Lots of things, but right now on my mind is the so-called war on terror. I've listened to all the candidates and none of them are saying what I want to hear. This is what I want to hear.
There is no war on terror. There never was a war on terror.
There is no terror, for we refuse to be terrorized. I'm sick of listening to people tell us how the most important thing is to make Americans safe.
No it isn't. To say this is to undermine the most fundamental core of our nation. The most important thing for Americans is freedom. It was the founding principle of our nation, the ideal that has guided all our best work.
I propose we restore the freedoms that have recently been undermined by the current administration. These freedoms are worth the risk of an attack. If they aren't worth the risk of a few hundred--or even a few thousand--deaths, then what do we say to those who have laid down their lives for such freedoms in past generations? Are we such cowards, that we would throw away such prizes merely because we were frightened?
I choose not to believe America is a nation of cowards. Those who attack us count heavily on us being cowards, being afraid to make serious sacrifices. They are banking that we are willing only to send our soldiers out to risk death, but that we ourselves are not willing to risk even discomfort. If they are right then we are already lost.
Once our freedoms are restored, once we have proudly and fiercely proclaimed our commitment to justice, liberty, and the brotherhood of peoples, then we can go forward. Not without trepidation, for our enemies have sworn to hurt us.
Fine. Take your best shot. We won't even pretend we are not afraid, for we have seen the horrors you are willing to inflict.
But we are not cowed. We will not be swayed. We will not yield a single inch. And we will continue to hunt you, and you will be destroyed. For, the plain fact is, we are much bigger than you. There are always more decent people in the world than wicked people. Bullies can always win temporary victories, mainly because decent folk have better things to do than to deal with your type. But that doesn't mean we'll give you free rein and it doesn't mean you can go on bullying forever.
Finally, I issue a call to the people of other nations: it's time for you to put a stop to this. America cannot, for the people doing this are not Americans. They are your own people, and they get away with this because you approve of what they do. It's time to stop this.
I do not believe your protestations of innocence, your assertions that these are mad dogs perverting your principles. If that's the case, then rat them out. Turn them in. You know who they are--you're the ones protecting them, praising them, tolerating them. From the first day of my presidency we will begin cutting support to your nation until you start giving them up. Give us bank accounts, addresses, cell phones, rumors, all of it.
Until I see that, I can only assume that you are in sympathy with those who would harm us. Well, no more of that.
In return, I recall our troops. I recall also our planes and ships, including the ones you're using. You get not another fighter, no electronic surveillance. If you are going to protect these people, you aren't going to use our equipment or our money to do it. We will be generous to those who help in this; those who do not will be cut out of the community of nations.
So, that's it. There are no terrorists if we are not terrorized. There are only criminals, who need to be caught and punished. Meanwhile, we will go about our business as we have always done. We will not let criminals steal our freedom. And we will mobilize the world to flush out these criminals, and we will stop invading countries in the deluded belief that this solves crime.
One more item. I acknowledge that the invasion of Iraq was illegal, unjustified, and tragic. We will take one-third of the money that we have budgeted to spend in Iraq next year and put it in a reparations fund. We will begin sending money to Iraq with the stipulation that it can be used only for rebuilding and none for arms. If we see the money is being stolen or used to help in civil war, we will cut off funding. But if Iraqis are willing, then we are willing to own up to the damage we have done and will try to provide what restitution money can provide.
There you have it. That's what I want to hear from a presidential candidate. It's not likely I'm going to hear this, though. I don't think we're a nation of cowards, but I do think we have managed to paint ourselves into a corner in which there is no avenue for showing courage.
Some days, it's hard to keep smilin'.
