November 7, 2001

A few words about Nancy and Osama

Nancy Hall, who wrote that long letter in last week's Tribune so critical of our past and present national leadership, has at least one thing in common with me. Neither of us has ever been on any ballot for President. Neither of us has been elected, or even officially turned down, by our fellow Americans. Unlike Presidents Carter, Reagan, The Bushes, or Clinton, neither she nor I have a right to say we've been approved by millions of our fellow citizens. Even Pat Buchanan, a man it's likely she dislikes as much as I do, has received tens of thousands more votes than either of us. Even Gerald Ford in losing received far more votes for President than Nancy or I ever did. That doesn't deter Ms. Hall.

She's sure she knows best how this country should be run now and should have been run in the past. In fact, she appears to think she could run it far better than the professionals who are or were actually in charge, past or present. If we'd followed her wise counsel, perhaps Osama bin Laden wouldn't hate us quite as much, or with such unfortunate results. Nancy is a person of strong opinions. In Pacifica she firmly believes she knows more than do the owners how to manage Eucalyptus trees she doesn't own. Thank goodness I don't own any. If I did, I'd cut'em down quick, before busybodies stopped me.

Perhaps you've asked yourself what would've stopped Osama Bin Laden from pursuing his hobby of terrorism against the U.S., short of a bullet in the head. How could we have persuaded him to like us, or at least to tolerate our different way of life? Was it something we said? Or is it he just doesn't like anyone who doesn't kowtow to him and his belief structure? Terrorism has a major appeal to a rich tightwad who's mad at a lot of people. It's comparatively cheap, and the returns are out of all proportion to the original cost. Bin Laden, though a very rich man, can't outspend even a small government, let alone the U.S.. But he doesn't have to. Those fools he persuaded to steal those planes and kill themselves and all those other people generated a lot of fear, but even more, they've disrupted our production of both wealth and freedom. They've seriously affected our whole economy. Yet in total, it's cost Bin Laden only a few million dollars. His return on investment is phenomenally high.

His entire terrorist network probably cost less than the added security needed by United Airlines alone, yet he's caused, not only huge grief, heartache and anger, but tens of thousands of lost jobs, disrupted travel, distracted government officials from accomplishing their important goals, and sidetracked a nation from its normal patterns of life. Every American's life has been changed. Osama must be delighted.

There are those who prefer to think all this must be our fault, or at least that of our leaders. The victims must somehow be faulted. Surely we or our leaders could have done something different. Perhaps we allowed too many immigrants in. Perhaps if we'd prayed more, or louder, or with more sincerity, or to a different God? Perhaps if we hadn't sinned. If only we'd listened to Jerry Falwell or Pat Robertson. The opportunities for second-guessing are endless. I'm fascinated Nancy Hall hasn't been forced to change one belief or idea she had before. Everything that's happened confirms and reinforces what she's believed all along. Her right-winger neighbor whose beliefs are profoundly different from hers hasn't changed his mind either. Same facts! Totally opposite conclusions drawn! Fascinating.

E mail Paul Azevedo at Paul@thereactor.net. Check his website at http://www.thereactor.net.