"I Will Not Apologize for being an American"

Pervez Musharraf - A man of the hour

By: Mary Mostert, Analyst, Banner of Liberty (www.bannerofliberty.com)

November 5, 2001

I've been involved in, and/or writing about, political issues for more than 50 years and I am seeing a movement among the general public since September 11 that I've never seem before. Without organization, without media backing and without political direction from party leaders, Americans in the middle of the political spectrum seem to be spontaneously speaking out.

On top of that, a concern that I have had for some time about my grandchildren's generation, I am beginning to discover, is largely unfounded. It appeared to me, that my grandchildren's generation was growing up on with so much make-believe in their lives, from TV, videos and movies, that they would have real difficulty understanding the difference between what is real, and what is make believe as they matured.

Since 9-11 I have begun to notice the young people seem to have a very mature response to the realities involved in a war on terrorism. In fact, they may have a better understanding than many of their parents. Jennifer, one of my granddaughters I discussed the issue with sai: "We have no problem understanding that what we see on TV is make-believe. Of course, the kids under six may have, but we know what's real and what's not real!"

In fact, in discussing these issues with a number of young people, the problem may be the opposite of what I thought it would be. Almost without exception, for example, they seem to believe that news shows are part of the make-believe world. For example, they seem to realize almost instinctively that anthrax, which has caused 4 deaths so far, does not qualify as an epidemic threat to them.

On the other hand many of them DO consider political correctness a threat to them. And, they are not buying the notion that somehow the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon are somehow their fault. In general, they seem to think that political correctness is a nutty notion.

This is encouraging. Generally it is the people on the ends of the political spectrum, the extreme right and the extreme left, who control the dialogue in politics and social issues in America. Both ends usually want to control the middle, who, they often believe, are just not very smart. At least, not as smart as THEY are. The media, generally, only believe that what the extremes are saying is news and the backbone of the nation, the people in the middle, are not newsworthy.

Reaction to two analyses I've written in the past week seem to be illustrating the point. The analyses, one on the John Pilger's claim in the London Mirror that Bush's War on Terrorism is a fraud and the other on the courageous stand against the pro-terrorist religious extremists by Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf generated a lot of response that was surprising. Neither of these articles would have been widely read before 9-11. Frankly, the American people were just not interested in issues outside America before the World Trade Center was destroyed by terrorists.

A reader, Bob Cload, (Bcload2@cs.com), speaking of the Pilger article wrote:

"It's unbelievable how some people will continually blame the U.S. for the acts of terrorists. I just visited Mike Reagan's website and saw your piece regarding the moron in Britain and would like to say you hit just about every possible point I would voice so I won't bother repeating what you said. I will add, however, that removing the blame from the terrorists is like saying an individual who shoots someone in the back of the head at an ATM machine because he's "underprivileged" and blaming the rest of society.

"America is far from perfect and our foreign policy needs to be updated on a regular basis just because the world is constantly changing. However, suggesting that we had this coming and that this is really all our fault really angers me. Idiots like Bin Laden and Saddam Hussein, who each have more money than I'll certainly ever see, have it within their power to drastically improve their followers lives. Some blame us for the crumbling of the Soviet Union and their economy instead of on the failure of communism where the blame should be placed. Again, we're blamed for simply having the right idea of how a country should be run. I simply will NOT apologize for being a citizen of this amazing country.

"I will not apologize for being American!!!!!"

Another letter that surprised me came from a retired Special Agent, for US Army Counterintelligence who wrote, about the Pervez Musharraf article:

Mam,

In regards to your analysis of Pervez Musharraf I am in full agreement and pleased to have read such an insightful article. I spent several years in Army Intelligence and rarely did I meet those who could have made the points you did in your analysis. Thank you for your efforts and keep up the good work.

The first letter rejects, out of hand, the notion that has been pushed in America for the last 40-50 years that crime is caused by poverty. Crime is not caused by poverty. It is more accurate to say poverty is caused by crime. No nation that exerts most of its energy fighting is going to prosper in the 21st century. No foreign aid created America's wealth. Hard work, and unity created it.

The second letter is sobering. What I know about Pervez Musharraf and the problems he faces comes largely from research, much of it easily available on the Internet. I have read, or listened to, through my computer, Musharraf's speeches that give his reasons for casting his lot with the West. I have read, on their website, the speeches of radical Muslim clerics who are leading the effort to bring down the Musharraf government.

Sadly, the U.S. media is doing little to inform the American people about Musharraf.

Musharraf wants the Pakistani people to be able to have accurate information and learn to govern themselves. The radical Muslim clerics, fearing they are losing control, want the people to listen to them and do as they tell them to do.

The people must have the courage to follow a courageous leader like Musharraf. Americans must have the courage to follow a courageous leader like George W. Bush. Those who favor the terrorists are going to use the media and the internet and terrorism, if needed, to bring them down. The terrorists have huge sums of money to work with, since most of them are also involved in the $600 billion a year worldwide drug trade.

The war on terrorism is not going to be won in a few weeks of bombing that provide exciting pictures to a voracious media. This is a battle for survival. And, it seems to me, that the majority of the people are recognizing that. Musharraf, in a recent poll, showed an incredible, for Pakistan, 78% support. The support in the polls for George W. Bush is 88-90%.

What we need now is for the people, those quiet people who just cope with what the extremes do, to speak up. Write the president. And, Write your members of Congress. Let them know what you think. It really does make a difference.

To comment: mmostert@bannerofliberty.com

Other Contacts:
The President: President George W. Bush - president@whitehouse.gov
The Vice President:Vice-President Dick Cheney- vice.president@whitehouse.gov
Contact Members of Congress:Your Senators and Representatives: http://www.bannerofliberty.com/PLobby/ContactCongress.html
Contact Your Governor and State Assembly Members:Your State representatives: Governor, members of State Assembly and Senate: http://www.bannerofliberty.com/Candidates/statepolitics.html

To Read mentioned Articles:
- John Pilger defense of terrorists - http://www.bannerofliberty.com/OS10-01MQC/10-30-2001.1.html
- Pervez Musharraf of Pakistan, a Courageous Man we Need to Help - http://www.bannerofliberty.com/OS11-01MQC/11-2-2001.1.html