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A Further Perspective
Have the Terrorists Won?
Increasingly it’s becoming a rhetorical question.
Everyone remembers the days immediately after September 11, 2001. Amid the anger tinged with mourning and the brief but unnerving sense that our great land was not totally protected from harm by the two great oceans that previously guarded us, one common thought summed up the nature of the coming struggle: if we let the attacks change our ways as Americans, then the terrorists will have won.
At first, these sentiments concerned themselves with issues that immediately addressed our national security, like the Patriot Act and the formation of the Department of Homeland Security. And although these were grudgingly accepted, most of the country seemed to agree with the immortal words of Benjamin Franklin: “Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.”
So have we given up liberty to gain security? Were our rights as Americans diminished as a result of the jihad declared against us by al Qaeda? Maybe these were the wrong questions. Maybe, in the wake of the murders of four Americans in Libya and the lack of response from the U.S. government, the real question should be: if these outrages are no longer a cause for outrage, have the terrorists won? Will the ultimate victory be theirs?
These questions should assume an even greater importance in a presidential election year, but this doesn’t seem to be the case this time. It is usually assumed that any attack on our country would be a plus for the sitting president; however this just isn’t the case with Barack Obama. Why? Because he has demonstrated weakness, inaction, and a dreadful inclination to apologize for, rather than defend, our way of life.
But this odd behavior doesn’t seem so odd when realizing the underlying cause. Dark forces have been at work in America in the last few decades or so, and one need look no further than the powers that be in our liberal media to discover them. Using such euphemistic headlines like “unrest in Muslim world” or “events in the Middle East,” network and print newsies refuse to call these incidents what they are: acts of global terror committed by adherents of radical Islam. And it is this refusal to deal with the reality of this murderous sect that is really eroding our rights.
There have been many strange twists and turns since that bright and crisp morning eleven Septembers ago, but who would have thought that the liberty that would suffer most since then has been freedom of religion? And not the one practiced by those who have perpetrated nearly every terrorist attack across the globe for the last 30 years, but Judaism and Christianity. And is it a coincidence that American liberals have targeted these same enemies as the jihadists?
We have been told, ad nauseam, that images of the prophet Mohammed are unlawful and offensive to Muslims, but let us count the ways in which American state, local and federal governments have actually funded “art” which is offensive to Christians. Or that our president has repeatedly snubbed Benjamin Netanyahu, while meeting at the White House with the Muslim Brotherhood, whose website recently called Jews “the descendants of apes and pigs,” and praised those who wage jihad “against the arrogant Americans.” Add to this that the constitutional rights of Catholics and other faithful Christians and Jews are being infringed upon by the Obamacare HHS mandates, and throw in the liberal clamoring for the arrest of the producers of an anti-Muslim YouTube video, and you find the First Amendment turned upside down.
In the recent past, those who choose to peacefully follow God’s Ten Commandments have often been labeled as haters by those who do not; but now, even those who merely decry the actions of terrorists are branded with the same mark. But it’s worse than that; even the thought police are now involved. You know it’s gotten out of hand when even a liberal apologist like Juan Williams was fired by NPR for admitting that seeing Muslims board an airplane makes him nervous.
Someone I know who was parroting the liberal line that seeks a moral equivalence between the terrorists and those who “insult” them, told me she thought that the makers of the infamous video were hateful cowards. While I was forced to agree with her that there is indeed too much hatred in the world, I responded that what’s really cowardly is making war deliberately against innocent civilians without actually facing the enemy.
Yet cowardly though it may be, it is warfare that counts on the cooperation of a few useful idiots to convince the rest of their jihadist propaganda; a list of lies and distortions that might have sprung full blown from the presses of the New York Times: that terrorist tactics are justified since our military might is so much greater than theirs; that we deserve whatever we get because of past “injustices” committed; and most importantly, that the tenets of all religions are intrinsically alike in spawning fanatics and therefore all must be dangerous and/or hateful at their root; excepting the Religion of Peace, of course.
Who among us has not heard at least some of the above used in whatever arguments liberals put forth in defense of their agenda or against traditional American values? And the most disturbing part is that this poison, spooned into the American psyche like bitter medicine into a sweet drink, has begun to take effect; resulting in part, in the election of Barack Obama, the first post-American Exceptionalist president. It seems that too many of our countrymen now believe that our nation, with its Judeo-Christian values, is just another cog in the One World wheel; unworthy of praise or spirited defense.
And if this continues to be the case, then the terrorists will have won.
Letter to the Editor View all comments (32) | Leave a comment
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Nancy in NC| 9.27.12 @ 8:06AM
Another excellent article, Lisa Fabrizio.
The First Amendment has been under attack in this country for some time. So called "hate" crimes for instance. When will that be expanded to include hate speech? It appears to be right around the corner. Unfortunately, some seem to be absolved from their hate speech...Bill Maher anyone?
Since when did truth become something to be avoided like the plague? Obama refuses to say the words Islamic terrorist. Does he think if he refuses to utter the words it will cease to exist?
We have become so indoctrinated in this country we no longer are able to see the truth.
Von Mises Jr| 9.27.12 @ 8:18AM
In Sweden, males between 20 and 30 are conscripted and taught militia and weapons training. They have among the highest gun ownership in the world. Perhaps that is why you don't hear of Islamic Terrorist causing a problem in Sweden. It is the same with places such as Texas and Montana.
We are facing several paradigm shifts in that revolution has replaced war about 50 years ago, and terrorism has risen. The government did not win the Revolutionary or Civil Wars, nor WWI or WWII. It was the people that won those wars. And it is time for the people to take back their country and kick some Jihadist asses. Be a man. Take a stand.
Harry the Horrible| 9.27.12 @ 10:01AM
Actually, we DO hear of Islamic terror in Sweden. Have you checked what is going on in Malmo?
PolishKnight| 9.27.12 @ 10:03AM
I think you mean Switzerland which has national male gun ownership?
Von Mises Jr| 9.27.12 @ 10:31AM
You are both correct. I wrote the wrong country from the website I found this information from. Thank you gentlemen.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G.....witzerland
PolishKnight| 9.27.12 @ 11:17AM
I'm chuckling. Having been to BOTH countries, it's rather difficult to confuse the two although there are similarities. They are both very clean and orderly by American standards. EVERYTHING is expensive. The Swiss are tougher, but not as tough as the Germans. Both peoples are very friendly.
RCV| 9.27.12 @ 7:09PM
Thanks, Polish Knight! Having been to Sweden, it was hard for me to picture young Swedish males in militia training. Now, Switzerland, that's a different story.
JeMeRappelle| 9.27.12 @ 9:25AM
Without question terror won on 9-11. The Left would not have been able to so quickly, successfully and lastingly demonize George Bush, conservatism and America without the attacks and America's response. The attacks and America's response, skillfully exploited by the Left, created the opportunity for our post-constitutional, terror-friendly and economically destructive leadership as nothing else could.
Harry the Horrible| 9.27.12 @ 10:00AM
Yes. The terrorists won.
We're groped in the airports by a totally ineffective TSA, which seems to actually go out its way to avoid searching or "offending" Moslems or Arabs.
"Criticizing Islam" is on the verge of becoming a thought crime.
Our own troops are prosecuted for destroying Korans (previously defaced by Moslem prisoners!). Others are being prosecuted for pissing on the bodies of vile murdering scum. They are being murdered by their alleged allies, but their commanders worry that it is because our troops might not be "sensitive" enough to cultural differences.
I'd say we lost, big time.
Stkman| 9.27.12 @ 10:15AM
The war on terror really hasn't even started yet. Rest assured though, it's coming. The Muslims will not stop until they finally do something so terrible that even Russia and China will join with the west. Let's hope thats not a nuclear detonation over Isreal or the U.S. though. This isn't about a single battle or single attack to the Muslims. Its about world domination, and they can't do that yet as there are still way too many who have a beleif in ahigher being and his name isn't Allah or Muhammed.
John786| 9.27.12 @ 10:36AM
The writer lives in a parallel universe where the military industrial complex goes around spreading fairy dust. America has sleep walked into an imperial empire. The people of the ME only see Jewish & christian armies rampaging through their lands.This is the central cause of all the radicalisation. The solution is less war and for America to realise not everything has a military solution. No to war in Iran: I can't afford gasoline at current prices.
Harry the Horrible| 9.27.12 @ 10:46AM
Gee, if we've got an Empire, where's our tribute?
I could use some. Our Treasury could DEFINITELY use some tribute.
JP| 9.27.12 @ 12:54PM
John786 is living like it is still 1977.
loulou| 9.27.12 @ 1:47PM
John 786 is a Muslim and consequently has nothing to say.
John786| 9.27.12 @ 2:06PM
A trillion dollars on weapons. The US spends more on defence than all the other nations combined. You must feel really insecure. Why? And what healthcare, housing, food have Americans ( 99%) foregone for this level of expenditure. Try peace its a lot cheaper.
Dajake| 9.29.12 @ 10:49AM
Peace at what price? Genocide and slavery?
JeMeRappelle| 9.27.12 @ 11:21AM
"Parallel universe"? What about "military industrial complex"? What era do you live in? Do the cars still have tail fins? Is Ike still president? Please say hello to our great-grandparents for us!
Stan Redmond| 9.27.12 @ 2:04PM
HAHAHA. Study up on some history. Islam has ALWAYS been spread by the sword.
PolishKnight| 9.27.12 @ 11:12AM
I went through airport security recently and while the TSA was polite, it was a bit disconcerting in that I now basically have to strip to go through the checkpoint. NOTHING in my pockets, not even tissues. The liquids rule and the shoes rule are also "reactionary", as the left would put it, in that they address past threats and are arbitrarily enforced making them meaningless (disabled people are allowed to keep their orthopedic shoes on, so just wear orthopedic shoes and if you want get a lot of liquids through, just separate them out into smaller containers.) I heard that the TSA was confiscating "opened" small tubes of toothpaste and insisting they are in the box (as if you can't just put an open tube back into the box and glue it up) and this essentially makes a small tube of toothpaste one use only (which is a waste if you have several connecting flights to catch.)
If the goal of the terrorists was to make travel difficult and inconvenient, they have certainly succeeded. How many MILLIONS of people have now had to take off their shoes thanks to that shoe bomber jerk?
JD| 9.27.12 @ 12:12PM
In all things, the liberal solution is the short-sighted, direct attack on a symptom. Root cause analysis and unintended consequence anticipation are not part of their thinking.
JD| 9.27.12 @ 12:16PM
"Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety."
I've never liked that quote. Sure, on the surface it seems like a great one, but it's too easily abused. The Left (mis)uses it constantly to decry sound policies.
The problem is that it's not precise enough. If I enroll in the military, I have surely sacrificed a lot of liberty in the name of security. I will be ordered around by a drill sergeant, shipped to wherever they want me to be, and generally have very little say in my life at all, all to provide security for my country.
Is enlisting in the military a violation of Franklin's quote?
It certainly shouldn't be, but the vagueness of the quote certainly allows a liberal weasel to suggest it is. And they do - they suggest all manner of sensible things violate Franklin's dictum. That's why I don't like his quote - it doesn't do a sufficient job thwarting misinterpretations.
nathan| 9.27.12 @ 7:21PM
The quote is correct, your example doesn't apply. And trust me, it's not liberals that quote it, conservatives do it all the time or should. And it's one sentence, we have to look at in the context of the Founders as a whole as they understood what they were about conceding that there was not total agreement among them. Still the thrust of their actions was a broad commitment to individual liberty. Their actions were to limit government power. Notice that the Constitution basically limits the actions of the government, not the people. Look at the Bill of Rights. Madison was limiting the government in all cases. "Congress shall pass no laws". "The right of the PEOPLE to keep and bear arms". NO PERSON shall be deprived of life liberty or property . . . without due process." The "government" is barred from utilizing cruel and unusual punishment in ALL instances. No exceptions.
What Franklin is ultimately is saying is sacificing those essential liberties we talk about, free speech, due process, bearing arms, etc for a little or a lot of safety is nonsense. We shouldn't do it and it doesn't work. On that he's absolutely right.
JP| 9.27.12 @ 12:53PM
We lost the war on 12 Sep 2011, when President Bush made a point of visiting a mosque in a show of solidarity with Islam. Just a few bitter complaints from a couple of imans and they had Bush dancing to their tune - and the bodes were still smoldering in NYC, DC, and Pennsylvania.
A decade later, Obama has completely lost Afghanistan. Yes, he can play whack-a-mole with a few goatherders in Warzistan. But, in just 16 months, the Muslim Brotherhood-Terhan now control North Africa from Suez to the Straits of Gibraltar. To show the world what complete weaklings we are, they murdered our Libyan ambassador, stormed 3 embassies, and raised the black flag over them. Either the President is with them, or he is a total incompetent.
Make no mistake. In a few years our government will be implementing policies approved by the imans.
Louis Jenkins| 9.27.12 @ 1:01PM
The terrorists have won the first bout. They've gotten us to change the way we travel. And from what I understand Homeland Security is fixing to monitor bus stations, even the interstate highways. Christians, libertarians, people on the right, are all under their scrutiny. And we elected a Muslim for president. A man who apologizes to the world for anything USA. So I'd have to say they won the first battle. America may be pushed, and we may bend, but not forever. We may die, but we will not surrender.
Bill8472| 9.27.12 @ 1:09PM
Things that have changed since 9/11:
1. Some boob makes a nasty anti-Muhammed, anti-Islam video and almost no web site has the integrity to post a link to it so we can see it; likewise with the French anti-Muhammed cartoon;
2. After centuries when Christianity and Judaism have established themselves as religions of peace, and Islam as a religion of holy war, we now have reversed things so the Christianity of the Crusades and the Judaism of an Israel falsely depicted as the oppressor of "Palestinians" are cruel monsters, and Islam is The Religion of Peace;
3. Anti-Christian "art" works are OK, but anti-Muslim "art" works are not OK.
There are lots of other P.C. acts, and acts of craven-ness in the face of mob rule, but those are the ones I've noticed most readily lately.
loulou| 9.27.12 @ 1:45PM
Yes, the terrorists have won.
They won when Bush declared that Islam is a religion of peace. (Nevermind that it is not a religion but a cult).
Stan Redmond| 9.27.12 @ 2:05PM
I don't think the terrorists won. The west surrendered without a fight. The left especially is offering up their collective necks to submit to the Islamic menace.
Thom| 9.27.12 @ 3:35PM
Have the Terrorists "Won?
What Terrorists?
The only Liberty most American's are interested in these days is the one that lets them live off someone else's labor (and going to the Mall).
nathan| 9.27.12 @ 7:41PM
I'm actually reluctant to comment here but I'm going to anyway. Get the stones ready.
Some of you got a little of it right but none of you got it all right.
Did we lose? Yes. He had 1K men, no more. He mounted a spectacular arguably one time attack but lacked resources to do much more. A more reasoned president might have treated this and the actors as the police action it more or less was. But that president, one of the five worst presidents in history dragged us into two wars that were lost before he left office. Merely getting us into the wars and seeing us lose them gives them the victory based on that alone given the resources they had. When you can influence the other guy so infinitely larger then you to commit HIS resources at that level, and LOSE, by definition, you win.
But it gets worse right? He permanently changed us. Every time you go through TSA, he wins. The passage of unconstitutional laws like the Patriot Act? He wins. Abu Ghraib? He won. When we compromise our principles, he wins. When our men do things that we hung others for at the war crimes trials 70 years ago, he wins. We killed him and a few others. Big deal. For all the things that matter, he got what he wanted, he changed us, and we lost. We can't argue this.
atilla| 9.29.12 @ 11:12AM
NATHAN, GIVE UP YOUR CITIZENSHIP NOW, YOU'RE NOT WORTHY OF IT.
WaffenSS| 9.28.12 @ 8:34AM
Bush, Chenney, Rumsfeld, Ashcroft, Obama, Ad Nauseum. All filthy still. All shills for the corporate greed machine.
There's a club out there and you ain't in it.
atilla| 9.29.12 @ 11:09AM
WE ARE ALL PAVLOV'S DOGS NOW.
WE ARE EXPECTED TO OBEY WHENEVER THIS ADMINISTRATION"RINGS A BELL"
THE MUSLIM SCUM HAVE WON, AT LEAST TILL WE GET RID OF THEIR IMAM OBAMA.