Wow.  The Path To 9/11 has certainly created an interesting political tempest.

I have heard, and read a lot about the upcoming miniseries.  Sources include: the Michael Medved show, Michelle Malkin's blog, the Hugh Hewitt show and blog, and various newspaper articles which I will try to find and link.  I am not sure how to do the trackback links at this time, but when I figure it out, I will modify the above to link to specific blog entries.

When I first heard about the series, it seemed like a pretty straightforward account of history based on the 9/11 Commission report.  Then I heard that a scene had been dramatized (Sandy Berger hanging up after pulling the plug on a bin Laden grab).  My first thought was: So what?  Further contemplation changed my mind to believe that it was unnecessary.

Then came the politics:  The left started going nuts, claiming that the show is a hit job on the Democrats.  The show blamed 9/11 on President Clinton's Administration, etc. Numerous blogs started calling ABC a propaganda tool of President Bush's Administration and the Republicans.

From what I have heard, the show does not exonerate President Bush, or any of his Administration.  It simply points out that there were many Intelligence and Political failures in the years leading up to 9/11 and that it can't be blamed on any one group of people in America.  I have not yet seen the show, and it looks like I will not see the original release, but I will watch what ABC does show and decide then whether my impressions and assumptions are correct.  I do hope that they do not totally whitewash what happened in any Administration prior to the Act.  The only blame that can truly be assigned for 9/11/2001 falls on Osama bin Laden and al-Qaeda.

Now for the First Amendment mentioned in the title of this post.

I have a question for people with any political view:
1) Which is a bigger threat to our First Amendment rights:
   a)  The President approving wire taps on International calls involving known, or suspected terrorists.  Or
   b)  A group of Senators threatening ABC if they show a miniseries that dramatizes the events leading to one of the worst terrorist attacks on American? 

I know which answer I choose.

I have stated many times that I am proud to be an American.  I believe it is the greatest country in the world today.  I live with freedoms that people in other countries can only dream about.  I will selfishly protect those freedoms with whatever means I have available.

On September 11, 2001, we were attacked by an organization that would arbitrarily kill thousands simply because they happen to live and work in my country.  Because of what happened on that day, the United States was changed.  I was changed.

I will still stubbornly protect my freedoms granted to me by the founding documents on which our Republic was founded.  However, I am willing to allow some encroachment on those freedoms by the government if it means that terrorists, thugs and other animals are prevented from perpetrating another calamity.  I am not stupid enough to think that there will never be another terrorist act on U.S. soil.  Nevertheless, I am willing to believe that some acts have, and will, be prevented by actions taken by the government, military, Intelligence and Law Enforcement agencies

If I have to arrive at an airport an extra few minutes to get through a security screening, I am willing to do so.  The efficacy of the screening procedures is irrelevant to this rant.  If I fit the profile of someone the authorities believe might be dangerous, I have no problem with them pulling me out of a line and questioning me.

Which brings me to another hot button: Profiling.  The government has become too politically correct.  Looking back on the acts of terrorism in the last 10 years, there is a general profile that can be derived about the people who have performed these acts.  Young male muslims, mostly of middle eastern descent.  I really don't want to single out a specific group, but the fact remains that this group has been involved in a vast majority of the incidents. 

It may be inconvenient, but if you are a young middle eastern male, you can expect some attention.  If tomorrow, a group of 40-something white males start performing acts of terrorism, you can bet that I will gladly accept special attention and screening.  In addition, you will find me out on the streets, loudly and publicly, denouncing the organization that perpetrated the horrors. 

Which brings me to another point: If you are a Muslim and don't want to be lumped in with the Islamofascists who want to rain death and destruction on others, speak up.  When the next act of terrorism occurs, I want to hear you decry the act.  There have been a few news stories about Islamic groups denouncing some of the terrorist acts in the last few years, but generally, there is a deafening silence.  If you have spoken up in the past, I salute you.  If you don't believe that Islamic teachings give you the right to kill others because they don't believe as you do, then I have no quarrel with you.

But I digress.

Now back to the purpose mentioned in the title.  I am willing to allow the government to intrude on my freedoms if they have a reason and they can show just cause.  It is a tradeoff.  I will accept some inconvenience if it means that acts of terror are prevented.  They have access to information that I do not have and I am willing to let them make a judgement call on my behalf.

I woke up this morning and turned on the news.  Fox & Friends had a report about a couple of men being refused entry to the United States because they are on the Terrorism Watch List.  So, I started doing some research and looking around the 'net for more information.  I did find one article in the San Francisco Chronicle.

According to the article:
Muhammad Ismail, a 45-year-old naturalized citizen born in Pakistan, and his 18-year-old son, Jaber Ismail, who was born in the United States, have not been charged with a crime. However, they are the uncle and cousin of Hamid Hayat, a 23-year-old Lodi cherry packer who was convicted in April of supporting terrorists by attending a Pakistani training camp.

In seems that Hamid claimed that the 18 year old, Jaber Ismail, went to at least one terrorist camp while studying the Koran.

They now have an ACLU lawyer, Julia Harumi Mass, representing them.

My thoughts:  Almost all of the terrorism acts in the last 10 years have been perpetrated but young muslim men.  If you are a young muslim, and you spend 4 years in a foreign country, you better have a good story when you try to get back in to the United States. 

According to the article:
The Ismails had been in Pakistan partly so Jaber could study the Quran, Mass said. She said that neither he nor his father had anything to do with terrorism.

A simple question: How does Mass know that they have nothing to do with terrorism?  I will assume it is because they said so.  Unanswerable question: if we went back in time and asked the terrorists who flew the airplanes in to the World Trade Center buildings, the Pentagon, and a field on the way to a site in Washington DC, probably the White House, if they were terrorists, would they have said yes?  I am going to go out on a limb and guess they would have said no.

If the Ismails can satisfy the FBI and other authorities, I have no problem with them returning to the United States.  If the Ismails did attend a terrorist training camp, I would rather they never be allowed near the United States.

I am not the most eloquent, or literate person, but I hope this conveys my true feelings:

To everyone who is, or ever was a member of the US military I say THANK YOU!!!

I have freedom, in the greatest country in the world, because of you.  Whether you were drafted, or you volunteered, you have served and protected this country.  I will never get a chance to meet most of you, but that does not mean that I don't think of you, and thank God for you and pray for your safety and wellbeing.

While I am safely at home, or behind a computer at work or at the park playing volleyball, or at the dinner table with family and friends, I know that you are putting, or have put, your lives on the line for me and my country.

Regardless of whether people think you should have been in the theater, or not, whether you wanted to be there, or not, whether the politicians let you do your thing, or not, one thing remains, you were there and you deserve our respect and our thanks.

I can walk down the street and feel secure in the knowledge that you are out there, fighting for my right to do what I do, and more importantly, fighting for the rights of about 300 million people.  I can't speak for any of the others, but I can speak for myself:

Regardless of what war you fought in, regardless of whether you were ever in a fire fight, you have my sincerest gratitude.  Thank You!!!

Hi.

I thought I would give you a short glimpse in to who I am, so you know where I am coming from when I post.  Since there really isn't a "general" topic available, this gets put here.

I am a proud American.  Not German-American, not African-American, not Mexican-American, not English-American.  American.

I was born in America.  My parents were born in America.  You would probably have to go back 7 generations to find an ancestor that wasn't born in America.

I grew up in a wonderful family, with a Mother and a Father.  Oh, yeah, and 2 brothers.  I can't say that we have always been the closest family, but I love them all very much. 

As I grew up, we went to Church every Sunday.  I don't go nearly as often now, but I still believe in God and Jesus Christ, his Son.

Looking back on my life, I can say that I have been very lucky.  I grew up in a free country.  I have a wonderful family.  I have been blessed by God with some meager intellect and physical ability.  Some things I have to work very hard for, and other things have fallen in to my lap.

What do I believe in?

I believe in God.
I believe He gave us His Son, Jesus Christ.
I believe in life.
I believe that America is what we make it.
I believe that we all have the chance to make of ourselves what we want.
I believe that if I drank, I would have a beer.
I believe that government should be limited.
I believe there are good people, and I believe there are evil people.
I believe that sometimes there is black and white, and no grey.
I believe in the death penalty.  Some people, by their acts, deserve to die.
I believe in the right to free speech.
I believe that you have the right to whatever opinion you might have. 
I believe that I have the right to ignore whatever opinion you might have, and you can ignore mine.

What don't I believe in?

I don't believe that the government should take care of my retirement.
I don't believe in political correctness.  Say what you mean and mean what you say.

What would I change in my life:

Looking back at my life, I can honestly say that everything that has happened has made me what I am.  Do I regret some of the things I have done? Yes.  If I could change one thing about my past, it would be to join the military.  I came of age shortly after the Vietnam War, so there was no need to join.  Now I am too old, and my body probably wouldn't last through boot camp.

Now you know a little about me.

What do I expect from this blog?

I expect to be able to post my opinions. 
I welcome constructive feedback and open debate.
I will not accept personal insults, and I will avoid the same.
I will not accept vulgar language.  I have, and occasionally do, use expletives, but I think they are a crutch.  They don't add anything to a civilized discussion.
I don't really expect anyone to read my rants, but welcome anybody who does.

Thanks for listening!

Update: Forgot to add my favorite organizations (which I will continue to add to as my memory seeps through the morning fog):
The Patriot Guard Riders: http://www.patriotguard.org

roger