An Open Letter to Terrorists

“An Open Letter To Terrorists

Well, you hit the World Trade Center, but you missed America. You hit the Pentagon, but you missed America. You used helpless American bodies, to take out other American bodies, but like a poor marksman, you STILL missed America.

Why? Because of something you guys will never understand. America isn't about a building or two, not about financial centers, not about military centers, America isn't about a place, America isn't even about a bunch of bodies. America is about an IDEA. An idea, that you can go someplace where you can earn as much as you can figure out how to, live for the most part, like you envisioned living, and pursue happiness. (No guarantees that you'll reach it, but you can
sure try!)

Go ahead and whine your terrorist whine, and chant your terrorist litany: "If you can not see my point, then feel my pain." This concept is alien to Americans. We live in a country where we don't have to see your point. But you're free to have one. We don't have to listen to your speech. But you're free to say one. Don't know where you got the strange idea that everyone has to agree with you. We don't agree with each other in this country, almost as a matter of pride. We're a collection of guys that don't agree, called States. We united our individual states to protect ourselves from tyranny in the world. Another idea, we made up on the spot. You CAN make it up as you go, when it's your country. If you're free enough.

Yeah, we're fat, sloppy, easy-going goofs most of the time. That's an unfortunate image to project to the world, but it comes from feeling free and easy about the world you live in. It's unfortunate too, because people start to forget that when you attack Americans, they tend to fight like a cornered badger. The first we knew of the War of 1812 was when England burned Washington D.C. to the ground. Didn't turn out like England thought it was going to, and it's not going to turn out like you think, either. Sorry, but you're not the first bully on our shores, just the most recent.

No Marquis of Queensbury rules for Americans, either. We were the FIRST and so far, the only country in the world to use nuclear weapons in anger. Horrific idea, nowadays? News for you bucko, it was back then too, but we used it anyway. Only had two of them in the whole world and we used them both. Grandpa Jones worked on the Manhattan Project. Told me once, that right up until they threw the switch, the physicists were still arguing over whether the Uranium alone would fission, or whether it would start a fission chain reaction that would eat everything. But they threw the switch anyway, because we had a War to win. Does this tell you something about American Resolve?

So who just declared War on us? It would be nice to point to some real estate, like the good old days. Unfortunately, we're probably at war with random camps, in far-flung places - who think they're safe. Just like the Barbary Pirates did, if I recall correctly. Better start sleeping with one eye open.

There's a spirit that tends to take over people who come to this country, looking for opportunity, looking for liberty, and looking for freedom. Even if they misuse it. The Marielistas that Castro emptied out of his prisons were overjoyed to find out how much freedom there was. First thing they did when they hit our shores, was run out and buy guns. The ones that didn't end up dead, ended up in prisons. It was a big pain in the ass then (especially in south Florida), but you're only the newest pain in the ass, not the first.

You guys seem to be incapable of understanding that we don't live in America, America lives in US! American Spirit is what it's called. And killing a few thousand of us, or a few million of us, won't change it. Most of the time, it's a pretty happy-go-lucky kind of Spirit. Until we're crossed in a cowardly manner, then it becomes an entirely different kind of Spirit.

Wait until you see what we do with that Spirit, this time.

Sleep tight, if you can. We're coming.”

“"America is about an IDEA" - Hobbit

IDEA = $$$$$$$$$

IMHO, the terrorists hit us good.”

“Please make a note, the offical list has changed. The list now reads, death, taxes and Hobbit's patriatism.

8)”

“null”

“Hobbit:

Well said, in my opinion. My favorite line: "You guys seem to be incapable of understanding that we don't live in America, America lives in US!"

Spook: No one cares what your "HO" is. What "us" are you talking about anyway? The terrorist attack on the WTC was against hard-working Americans, a group to which YOU most certainly don't belong.”

“Wrong bucko, the WTC attack was against imperialism and foreign policy. Think how much damage has been done to US prestige. Financial loses will be staggering...they know exactly how to hurt the US...in the pocketbook. That's the problem with arrogant jackasses like you, Hobbit. You don't give a damn about other's opinions you don't like. It's arrogant, illogical, unrepentant people like you that make up the USA, and you reap what you sow. Just wait until those freedom fighters start hijacking yellow school buses full of children and crashing them into speeding trains, or something worse. Terror has no limits. If you want to fight a war against terrorists, just remember...all is fair in war.”

“most of what you say I find repulsive Spock, but that last sentence I agree with.

Are you American, or do you just work here? Some of your comments seem to remove yourself from our problems. Although I'm sure I have not read ALL your posts, you seem to want to take the "serves you right" and the "I told you so" attitude.”

“Spock has found the ultimate button to push. He's gonna ride this one out for all it's worth. 8)”

“Born in WI, raised in MT and SD, now living in Seattle...except for the past 2 weeks traveling in South Korea. Maybe the distance gives me a little more perspective on this thing, or maybe my disgust with a degenerate US government. If US foreign policy were more intelligent, maybe I could be more mad at the terrorists than the US Gov't. BTW, in South Korea people are bewildered at why the USA does not respect Arabs. And I'm equally perplexed at why there is not more anger directed at the US gov't for not protecting its citizens. This was not a surprise attack for pete's sake.”

“Let me rephrase that. It was an attack which should not have been a surprise.”

“Fortunately spook is among a small minority of unpatriotic cowardly individuals who will probably high-tail it for Canada the minute a skirmish breaks out. If he was representative of the majority, I would be very afraid. It saddens me to hear his retoric, but I realize that not everyone will agree with me. Arrogant jackass? That's a little harsh for someone who doesn't know me.”

“Somehow, I'm not surprised that Spock lives in Seattle, although, I would have guessed Berkeley.

I do feel a bit sympathy (albeit very miniscule) for Spock. Imagine having your mind commandeered at a young age by some left wing, homosexual, college professor who instilled in you the notion that America and everything that it stands for is bad. Can't you just imagine the loathing and self-hatred that Spock must feel? On one hand, Spock speaks out against this country and her people, while at the same time Spock laps from the trough of America's prosperity. The hypocrisy of such a life as Spock's; hating his country yet not having big enough balls to renounce his citizenship and leave. The sad thing is that this type of individual usually finds employment in teaching or civil service, because they feel the overwhelming need to pass on their self-deprecating message.

Notice how Spock says "Just wait until those freedom fighters start hijacking yellow school buses full of children and crashing them into speeding trains??".

Freedom Fighters? You mean terrorists don't you Spock? I just bet you would love for that to happen wouldn't you? Why, it would it a blow to "American Imperialism" to kill children wouldn't it.

Spock speaks of "American Imperialism". He should ask his South Korean friends where they would be today if "American Imperialism" had not intervened in 1951 to drive back the "liberating" forces of North Korea and China.”

“When I was a graduate student back in the mid 80s, I worked along side many South Koreans. As a group, they were the most pro-American foreign nationals in the school. Many were openly expressive of their thanks for the support the US had given South Korea over the years.

I think every one of them had served in the South Korean Army, and I know that a few were still active-duty military officers, sent here by their country to get a technical education. The South Koreans that -I- knew, at least, understood what it was like to be always expecting an attack from within by enemy agents. I doubt that any of those former students with which I worked expect the American people to be angry with -our- government over this cowardly attack. Rather, I suspect they're amazed at the restraint that our nation has shown to date. If it comes to a World War (I expect it will, unfortunately), I believe we will be able to count on full support from South Korea.”

“Wriong again, Forrest and BaSO4. The South Koreans I've been speaking with are asking me why America was not prepared in spite of warnings that this was coming. They also wonder why America does not respect Arabs.

"Imagine having your mind commandeered at a young age by some left wing, homosexual, college professor who instilled in you the notion that America and everything that it stands for is bad. Can't you just imagine the loathing and self-hatred that Spock must feel? On one hand, Spock speaks out against this country and her people, while at the same time Spock laps from the trough of America's prosperity. The hypocrisy of such a life as Spock's; hating his country yet not having big enough balls to renounce his citizenship and leave. The sad thing is that this type of individual usually finds employment in teaching or civil service, because they feel the overwhelming need to pass on their self-deprecating message."

Try instead that my mind was commandeered at a young age not by a college professor, but rather by the US military. Imagine that instead of having the freedom to think, you are FORCED to think one beligerant way...to kill, to die for your country in spite of its misguided ways. If you want to blame me for my ways, it was your government that made me this way. Remember Timothy McVeigh...was his mind influenced by some left wing professor, or by some stupid Army sargent? Berkley pacifists don't spread war, the US does. No, I didn't find employment teaching, I found employment in helping people get away from life's stress and go backpacking or climbing. I may have even helped some TTers find and buy the right tent or pack.

Any more profoundly stupid misimpressions you have about me?”

“Or should we say "An Open Wallet For Terrorists"? Take a minute and read this really interesting article from Business Week that questions our methods.”

“We are in the U.S., not Korea. Who cares what the Koreans think, certainly not me. It was a sneak attack, how could anyone know what was going to happen.
We are the U.S. and so are you. Yes, we will all reap what we sow including you Spock, so get on the team. If the U.S. spreads war, then so do you. Go enlist in the military and do the right thing- defend our borders, our nation, our way of life.”

“Too old to re-enlist. Nor would I defend our nation and way of life as it currently is...it's corrupted. Nor would I defend arrogant a$$holes such as tahoe who don't care what other people's of the world community think. Maybe the rest of the world shouldn't give a damn about tahoe and his USA and let you fight his own fruitless war without giving consideration to why the USA is a target for terrorsists. What are you doing, tahoe, to defend your country besides sitting behind a keyboard and spitting out worthless rhetoric?”

“I think this is foolish!”

“Mr.Spock...your point of view is one of the many reasons why this country is seems so deplorable to you (imho). If everyone had yer "I don't give a damn...but I'll bitch bitch bitch all I want attitude, this country will just get worse wrt yer gripes. But that's cool huh?...'cause then you'll have more to bitch about!”

“I am in the Guard and prior to that was in the Army. My unit is at Alert 1. I seriously doubt that we will go anywhere, but I am ready.
Furthermore I have and will again fight for this country. It is not a perfect country by any means, but after having been around the world and seeing how other governments operate, I will take this one over any other.
We have many freedoms, and pay less taxes than any place I've been to yet. Come on Spock get with the program, you must like it here in the U.S. We should support our country and try to fix the problems it has. Don't set on the sidelines and not get involved. Do something, the personal rewards are really great.”

“Kudos to you tahoe. I appreciate all that you and your active brothers do to keep this country safe.”

“"We should support our country and try to fix the problems it has." -tahoe

Try to fix the problems it has? TRY? TRY? Why hasn't it already been fixed? I'll tell you why...the system is corrupt and can't be fixed by the common man with the current means available. The founding fathers would surely be disgusted if they saw what is going on today.”

“Let's try Spock's system of government.

Guffahhhh”

“`spock...Any more profoundly stupid misimpressions you have about me?

No, but I do have a couple of suggestions for you...Why don't you pack your sh!t and move to south korea? And just for fun...why don't we pull all the US Military out of korea...What would your friends have to say then?...oh wait, dead people don't say much do they?”

“Anyone else see the video of the terrorist scumbags going to see Allah?

Day-um!”

“http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/01/09/terrorism.mail.reut/index.html

pun intended”

“I have to give you full credit for the great pun. Ya can't front on dat.”