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Just My Opinion
Kathleen Jones
Back in early September, I began planning this issue of The Journal. Two heads of state, U.S. President George W. Bush and Mexican President Vincente Fox, had just visited Toledo. That was big news! Regardless of our political persuasion, most of us were pretty impressed and proud to have our city host this visit of international proportions. I had a whole theme planned around their visit -- what it meant to Toledo, how the politics and policies of these two men have impacted working families in the United States and Mexico, and so forth. Then came September 11th, and in the span of a few minutes our country, and our world, were irrevocably changed. It wasn’t "politics as usual" anymore. In my "other life" -- the one that exists outside of my job at Ameritech -- I am an avid amateur historian, and during the days immediately following the terrorist attacks, I looked back at our country’s history to try to put the current situation into some kind of perspective. I would like to share some of my thoughts with you. On April 12, 1861, Secessionist forces fired on Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor, South Carolina, ushering in four long years of bloody civil war. Upon learning of the attack, Republicans and Democrats in the North, who had been bickering and fighting amongst themselves, set aside their differences to work towards a common goal -- the preservation of the Union. On December 7, 1941 -- "a day that will live in infamy" -- the American military base at Pearl Harbor was attacked by forces of the Japanese Empire. Once again, Americans, regardless of their political party, united against a common foe. World War II was a long and difficult struggle, a fight not only against Japan, but Nazi Germany as well. In the end, however, our country prevailed. On September 11, 2001, we came face to face with our own "day of infamy." Confronted with this new crisis, Republicans and Democrats across the country have once again set aside their differences, and are working together in the new war against terrorism. And when this crisis has passed, or at least subsided, it would be nice to see this kind of bipartisan partnership continue, working towards improving life in these United States. It would be great to see our elected representatives remain united, creating legislation beneficial to America’s working families. Issues dealing with Social Security, prescription drug costs, free trade agreements, job safety and workers’ rights have understandably taken a back seat to current world affairs. But we must not allow the present crisis to be exploited and used as an excuse by special interest groups to push through legislation that would, in the end, prove harmful to workers’ rights, and our rights and freedoms as Americans. A great man once said, "They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." I believe that our country is stronger than any terrorist organization. I believe we, as a people, are being tested. How we respond to this test will determine how we, our children, and our children’s children, will live as Americans. Will we give up our rights and freedoms, won over many generations and at so precious a price, for a temporary safety now? Or will we respond strong, united, and determined to bring our foes to justice without relinquishing those very rights and freedoms upon which our country was founded? These are the decisions we all now face. I am confident that we, as a people, will make the right choice. And by the way, the man who spoke so eloquently about liberty and safety is none other than Benjamin Franklin.
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