Fighting A War With Popcorn
By Ron Marr (02/27/04)
I have a saying, one that I probably use far too often. Fate, I tell people, has little respect for the apathetic.
Although we may not be in full control of our own destiny, it is imperative that the individual make an effort or take a risk now and then. If one wishes for anything greater, they must accept responsibility and be prepared for sacrifice and loss. They must trust in the possibility of a miracle, and at the same time understand that at least 50% of a miracle's content consists or work, desire, patience and perseverance.
There is only one certainty in life. If you do nothing but sit in your chair and wish for a desired outcome, the result will be abject failure and a sore backside. Contrariwise, if you arise from that chair and put forth your finest effort you may have a chance. No guarantees; it's still an even bet that you will end up flat on your keister with a bloody nose or broken neck, but at least you hobble away with self-respect intact.
Which brings us to the social and political climate of America, circa 2004. From what I observe, a hefty percentage of our populace have become poster children for apathy. We sit and whine. We wring our hands in despair. We rub the bottle and hope the genie will make things better. And we do not one damned thing to alter the status quo. We simply lean back in the recliner and grumble.
Apathy...it is on the rise. A few years back, in the wake of 9/11, folks actually seemed motivated. We had been attacked, and the President gave a stirring speech. He told us how we would not abide those who would kill our citizens.
And the people - Democrat and Republican alike - cheered and yelled and offered wholesale support.
He told us that neither would we tolerate regimes that harbored or supported terrorists.
And the people, Democrats and Republicans alike, rose to their feet and pledged total agreement.
He told us that this would be a war unlike any in history, that it would be long and hard and costly, but that it was something we must undertake - now - if we wished to secure our way of life and a future free of fear and death.
And the people - Democrats and Republicans alike - broke into frenzied applause and stamped their feet and screamed "YES...we are up for the challenge." Congress as well broke with party lines, swearing to put past rancor behind them and defend our freedoms and liberty.
And as it turns out, all the screaming and pledging and stamping of feet was a total crock. Many Americans want to forget about 9/11 and move on, pretend it never happened, convince themselves that we are not under attack. They complain about terrorist alerts, moan and groan about airport delays. They castigate the President for combating Islamic radicals (who have sworn to kill ANY American at ANY opportunity) when just a couple of years ago they were urging him forward.
Our politicians, who with equal vigor supported the war effort, now want nothing to do with it. Hell, the leading Democratic contender won't even talk about it. The only war he will discuss is one that ended 30 years ago, and only then to brag about his heroism. It's a nice distraction, I suppose, from the stands he took post-Vietnam and a voting record that scorned our ability to defend ourselves.
I have become convinced that most Americans do not have what it takes to see things through in the long haul. If they were to view our media reports, our enemies have seen the same thing. I'm sure it makes them quite happy. We seem to feel that everything should happen as it does in the movies. The whole ugly mess of war is fought and won in two hours. We walk away victorious, everything nice and tidy. The only sacrifice or energy expediture perhaps being a handful of buttered popcorn tossed at the bad guy as he strides across the silver screen.
It's all just a fantasy. It didn't really happen. We wish all to be hunky dory, and thus it is. That is how Americans seem to now regard the war on terror. Their promises of eternal vigilance were forgotten shortly after they were uttered. They speak of other things as if they are important - Michael Jackson or gay marriage or Mel Gibson movies - and avoid the most pressing issue of the day. At least until the next attack, at which time they will rail against the administration for not doing more.
Fate has little respect for the apathetic.
If such is true, she has little respect for us.
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