Room for a View > Editorial
The False Promise of Security
By Lorna Tychostup


Photo by Lorna Tychostup

There is no debate-beginning with the fact that Columbus "discovered" America, to our latest forays into the patriotically driven defense of our country-that certain American versions of history can be translated into blatant violations of international law and the killing of innocent civilians.
In America's latest sortie, the "War On Terror," we heard a war cry go up along with support for a man who claimed the throne of America in an election fraught with abuses of power and criminal activity rooted in familial and petroleum slick connections. These abuses were so blatant they were dismissed by the majority of Americans. My co-editor tells me this is called "The Big Lie." Lies so abhorrent, so large, they are thought to be impossible to be consciously carried out and thereby dismissed.

The sealing of the deal came as a worldwide audience watched two towers attacked on morning TV. In less than 24 hours, this man saw his polled ratings go from 50 percent to almost 95 percent, with Americans approving of his actions. Actions which included incoherent mumblings broadcast on TV and radio in those first few days following the attacks, and a missing-in-action approach to running our government as Air Force One took off and landed in undisclosed locations. This was done-we were asked to swallow-for our protection.

Somewhere in between all of this the flags went up and an extreme deaf, dumb, and blinding form of patriotism consumed the country. Those not participating in this seemingly mandated patriotic fervor were questioned, accused of being anti-American, and many silenced themselves due to legitimate fears of reprisal.

Dan Rather recently admitted his personal guilt at self-censorship since 9/11. "It is an obscene comparison...but you know there was a time in South Africa that people would put flaming tires around people's necks if they dissented," said Mr. Rather. "And in some ways the fear is that you will be necklaced here, you will have a flaming tire of lack of patriotism put around your neck. I worry that patriotism run amok will trample the very values that the country seeks to defend."

For those of us not caught within the intoxicating effervescence of false securities, it felt as if the rest of our fellow citizenry had lost their minds-to deceptive and ultimately impossible to deliver on promises of safety. From what? Homebrewed evil doers? Phantoms of provocative fear? The latest in a long string of concocted Cold War bad guys? A war on terror which only produces and instills more terror in the hearts and minds of Americans? But wait, it's not just an American problem anymore.

This one-sidedly defined version of "terror" is being spread worldwide, giving those in power who would choose to, an opportunity to spoon-feed narrow, fear-driven agendas down their populace's waiting throats. And I ask you, my fellow Americans, would you prefer the continuation of this lulling fairy tale-that the War on Terror will keep you and your loved ones immune from the violent consequences of damaging economic and foreign policies? Do you prefer this sweet-dream bedtime story enough to lay down your head and offer up your rational thinking in exchange for a few illusory moments of peace? Or would you prefer to know the truth? To risk being woken up to the simple facts of economic realities and the abuses that go along with creating a fantasy where "all is well within my world" while folks in every country across the globe, including our own, go to bed hungry-or worse-every night?

Your CD collection will not bring you world peace. Nor will your SUV, your Starbucks coffee, your Ninetendo, your McDonald's double cheeseburger or your sedatives of TV, alcohol, sex and other opiates.
As FDR said in his inaugural speech on March 4, 1933, when a differently defined enemy had been detected in our homeland:
"This is preeminently the time to speak the truth, the whole truth, frankly and boldly. Nor need we shrink from honestly facing conditions in our country today. This great Nation will endure as it has endured, will revive and will prosper. So, first of all, let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself-nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance. In every dark hour of our national life a leadership of frankness and vigor has met with that understanding and support of the people themselves which is essential to victory. I am convinced that you will again give that support to leadership in these critical days."

Yes, hope abounds as the cream rises to the surface along with the crap. We can now see with full clarity those elected representatives of ours who will say and do anything-regardless if they truly believe in what they are saying or will admit in the privacy of their homes that they have doubts about the war path being taken-in order to line their pockets with inebriated dalliances with money, power, control. We can see the true intention of these followers who would sell the safety of their constituents and the protective agents given to all Americans by our Constitution and Bill of Rights-in order to be re-elected. Lost is truth. Lost is the selfless leadership and honesty we all deserve.

Or do you deserve honesty and selfless leadership, my fellow Americans? Did you rise above your fears and question the very authority that stands at the helm of our government? Our constitution is not one forged out of a nursery rhyme book or collection of sweet-dream bedtime stories. It is one fought and died for by those who came before us. By those who dared to question the rulers of the land and instead offered up their own lives-their blood-for a freedom not seen in the world before. People of every nation flock to this, our America, because of promises of due justice, protection of basic rights, and a government that represents the wishes of we, the people. Not a government of those who would rule the roost based on personal business affiliations and economic appetites. Not leaders who would feed numbing, immobilizing tales of terrorists behind every tree, and endless war against endless enemies in endless territories. Tales of imminent clandestine horror so immense, we are apt to be found, frozen in fear, willing to give up anything in exchange for some nostalgic promise of security.