Leadership can’t ignore the threats

By Roger Steele (Contact) | Alex City Outlook

Published Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Hope and fear.

I was reminded of these two emotions this week after watching news coverage of the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall and the Fort Hood massacre.

I have fond memories of the wall coming down in 1989. At the time, I was living in what was then West Germany. I distinctly remember the hope and encouragement everyone felt as we contemplated the end of the Cold War. Maybe, just maybe, peace on earth really could be achieved.

Unfortunately, our hopes of a new era grounded in goodwill were dashed on Sept. 11, 2001. In the blink of an eye, our world was transformed into a new age of terrorism and fear. The prospect of a nuclear holocaust, which had dramatically subsided after the collapse of the Soviet Union, suddenly seemed real again.

I was reminded of these uncomfortable feelings this week as I watched coverage of the Fort Hood massacre. As news of the tragedy unfolded, our leaders in Washington seemed hesitant in declaring the shooting an act of terror. It appeared as if most wanted this act to be the result of a deranged mind that had suddenly snapped.

It now seems clear, however, the shooter was motivated by radical Islamic ideology. Sadly, the age of terror has not ended. The threat remains and it is very real.

The news of this week offers a lesson to all of us, including our political leaders in Washington. It’s true our nation can be the driving force for great change in the world. We can solve huge domestic and international problems. The fall of the Berlin Wall proved that seemingly insurmountable issues can be resolved for the better.

But, in the rush to solve difficult problems like health care and climate change, it seems our leaders are forgetting or even ignoring the very real dangers that still exist in the world. It’s naïve to think a change in American leadership and diplomatic emphasis will somehow magically erase the hatred Islamic terrorists have for Americans.

Yes, there is reason for hope. However, the shooting at Fort Hood shows there is still reason for fear. I hope our leaders see this tragedy for what it is and respond accordingly.

Believe me; no one will care about rising health insurance rates or climate change if there is another major terrorist attack on our soil.

Let’s hope Washington politicians understand this truth. Our lives, and their political future, may depend on it someday.

Roger Steele is general manager and advertising director of The Outlook. His column appears each Thursday.

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