Thanks to all who have expressed their condolences on this forum.
Like most Americans, I have no personal connection to yesterday's
atrocity, but have been deeply affected by it.
I put my flag out today, and encourage other citizens of this
country to do likewise.
Jim Elwell
P.S. Below are some of my scattered thoughts on this event.
Probably not much others haven't already said or thought, but I
feel better just putting them in writing.
(1) I hope (and believe) that most people the world over know
that this is a tragic and evil thing, and hope that the
perpetrators be found and destroyed (that is the only "justice"
possible, as far as I am concerned).
(2) America happened to be the target, but I suspect most people
know at some level that it could have happened just as easily in
France, Britain, Moscow, Malaysia, etc. Yes, perhaps airport
security could have been tighter in Boston, but rational people
know that when you have hundreds of planes, thousands of
employees and tens of thousands of passengers in one facility in
a day, it cannot be made 100% secure.
(3) Call me an "ugly American," but there is no doubt in my mind
that this country will pull together, rebuild New York, and
continue to prosper as a nation. If the perpetrators thought they
could do more than make a political statement with this
horrendous act, they are going to be sorely disappointed.
(4) The Palestinians are celebrating. Do they not realize that we
now understand Israel and it's pre-emptive strikes so much
better? Do they think they will gain sympathy in America by
cheering over this?
(5) I live 3500 km from New York, and blood banks here have told
us not to even call for a week, they are so booked up with
donors. We may be a poorly-stirred melting pot, but when crisis
hits, we all know we are in the same pot.
(6) I do fear that this will be taken as an excuse by some to
further impinge on personal liberty in the USA. I hope not, but
will be surprised if it does not happen. Some of the more radical
of libertarian writers have already posted essays to this effect.
