Some years ago, during one of Secretary Tom Ridge's conveniently timed heightened security alerts, I was approached by a reporter in Madison Square Park in New York City. He asked me if I was worried about another terrorist attack. I told him no, I expect one.
I'm under no delusions. I was here (NYC) in '93 when they attacked the World Trade Center, and I was here on September (NOT 9) 11th, and I'll most likely be here if they strike again. Am I going to be afraid? He'll, no! Terrorists attack. It's what they do. It's in their job description. My dog chews shoes. It's what she does.
The definition of terrorism is the use of terror to achieve a political end. If I change what I do because I'm afraid, then they win! I would gladly trade my life for the 2800 we lost if it also meant repeal of the Patriot Act and domestic spying.
More non-fear below the cheese doodle.
I had lunch with my mom a couple of weeks ago. I told her that I did not think ISIS or ISIL was a threat. Anybody that wants to attack us already knows where we are. She mentioned that some Americans are going over to Iraq to train with them. Really? What are they going to learn that they can't Google?
Sean Connery made a film about Sir Gawayne and the Green Knight. He gave Gawayne 1 year to live before he would return to take his life. Sir Gawayne asked if there was anything he could do during that time to avoid dying. The Green Knight's response, " Only fools and priests go through life with thoughts of death."
Doonesbury devoted a whole series of comic strips to the ridiculous notion that if we left Iraq, the terrorists would follow us home, by having a terrorist follow a soldier home. What? They can't access kayak in the Middle East? Are you afraid when the "Haunted Mansion" ride in Disney World tells you that a ghost will follow you home? Do you even believe it?
At some point, a terrorist will succeed in killing Americans again. No terrorist will ever succeed in scaring me. I get ticked off that they wand me at Citifield! I flew down to Mexico a couple of years ago. I had to take my shoes off at JFK. Not so much on the flight back. Then again, that flight was probably filled with Ebola-infected cantaloupe-calved drug mule jihadis.