The First Scars Won't Be The Last

After watching the images of the execution of Nick Berg, Paul Johnson, and seeing the beginning footage of Kim Sun-il, I have scars.

The opening of the wounds for many young Americans came on September 11. Up until that point we had never seen death and destruction up close and so very personal.

I remember watching the Challenger explode on TV; I was only four years old, but it must have impacted me greatly. Supposedly, I was still talking about it the next day to the teacher in pre-school.

With that one exception, I don't remember many horrific images as a child. I don't remember Rwanda nor the 1998 embassy bombings in Africa, and I should, because I was old enough. I do remember watching the night-vision, greenish-black TV screen during Desert Storm as white tracers lit up the sky. It didn't impact me that much, because that was a relatively easy war, if wars can be called such.

I vividly remember seeing the second plane fly into the World Trade Center. My stomach churned as I just witnessed the instant death of hundreds of people. I remember people jumping out of the building. I remember watching the towers fall and thinking of people in crowded stairwells.

That first hour, my heart screamed things my mind did not understand. My friends were asking me, "Who did this, why did they do it, and what's the significance of this date?" I combed over dates in my head looking for an answer, thinking it would be the key to unlocking the perpetrators. Out of all of us, I was the one who was supposed to be so in-tune with world events, politics and history. I knew it was terrorism. But, I could not give those around me a solid answer.

That first hour. Truly the first hour for many of my generation. The first witnessing of utter evil. The first realization of our responsibilities. The first scars.

I still regret that I did not have an answer that first hour. But next time, and there will be a next time on our own soil, I am determined that I will.

*****

Just recently, we are at risk to viewing or at least hearing of three images, that if carried out, will be extremely gruesome in nature. Three turkish hostages beheaded.

Why is Zarqawi using these images and is he successful in doing so?

I'll be answering those questions from the perspective of a college student studying these atrocities with my own analysis and opinion within the next day. Be sure to check back.

Comments

[Peyton Randolph]

Turkey has been a little wobbly on support for our intervention in Iraq. If Zarqawi releases pictures of Turkish citizens being butchered, it will take active, visible leadership from the Turkish government to manage the reaction. Without it, the Islamofascists *will* manage the Turkish population's reaction, and we'll see another Spain effect.

Within days of the 9/11 attacks, I got busy changing my Army status from Inactive Reserve to Texas National Guard. My physical reveiled a flaw that I didn't even know about, which made me "nondeployable." Annoying, but I take great pride in my contractor job at Fort Hood. Although I wear slacks to work, I still bleed green. When I get "attaboy" emails from Marine Corps Sergeant Majors in Baghdad, I feel like I must be making a difference.

Everyone can make a difference in this war, with a little effort and not much imagination. Get educated - you're here, so that's a good start. Write your legislators, especially if you've got local nutcases who are floating ideas to not cooperate with the Patriot Act or to condemn the American actions overseas. (I live in the Austin area, nutcases abound.) Fly the flag, go to the 4th of July parades and picnics. Go to www.uso.org or www.spiritofamerica.net and donate or volunteer. See something stupid at airport security? Get the supervisor, sound off, take the time to bitch about it. Vote. Grassroots is where we will win or lose this war - fight to win.

[john5z]

I have taken to saving these attrocities on a USB thumbdrive. Also added a couple of shots of an Israelli bus blown apart, torture shots from Saddam's Iraq and shots of public hangings from various middle east countries. Then when someone complains about US behavior, I pull out the drive and ask them whether they would like to compare and contrast. No takers yet and no arguments from these wimps afterwards.

[john marzan]

With the help of our Mainstream Media, yes... Zarqaqi can be successful.

Here's an excellent post from The Belmont Club on how the media affects the way the US army's tactics vs. the "insurgents."

[Dottie]

Good advice, Athena. You're a great American. And I surmise that the Turks will stand firm against the terrorists demands. I saw a headline this weekend that implied they refused the terrorists requests.

[Jim]

Good blog. I wafted this way from Powerline.

You sound a little down.

Maybe I'm too much of an optimist, but things are going okay. Not even those fools in the media can obscure that fact. Our country has gone through a good many rough patches and emerged in one piece. It will make it through this one.

We are in the opening years of the struggle to maintain our civilization from barbarians in a war that will continue for many years. America will still be around when it's over.

Jim

[athena]

Thanks for all your comments.

Peyton - You're right, it's very important to do what you can. Even the smallest things can make a large difference.

John5 - Yeah, I'm keeping quite a collection on my computer as well, not necessarily every gruesome event, but I do have quite a morbid collection. I have other things that I save for reference in papers or research I may be involved in at a future date.

John - I love the Belmont Club, I read it quite a bit and I dunno why I never added it to my blogroll. Do you know who runs it? Must be a professor or some sort of professional?

Dottie - Thanks. I agree with you that the Turks will be resolute. At least the government. While the citizens may oppose the war, they're very proud of their "democracy". Not perfect, I'll add, but it's not too bad.

Jim - I'm not down, but I am a realist. There will be more attacks on our soil and attacks on Americans abroad. We'll still come out on top, but we'll finish futher ahead in the race if some Americans would just get a clue and if others step up to the plate.