The real danger Americans face now, one month after theevent, is a drop in vigilance. We Americans are masters of forgeting and getting on with our lives. But does anyone think that now would be the worse time to put the public guard down.
I was not Alive for WWII or Korea, and I was only one when Vietnam started. So I do not remember how America acted during those years. I may step out on a limb, but I think that these recent acts are fundementally different than those past campaigns. First of all we were invaded on our continental land. Second, there very well may still be terrorists still here, and thirdly we are not fighting a state, we are fighting a few thousand shadows.
Granted this war is televised but I venture to say not as much as the Gulf war. I do remember seeing signs on walls and on semi-trucks saying ‘I/we support our troops in the Gulf’ Those signs were all over. But today I see American Flags EVERY where. The unity is wondrous. I have never seen such unity, its great. Will it last? Will Americans forget or pack it away? Or will we stand vigilant? Why or why not? What could happen if we don’t stand vigilant?
I agree that we cannot let complacency overtake us again, but it will be difficult. Vigilance will serve us where we can anticipate the likelihood of some action against us.
However, the USS Cole incident to some extent, and the WTC & Pentagon to a much greater extent demonstrate the ability of the bad guys to think outside of any of our boxes. We don’t need a leak from a classified Congessional briefing to tell us that further attacks are extremely likely, but nobody can tell us what unexpected form the next one will take.
We will all have to change our mindsets from minding our own business to taking notice of out-of-the-ordinary behavior and activity and reporting it.
Can’t speak for the collective “we.” I don’t see myself letting my guard down. But I’ve always been a slightly inquisitive (hate saying paranoid or suspicious) person. If food or water didn’t seem right, I’d trash it, for example. If a situation didn’t seem right, I’d leave it.
I don’t know if this counts, or it’s just paranoia-but my mother is actually hording bottled water-she claims she’s just picking some up when she gets a chance-just to keep-just in case.
And the really screwy thing-I don’t think she’s being TOO paranoid. I mean, I think it’s unlikely, but hey-if it makes her feel better…still, it’s scary to think that I’m not making fun of her, or telling her she’s nuts.
I must respectfully disagree. The danger we face still comes from madmen who hate us. A drop in vigilance will allow greater opportunity for these madmen to act out their hatred, but it is still the acts of madmen that are the danger.
Your statement, as I interpret it, sets us up to take the blame should another terrorist attack take place. A “blame the victim” approach.
I do not see that as the case. God forbid another attack happen, but it would still be the acts of madmen, not our doing.
True, there is the “fool me once shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me” but if they were not “fooling us” there would be no danger.
There is much fear in your post, Phlosphr. These are flesh and blood people. They can bleed and die just as easy as the rest of us. They are not shadows. They are not superheroes. They are not untouchable. They can be found. They can be stopped. With proper caution (which gets back to your original point) we can increase our chances that future attacks will be stopped. Unfortunately, nothing is 100% certain – but that is life!
Well Bean Counter, I have to say I agree with you 100%. These people are madmen and can be stopped. I do not feel I am taking the ‘blame the victim’ approach, I feel like I am taking the ‘Stay strong America’ approach. These are tough times, and many Americans, especially the younger ones, have never seen this type of hype. And I say ‘Stay Strong America’ be vigilant, we will prevail. Your other point, “…there is much fear in this thread…” Yes, There is some fear, but I fear for the lives that have yet to be lost, not for the madmen winning, I do not beleive that could or would happen…