Solidarity?
Let us recall that small disagreement between Lair Simon and Val Prieto about this sentence: “Today, we are all Spanish.”
In 9/11 the world (or at least most of it) stood beside us and identified with us. They showed us solidarity and identified with our plight. In 3/11 I did the same, alongside countless other people. Today, I think that Lair is right.
I am no Spaniard. There is no doubt that my sympathy has been replaced with pity which remains extended, and following the tragedy of their surrender in the face of terrorism even more so. However, I have no business identifying with a people who have allowed terrorism to decide their fate for them. For me to do so means that I accept the possibility that a major terrorist attack on American soil would decide the November elections.
I suppose it works both ways. As blunt and as horrific as it may be for me to lay this out I think I need to do so. Should a terrorist attack “work,” it would either seal Bush’s presidency as our nation furthers its resolve to fight the evil, or win it for John Kerry, the appeasement candidate. Nothing, and I mean nothing, would please me more than to see Bush get re-elected for a second term. However, those should not be the circumstances under which he will gain victory. Once is enough — too much — for us as a nation to know what is good for us, and that appeasement is not an option for these animals.
I am no Spaniard. Nor are we all. Crass as it may sound — considering how I am kicking a nation when it’s down — we’re better and stronger than the Spanish. We have to be.
5 Comments
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1
You and Lair may very well have been right when in that context. However, I still felt for the Spanish after the massacre. Still do. Hundreds killed and thousands injured, to me, is on a human level not a political one. Now, that the Spaniards have turned tail and now cower is disgusting. There are quite a few Spaniards who oppose the removal of troops from Iraq, but the truth of the matter is that the lefist of Spain used these bombings as a slingshot into power. And that, to me, is vile.
Comment by Val — Mar 15, 2004 @ 4:44 pm
2
It is only in the context of their surrender that I have withdrawn any feelings of solidarity with the Spanish. What I feel for the victims of the massacre remains. Sympathy for the victims and pity for their survivors.
Comment by OF Jay — Mar 15, 2004 @ 4:48 pm
3
[...] nd here. Blogs for Bush weighs in too. So does Kathy and One Fine Jay doesn’t forget either. War on Terror | so says mog @ 16:53:36 | Comments » The [...]
Pingback by Mind of Mog » Appeasement Surrender Kerry — Mar 15, 2004 @ 6:55 pm
4
I agree – although I certainly feel sympathy for the devastation this terrorist action caused, I cannot agree with the response to it. When faced with someone who will deliberately kill without regard to non-combatant status, your only reasonable action is to dig in and armor up. Have we learnt nothing from the actions of Neville Chamberlain and his ilk?
Comment by Linda — Mar 16, 2004 @ 10:56 am
5
I agree with Linda. Turning your back on something that can destroy you is against nature.
Comment by Val — Mar 17, 2004 @ 9:01 pm