The Threat 
~ by James Banzer

   We must get used to the fact that life under the
threat of terrorism, at least for the foreseeable
future, is here to stay.  The peaceful existence we
had become used to prior to 9/11 is a thing of the
past, regardless of the fact that we wish it were not
so.
   Perhaps someday, terrorists will be crushed and we can
resume life as we knew it. For now, it would appear
that will be a long time coming.
   We can only hope, urge our government leaders to
continue on a path toward crushing this insidious
enemy, and implore our fellow citizens to not be so
hasty about their rushed cynical assaults on those
leaders who are doing what they can to protect us.
Safeguarding of the citizens is a legitimate function
for our elected servants.
   Many believe that America will soon be facing the same
types of suicide attacks as are commonplace in
locations like Israel, Turkey or Indonesia. Many think
there will be more attacks on a par with 9/11. Those
things are certainly a possibility, if not a
probability, in the United States.
   The enemy hates us because we are powerful, and
because we don't think as they do. Some may think that
is an oversimplified reason for the reason things are
the way they are, but that is really how it shakes
out.
   Yet, there are people in the United States who insist
in saying it's all our fault. They claim that somehow
we brought it all on ourselves by our alliance with
other world powers that value peace and prosperity.
These others take every opportunity they can to claim
we must blame ourselves.
   The hatemongers who are not content to work for the
betterment of their own societies are relentless in
their attacks upon the free world. They are not
satisfied to allow the various peoples of the world to
coexist peacefully. They believe they are right, and
the rest of the world must either conform to their way
of thinking, or be annihilated.
   Here is part of our problem. Some Americans almost
would appear to be in favor of appeasing the enemy,
while many others seem to have fallen back into a
naive comfortable existence. The last group can make a
difference by waking up to the threat.
   It's a double-edged sword. We have the foreign enemy,
and the enemy at home. Combined, they constitute a
massive threat to western democracy.
   The flag flying which lasted a couple of months or so
following 9/11 was a great demonstration of solidarity
and resolve to crush the enemy. The problem is that
the attitude was superficial. People retreated into
their own little worlds in an effort to return to
normalcy. This gave enemies on the home front
opportunity to attack every move made by the president
to crush the foreign enemy.
   The threat is huge. We know without doubt that a group
called Al Quaida was responsible for what happened on
September 11, 2001, and has been responsible for
attacks on the security of other nations since that
time. What many don't fully realize is that Al Quaida
is just one organization of many which have evil
intentions.
   The Department of Homeland Security has identified 36
groups which it considers a threat to world peace and
stability. These groups will go to all ends to enforce
their way not just with their own people, but with
all.
   They are self-righteous to the point of hatred for
anything standing in their way. One of groups is known
as Lashkar-e Tayyiba, otherwise known as the Army of
the Righteous. Another is Hizballah. They like to
refer to themselves as the Party of God. This is not
the God most of us believe in.
   Maybe with the next attack on America, which every
freedom-loving citizen hopes and prays won't happen,
will come an awakening that results in a resolve not
to let these tyrannical groups gain control of the
world. Perhaps there will be a new resolve to crush
their sorry purpose. Hopefully it won't be necessary
for such an attack to take place before we come to our
senses.


112903

Archive
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

James Banzer has enjoyed a long career in broadcast news and is now writing on his observations about the world around us. He is currently residing in Louisville, Kentucky. You may send an e-mail to him at  jamesbanzer@yahoo.com .