The Command Post
Iraq
April 22, 2004
The Price of Wobbliness

In an article about changes for the worse within the American media, Cathy Seipp says:

When did being terrified of everything stop being cause for embarrassment and start being a point of pride?

This could be the opening line of articles ranging from DDT to the war on terror. In my reading of history, Spain was never a country to shrink from a fight, whether it was against Great Britain or the "godless communists". What has changed to make them turn tail and run? America's history, too, is built upon people who took pride in facing and overcoming challenges.

Imagine watching sports under the new model of shrinking away from adversity. "It's third and sixteen, Al. They don't have much of a chance for the first down. And it looks like the coach agrees! The offense is coming off the field and they're setting up to punt." Or, Barry Bonds is in the hole, 0-2. He has a decision to make. Yes! he's walking back to the dugout and will concede the out."

On the upside, I suppose it would make the games quite a bit faster, but you'd lose everything about the competition that is important. The war on terror and the conflict in Iraq are many things, but it's mostly a competition of ideas. If we take our ball and go home, as some would have us do, not only have we lost the ballgame, we've lost the core of everything we're supposed to stand for.

(Cross-posted at Overtaken by Events ) Posted By Matt Drachenberg at April 22, 2004 11:30 AM | TrackBack

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