So, here we are a few days after the anniversary of 9/11 and all it has wrought. I seem to be voyaging into the deep spaces between my ears. I dont know if it is because of this particular anniversary, stress at work or if it is because I am feeling a little weak-kneed from some personal bad news - A close aquaintance died and my grandfather is finally on the home stretch and in hospice.
Nevertheless, some 9/11 related things have been bugging me. No, not more of my usual indignation and outrage; although there is plenty of that to go around.
I have been accused of many things with regard to my opinions on subjects surrounding that terrible event and the subsequent related events since. I have been called everything from "liberal" (now c'mon folks - a political opinion and stance is not a dirty word, no matter how much you are pissed off about them damned queers and uppity negros co-opting your pet terms for them) to "traitor" and up to "hippy". Now really - "hippy"? That's almost a fighting word there, bud. Honestly, none of that bugs me as much as a simplistic, honest and fervent conviction that my opinion is wrong. Especially when I know that simplistic conviction itself is wrong.
Let's back up for some history first and cover the evolution of my opinions-
On the days immediately following 9/11, I was as hurt and angry as anyone else. I wanted blood. I wanted as deep an ocean of payback offal as anyone else. I wanted a body count to balance the scales.
Then when we as a country took action, I knew, deep in my guts that it was the wrong action to take. It was the obvious choice. There was no subtlety involved. We were doing exactly Whatwe were expected to do.
And then as it became clear to all but a few that we had made the wrong choice, we continued to follow the blind course of the wrong action.
And now when even those few true-believers are dwindling in numbers, we still cant halt our course; my conviction that we are heading in a disastrous course is even stronger.
yes, I am all too human. Call me flip-flopper as you like. but my opinions are subject to change and evolve as I change and I digest new information.
Now then, the people who have accused me of unamerican opinions and such always have a simplistic view - You are either with US or against US.
The world, my friend, is not so black and white. Let's work our way downward.
Leaders
"Leadership" is a word often thrown around without a thought as to what it really is. A true leader is one who doesnt actually display the iron core of "leadership" until there is a crisis. A true leader in the 9/11 world would have the clarity to see beyond the blood-haze of anger. A true leader has a clarity of vision to know what the right thing is to do for the good of the people he leads. And most especially he knows what that right thing is in the middle of a crisis. he is the guy who does the right thing at the right time at a car accident - he shakes people out of shock and gets them all doing tasks. he spares no thought for himself or his "legacy" and he sure as hell doesnt pawn it off on the next guy - unless he knows that the next guy is a trauma doc who knows better what to do. it is clear to me that the guy we have is no leader in the true sense of that word. Political creatures have no place in a crisis.
But lets get something straight. Before you start accusing me of weakness, cowardice and "not supporting the country" - my opinion of a man does not include the office. This is an important concept to grasp. There is absolutely no paradox in separating the man from the office. I have a great deal of respect for the Office. The concept, the ideal. I believe most fervently in the design of our governing bodies. The problem is the suckholes we have occupying the seats.
And my contempt for the person in that highest seat now knows no bounds. To engage in a strategy of "legacy building" and to actually intend to foist the mess off onto the next slob to come along is reprehensible in my mind. But I would still stand when he enters the room, because I respect the office itself. I stand for the President, not for the man. This concept is important because it is a cornerstone to my stance on current events.
The Military
Growing up as I did in the post-Vietnam era, the military was not a popular choice for young men and women. Hell, the military wasnt popular at all. Yes, that was entirely misguided. I was subject to the mores of the times, like anyone else. We as a society either forgot or didnt know that there is a huge difference between the individual and the body entire. And I have to add, that while I havent taken on the honor of serving in the military; my family most certainly has. My father was in the Coast Guard. My other father (step father since I was a young boy) served in the Marines. My grandfather served in the Navy. My great-grandfather sailed with the White Fleet.
One of the things I am amazed by and proud of is that our military is a voluntary military. No one is forced to sign up. Sure circumstances may encourage people to join, but no one is marched into line by force of law at gunpoint. And hasnt been for over thirty years.
As a country, through our leaders (see above) we have ordered our military to accomplish a task of Herculean proportions. As a citizen I have ordered them to fight and die in my stead while I concern myself with bills and family. How can I be anything but grateful and proud of those men and women?
Still, I am accused of not being supportive because I think it was the wrong thing to do in sending them over there. I am considered contemptuous because my opinion means they are fighting and dying for nothing.
How wrong can that be? it is impossible to be any more wrong. It is not nothing to serve. it is not nothing to ignore your personal opinions and do a duty sworn. it is not nothing to say goodbye to a family member who is doing a duty sworn. Whether or not the task I, as a citizen, set before them is the right or wrong task. If I tell my son to fetch me a tool and he brings me that tool, do I beat him for fetching the wrong tool? Hell no. he brought me what I asked him to. I'm the one who gave the wrong orders. The fault is mine. Likewise for the military. I sent them to do the wrong task. They are doing that task. That makes me proud. That it is the wrong task is my fault.
yes there have been dishonorable incidents. But that doesnt change my view of the military as a whole or the individuals who serve. Only those who are responsible for those dishonorable actions. Again it is the "office versus the man" thing.
Many years ago, I was sent out to an aircraft carrier to fix a networking issue they had. When I got there and checked in with the marine on the dock where I was to wait for my escort, I was greeted with a bunch of grief from the marine running the desk. He was a prick. But when I stepped on board the vessel, my escort turned and saluted the flag. I turned and faced the flag with my hand over my heart (you do know that is the proper thing for a civilian to do right? you do teach that to your kids, right?) Why? because it showed my respect for the vessel, the country and the men and women who serve; the lifer jerk on the dock notwithstanding. And even though he was a jerk, he was still serving and I respected that. I dont have to like him, I do have to respect the uniform.
And Finally
On this anniversary of the event that set us on this course, I am still angry and hurt over the attack. I still believe we are on the wrong course. And I still feel we mistreat the men and women in our military as well as their families.
I am still angry. I still want the people who did and do us harm to pay. I still want blood. But I am more interested in getting the right revenge instead of wholesale slaughter. I am reminded of dealing with bullies is school. When he beats your ass, you have a couple choices: give back the same as you got right then and there. The problem is you may not be able to fight on his terms. Hell, he probably wouldnt be picking on you if he wasnt able to win that kind of fight. Likewise, we cant do the same things in revenge for 9/11. in the case of the bully, it may be best to find another way to deal pain that he understand but in a way in which you can win. Me? I went for the "hit him with something large and hard when he is alone and not looking" tactic. I wasnt going to win a toe-to-toe schoolyard dustup. But the steel Aquaman lunchbox ambush worked wonders. he got the message. I am crazy, I dont care, dont fuck with me.
Just about everyone thinks we made a mistake in our post 9/11 behavior. A big one. We have done exactly what was expected. If I applied the bully analogy - instead of the Aquaman Ambush, we destroyed everything else. We beat up his family and burned down his neighborhood - without actually laying a glove on the one who did the deed. But that is hindsight. There is and will be plenty of hindsight by the truckload to go around. What I am concerned with is what do we do now?
I am continually hearing of hardships endured by the men and women who serve. Particularly their families when they are gone and the veterans when they return. Especially the wounded veterans. If anyone should be getting the highest standard of care it is the wounded. If anyone should be getting the most support, it is the families of those who are overseas. Those men, women and children whould not want for anything. And that support should not only be coming from us citizens via the government, it should come from the companies who profit from this era. Dell, how about setting up everyone with net appliances and connectivity so they can communicate? PG&E, how about cutting or eliminating thier bills? Exxon, how about some gas to help them get to appointments, particularly doctor appointments? Wal-Mart, if you are so supportive, how about keeping some cupboards filled? These people who sacrifice and do sworn duty should want for nothing. They should be praised not only with words, but with material goods. The men and women who serve should not have to think about any bills or anything except what they have to do to fill thier duty and come home. The families who wait should not have to even think about burdening the soldiers with such trivia. The wounded and thier families should not have to be concerned with anything except healing, adapting, and rebuilding their lives together. Sure there will be abuse of such largess. There are always scammers. I dont care. I'll pay an extra buck for milk. I'll pay an extra few bucks a month for my electricity. Just do it.
