|
opinion:
our view
Harsh reality
sets in for U.S.
The bombs are falling
on Afghanistan, just as everyone expected. While this retaliation
isn't a surprise, the aftereffects will be.
Osama bin Laden and the al Qaeda terrorist network have already
promised retribution for the bombings in Afghanistan, speaking
of more planes falling from the sky and how thousands of young
Muslims are willing to die while carrying out more attacks on
the United States and its people.
Is America going to take this?
As much as we, with our best Clint Eastwood face on, would like
to say "no," we can't ? more terrorist actions are
on the horizon and are likely to come on U.S. soil.
This will be a conflict like no other for the United States,
as evidenced by President Bush's appointment of Tom Ridge in
the newly created position of secretary of homeland defense.
Does anyone need more proof that America could become a war
zone?
Of course, the U.S. government is trying to quell fears of more
attacks, but the evidence is overwhelming ? we are not safe
in our own country.
The terrorists who carried out the hijackings of Sept. 11 lived
in this country for years before pulling off their plan, and
we're guessing there were more than just 19 people involved.
Terrorist cells are still in America and most likely are planning
to carry out more attacks.
Will they? They could, and fear racks almost every American
just at the thought. We realize we are not safe, but were we
really ever?
As we process the crossed messages of "we are safe, we
aren't safe," the only thing to do is live as normal a
life as possible, albeit with a sense of danger mixed in. There
is no Rambo, no Schwarzenegger to stop these threats.
Suicide bombings, hijackings and biochemical threats, which
always seemed removed from America and treated as international
problems, suddenly have become our own. We must now learn to
live with it.
Sorry folks, there is no happy ending here. Life, as America
knew it, is never going to be the same again. |
|
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Search our site
DEPARTMENT
OF
JOURNALISM
ONLINE 49ER
DEPARTMENTS
ADVERTISING
ADMINISTRATION
DAILY
49ER ALUMNI
SUBSCRIPTION
SERVICE
GIVE
FEEDBACK
|
