Really! Really? Really.

According to my late Father, “You, swear like a drunk French whore who didn’t get paid.” All these years later this is still a funny line.  Although he was not happy with all my word choices, still I love to swear.  I think a good well-placed expletive can be poetry.  There is a sense of amusement and delight when one of those dainty dandies are sprinkled amongst the approved vocabulary of the day.   It brings a depth of feeling and colour like no other words can. 

What Constitutes An American?

 With the proper amount of alcohol I will discuss politic, and if I do say so “Brilliantly”.  With the talk of terrorism it reminds me of a story. Years ago, O.K. decades, when I was traveling across Europe I remember being pulled off of a train in Hamburg, Germany and everyone asked to wait on the Bahnsteig.  It was early April, it was chilly - cold, it was about 10:00/22:00 pm and I was tired, slaphappy.  

 Soldiers checked every passport and ticket.  Then came back, did it again, did it again and did it again.  After what seemed like a long time I noticed after every passport check the other passengers were moving farther away.  I didn’t think anything of it at the time.  I was just a happy student traveler and possibly alcohol played a part in this happiness.  I attempted to start conversations in German, English through in a little Greek no takers.  Then I understood the gravity of the situation there were reports of possible terrorists on that train.  

 Of course I tried to make humour of the situation and asked if the terrorist listed that as their occupation on their passport.  To which no one found amusing and only cemented the indelible image of the Ugly American in their hearts and minds.  

 After what seemed like a long time the soldiers came back and announced everything was fine. Terrorists were found.  The threat was gone.  The soldiers then proceeded to talk to me.  Which I thought was going to be a lecture about how rude, naïve and stupid I was. But they informed me that there were three terrorists, two men and one woman from the IRA.  The woman was a young slender white Irish, with long wavy reddish brown hair and green eyes, traveling as a student.  I woke up; the reality was sobering it was surreal.  I saw the look in their faces terrorism/threats was their reality.  And it became mine.    

 Decades later we are faced with this reality from a different player, but still very real.  Yesterday, I read Harold Ickes May 18, 1941 speech What Is An American?  It is as thoughtful today as it was then; actually it brought back this memory.

 The paragraph that hit home for me is: “What constitutes an American? Not color nor race nor religion. Not the pedigree of his family nor the place of his birth. Not the coincidence of his citizenship. Not his social status nor his bank account. Not his trade nor his profession. An American is one who loves justice and believes in the dignity of man. An American is one who will fight for his freedom and that of his neighbor. An American is one who will sacrifice property, ease and security in order that he and his children may retain the rights of free men. An American is one in whose heart is engraved the immortal second sentence of the Declaration of Independence.”  (Incase you are a little rusty, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.)  Here is the link if you want to read the entire speech,  http://www.historyplace.com/speeches/ickes.htm

 Terrorists will find a way in if there is one.  I’m not saying be naive or gullible be prudent.   But we are America!  We have the best Military, the best Intelligence and the Best Integrity. We are an Ideal not an idea.  We are the beacon that the world looks to - don’t disappoint them.  Pull up your big boy/girl panties, yes I am talking to the Republican Party because I can, I am a member. Yes, nefarious persons will try to use the refuges as a subterfuge, but we are bigger, better and badder then anything they have.  No matter how scared you are, about the potential terrorist, it is nothing to how frightened the Syrian refuges are.  

Collectively, as a nation, we mourn today.  It doesn’t matter why the attack took place what matters and what needs to be addressed is the hurt and grief of the survivors.  This is a day we remember all the lives lost in the 9/11 attacks but it also reminds us of our personal losses as well.  It will be a sad day and for many at times a sense of empty hopelessness.