from over. The national and international war
against terrorism is going to be a long, arduous, costly and explosive
undertaking to say the least. The conflict between India and Pakistan over
Kashmir is on the verge of imploding South Asia. And the terrorist-driven
war between Israelis and Palestinians threatens to consume the Middle East
and to draw the United States into the middle of it - not to mention the
high probability of an invasion of Iraq.
Indeed, it's time to put our social, political, economic and national
defense ducks in a row and to work diligently toward putting an end to this
highly complicated, deadly dilemma with a minimum of political in-fighting.
The last thing America needs is to become a perpetual anxiety society.
Daniel B. Jeffs, founder
The Direct Democracy Center
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