America is the solution, not the problem...

About two weeks ago, the UK news website "The Observer" posted an article which centered around a handful of people who lost family members in the World Trade Center assault.

The article began with a quote from 87-year-old Reuben Schafer, whose grandson Gregory Rodriguez was killed on 11 September. He was attending a "peace rally" in NY and read a letter from Gregory's parents, Phyllis and Orlando Rodriguez, to President Bush.

"Your response to the attack does not make us feel better about our son's death... It makes us feel our government is using our son's memory as justification to cause suffering for other sons and parents in other lands.'

Needless to say, I feel quite differently than this family.

And yet, because they are directly affected by the opening round in the war (unlike most of the hand-wringers and moral cowards) I will neither judge nor mock them. I will pray for them in their pain.

They are, however, as even they admit, in a distinct minority. Most Americans rightly understand the gravity of the situation and the fight for survival we are currently engaged in.

If it was my daughter who was killed in the attacks, I assure you, you would need buckets to carry the blood I would want to spill.

This reaction is of course fairly common, predictable, and admittedly, baser and instinctual in its nature. I mention it, therefore, to underscore the fact that since my family is not among the dead (yet) my opinions on this war stem from a logical evaluation of the situation and proceed from one premise - that of an American. An American who knows what that word and its legacy truly mean. An American who will not tolerate the death of my family or any American at the hands of animals because of the impotent naiveté or outright moral cowardice of others.

The main issue I take with "The Observer" piece was the attempt to undermine resolve and influence opinion by raising that ever-present mainstay of the weak, hypocritical, or obtuse - anti-Americanism.

Couched in words like "isolationism" "unilateralist", and "nationalism", the focus of the article was an attempt to shift the reader's perspective to America's supposed problems and guilt.

I categorically reject all aspects of this argument. The basis for this entire position is one that proceeds from the assumption that America, and what we represent, is the problem with the world.

On the contrary, America is the solution…

America is the greatest hope and salvation (certainly past, present, and hopefully future) of the world. It's an interesting fact that while uncounted masses have died escaping the REST of the world to get here, not one single person has ever died in a boat fleeing America.

And why is that I wonder?

I'll tell you why - It is because most of the world is cold, dark, and oppressive, and the overwhelming majority of those sections of the world that are bright and warm owe that fact almost exclusively to this nation. These are the facts, and contributing factors or isolated examples to the contrary do not change the reality that this nation has helped elevate the standard of living for the whole world.

And I speak not only of economic standards. Our constitution and system of republican government is the model that all people seeking freedom in their own lands have attempted to emulate.

I have no tolerance for self-loathers - especially those of the "American" strain. Again, Mr. Schafer and others like him are entitled to their opinion. He does not want America fighting in his grandson's name.

Fair enough.

For my part, they can fight in the name of the living - in my daughter's name if they want to.

My wife and I would be very proud to claim that honor...