10/28/2006: "Everyone Loves a "Slinky""

Remember the wire spring "Slinky" fun toy? When I was young they were very popular because they were fascinating to watch. So let me ask you a question, here goes; do you know what a slinky and a politician have in common? Give up? Okay. It's fun to watch them both fall down the stairs!

Seeing the politicians clown around in Washington DC is like watching the Three Stooges show. "Pick out two!" BOING! POKE! OW!! "Neee-yuck nyuk nyuk. Hey Moe! Look out for that intern!" SLAP! Some politicians just don't take their jobs seriously.

That may be the reason why embarrassing a leader seems to be the goal of politics. We pull the rug out from under them and laugh as they fall flat on their faces. We just can't wait to see how they handle the next crisis so we can point out what they did wrong and blame them for any mistakes. We have this need to bring them down a notch or two.

We love to see chaos because it is comical to watch our fearless leaders bumble around playing Keystone Cops. They can never catch the bad guys because we refuse to let them have the tools they need to win and we change the rules if they get close to success. "Let's see you win a fight with both hands tied behind your back. Ha! Try that you moron!"

It is great sport to undermine our leaders but we should realize that there are times when we need to stand together and support our chosen representatives. In times of war weakening our leaders weakens us all.

Recently I have noticed that the fun we have been having at the expense of our leaders has turned more vicious. I think this is a serious problem for our nation. It's like kids roughhousing until someone really gets hurt. Then things either escalate into more anger and hostility or we shake hands apologize and keep playing. I fear things are escalating.

In this context "Divided we fall" is a notion worth contemplating. We have an enemy that has demonstrated the total absence of moral boundaries. They intentionally kill the innocent indiscriminately and with abandon. The threat to our nation is dead serious. Can a nation so bent on seeing our leaders fail ever unite in this struggle against terrorism?

Our enemies love to exploit our differences. We see them ratcheting-up violent attacks in order to divide people at election time. They intend to use the divisions among us to weaken our Commander-in Chief. Then they can stand back and watch as a divided Congress sets the Slinky in motion down the stairs. Terrorists will have a good hearty laugh along with half the country. No political party wins when this happens. We all lose.

I disagree with those who invite defeat to teach America a lesson. I question the wisdom of those who promise impeachment and attempt to legitimize the rights of terrorists who vow to kill us. I am saddened by those who want us to lose because they hate our leaders and want to see them fail. But everyone is entitled to his or her opinion. In America people are free to believe what they want.

And if you believe our enemies are recruiting more martyrs into jihad because we have stood up to them, then just wait until we back down and withdraw. Showing weakness will embolden our terrorist enemies like never before and swell their ranks.

After the attacks on Pearl Harbor it would be inconceivable to hear this kind of rhetoric. Can you imagine anyone saying, "Gee Whiz, by defending ourselves we are just recruiting more Kamikaze pilots to attack us. We're making them angry. We should get out now!"

A majority of people in San Juan County recently cast ballots in a "get out now!" advisory vote. Not me. Running away would betray the wavering hopes of the Iraqi people and shatter the confidence that our allies have in us. Who could ever trust us to honor our commitments again?

It could lead to the rise of a fascist terrorist state in control of enormous oil reserves. It would end any hope of the spread of democracy and stability in the Middle East. It would mean that we have lost confidence in people's ability to choose freedom and liberty over oppression and despair. It would mean that we have lost our will to confront evil in the world. Worst of all it would mean that the sacrifices of our brave volunteer American troops would have been in vain.

Unless I am totally wrong about the threats we face from terrorism, we should stop pushing each other down the stairs and at least agree that defeat is unacceptable. It is not slapstick comedy. It is no joke. Divided we fall. I pray we stand united instead.