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07/03/2004: "Fireworks"

The Third of July is important in Chicago; traditionally, Chicago holds their fireworks tonight, while the suburbs hold their celebrations on the Fourth.

I just had a thought that we are getting to be a bit complacent about terrorism. Would something awful happen tonight, the terrorists would celebrate. And they like to postpone their attacks until after we let our guard down.

Perhaps the biggest problem with playing politics in the war on terror is that it is to the short term political advantage of some to promote the idea that all is well; to promote the perhaps unsafe idea that it is ok to let our guard down. I deeply hope that my concerns are unwarranted. I am sure that many people are working quietly to protect us.

Nevertheless, this is also a good time to remember the words of Thomas Jefferson, that "Eternal vigilance is the price of freedom." Terrorists took control of four planes on 9/11/2001, only three hit their targets. It is the actions of common people, not government gunmen, that defeated the fourth terrorist effort. We do not know if another attack is imminent or what form it might take. We do want to apply the best combination of efforts, public and private, to stop any such attack. To do so, we would need to not be complacent. Further, we want terrorists to think that we are not complacent, that we have not let our guard down. This would make the terrorists feel less confident in their ability to succeed in whatever diabolical plans they may have and thus not attempt to carry them out.

Somehow, this bit of paranoia strikes me as appropriate for this holiday.