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© St. Petersburg Times, published September 21, 2001
Maybe I've read too many Tom Clancy novels, but it seems to me that one of the aims of terrorism is to disrupt a nation in every way possible: its morale, its solidarity, its economy -- and to instill fear in all of us. The response so far to the first two goals has been just the opposite of what "they" wanted. We have come together in prayer, in resolve and in giving assistance and encouragement to those who have suffered such tragic loss, and to those who are doing the physical work of recovery.
There is another front for those who want to bring down this country, and that is our economy. It seems to me we can all have a significant part in not letting this happen. We are a capitalistic economy, and the consumer is what drives it. Sometimes that's good and sometimes it is not, but we have all benefited from what capitalism provides -- good jobs, (some) money in the bank, good schools and freedom to use that money as we see fit.
I challenge you to do something to support that economy -- today, this week, soon.
Look at the companies that will suffer the most from this tragedy -- the airlines, the financial/insurance industry, the airports -- and figure out some way that you can give them some support to keep this economy on the move. The government can't do it all, but we can. How about doing this:
Buy an airline ticket this week for some distant date in the future, preferably American, United or Continental. Even if you never use the ticket, you will have made a significant contribution.
Buy some stock. Maybe you can only afford a share or two, but a boost to the stock market now will result in big profits -- maybe not in your pocketbook, but in a demonstration of faith in this society.
Buy something made in the United States -- a savings bond, some tires, a phone, some clothes, anything. But be a good capitalistic consumer!
Americans have always contributed to worthy causes. The economy is one cause we can all do something about. If it does go down, we will all suffer. So put some of that hard-earned cash into action. Consider it a non-tax-deductible contribution.
It seems to me that we should all "talk this up." Wouldn't it be fun to see the headlines "Airlines have unexpected surge in ticket sales" or "'Stock market goes up 500 points" or "'Consumer confidence returns," and know you had something to do with it!
What a message that would send to the terrorists. They will have failed on every front.
America, God shed his grace on thee.
-- H.J. Aruffo, St. Petersburg
Land of the free? Yes. Home of the brave? Let's see. We are afraid to fly, more than 100,000 people are being laid off, the stock market is falling, we're looking at our friends and neighbors as enemies and seeing oil companies raising prices in fear.
Come on people, let's be the home of the brave. Don't let these people destroy our way of life and economy. Let's rebuild New York, Washington and our country. I spent one-third of my life in the Navy and four years in Vietnam. I have seen our country return from internal strife.
Surely we can recover from this. But we have to continue with our way of life and not be afraid.
-- R.C. Beynon, Largo
Ask people to fly. Go to New York City and spend money. I am. The people there need it. If everyone has that patriotic spirit we are hearing about, if we are as brave as we are asking our soldiers to be, we can certainly take the small risk of flying -- still less than driving a car -- to save our airlines, our economy, our city of liberty to show our resolve to win this war.
Don't show our enemies that when it gets tough or we get no results that we will give up. All we have to do is visit exciting places and spend money! This is an action duty call for those calling on soldiers to risk their lives at far worse odds.
-- Jimmy Walter, Tampa
I am scheduled to fly this Saturday. It is a pleasure trip to visit my sister in Vermont. We have been planning this special "girls' weekend" since June, when we both decided to run a half marathon in the Adirondack region of New York.
My flight takes me through JKF in New York, with a change of planes before heading to Burlington. Right now I am going -- but my emotions are mixed. Should I be taking what will be a "fun" trip when we just sent our aircraft carriers to sea? Should I leave my family here in Florida? What if something happens and I am stuck in Vermont and cannot get home via a plane?
What if? What if? What if the worst? Prior to last week, I was not concerned about flying. I believe it is the safest way to travel. The odds of getting in a car accident on the Courtney Campbell Parkway headed to or from work are much higher than an airline disaster. But does this hold true this weekend, or in our future?
As I sit in the waiting area Saturday, ready to board, I am sure I will be "profiling" my fellow passengers. But will there be many to profile at 6 a.m., when people are leery of flying?
One of the wonderful things about being an American is our freedom to "move about the country," as one airline ad states. I do not want to give up this freedom. To me, that means being isolated from family and friends. For me, nothing could be worse than not being able to see my parents, grandparents, sister, brother, nieces and nephew. Maybe my real fear is looking out the window while circling for a landing and seeing the reality of Sept. 11 -- and knowing there are so many other people wishing they could be with their loved ones again.
-- Lisa Kothe, Clearwater
Deregulation, privatization, out-sourcing, contracting out, etc. They are all the same, an attempt by business to have their cake and eat it, too. On Sept. 11, we saw the results of deregulation and privatization in the most dramatic and horrendous way.
I am disgusted by the thought of my tax dollars continuing to flow to private companies whose obvious overriding interest is to make money for stockholders and upper management. The greedy airline executives and stockholders are asking for a federal bailout and we are about to reward them for years of security neglect and the willingness to sacrifice human beings for the sake of profit.
For years, there have been complaints to Congress regarding the ease of getting through security personnel at the airports. The government, caving into special interests, has been reluctant to impose regulations that would protect our citizens.
Look what has happened as a result of this chaos and the failure of the private sector to protect our citizens. Government employees, such as firefighters and city and county police officers are rescuing us and providing order. Federal marshals will be on the planes and U.S. soldiers are protecting our citizens at baseball games.
Let's go all the way with this. Let's bail out the airlines by federalizing the airlines and, on a limited basis, privatize only those airlines that can provide the safety and service at a level we must, as Americans, demand from so vital an industry.
-- Peggy Goodale, Largo
Re: Keeping airlines aloft, Sept. 19.
Excellent editorial! I would add one thought. You said, "Taxpayers should not be asked to rescue the airlines from financial problems of their own making."
Neither should we be asked to provide funds to support continuation of the top airline executives' million-dollar-plus salaries/compensation packages!
-- M. Inge Johnstone, Ozona
As a keenly interested observer of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, I've read many articles, including letters to your paper, by people who excoriate Israel for using "excessive force," even "brutality" in retaliation against Palestinian terrorist attacks that have now become commonplace, even routine. Our own government, an ally of Israel, has repeatedly urged Israel to "show restraint."
Always, when terrorists have slaughtered a bus load of children, or people at a shopping center, a disco or public square, I have asked myself, "What would be our reaction if this horrific event had happened in the United States? Why does the word 'restraint' have a hollow ring to victims of terrorism?"
Now we know the answers to these questions: U.S. retaliation will be merciless, as it should be. Civilization in a nuclear world cannot survive escalating acts of insane hate, cannot permit a descent to the law of the jungle. Now we know that a single, despicable act of terrorism anywhere threatens free people everywhere. Now, perhaps, our mighty nation will strike a telling blow for the very survival of civilization.
-- Joseph H. Francis, St. Petersburg
Re: Library rule bars wearing patriotic stickers, Sept. 19.
I could not believe what I was reading. Library employees at Florida Gulf Coast University in Fort Myers are not allowed to wear stickers proclaiming they are proud to be an American because it might offend a foreign student? And the provost calls this a judgment call?
Just what country do they live in and where do they get their funding? If any of those foreign students are offended by our pride in our nation, let them go home.
There is something seriously wrong with someone who would cater to a few foreigners who might be offended at the expense of Americans who need to express their grief and unity at this time in our history. When we are guests in another country, we are expected to be considerate of the needs, beliefs and customs of that country. The same is expected of them when they are in our country. I am not suggesting that we should ever be offensive in any way to guests in our country, but for library director Cathy Hoeth to dare to suggest that a sticker proclaiming pride in America could ever be offensive on our own soil is something I find repugnant.
-- Robin Wood, Spring Hill
Re: Library rule bars wearing patriotic stickers.
I assume the 200 foreign students at Florida Gulf Coast University at Fort Myers are living and studying there voluntarily. Why then would library director Cathy Hoeth think they would be offended if her staff wore "I'm proud to be an American" stickers?
Our Constitution is much more than offended if the staff is not allowed to wear these stickers.
-- Sue Myers, Spring Hill
In the Sept. 19 Times is a story about the Taliban warning Afghans to prepare for a jihad. Yet we also read about how President Bush "steps back from the word 'crusade' " for fear of offending Muslims. A Fort Myers librarian forbids her staff from wearing "I'm proud to be an American" stickers for fear of offending foreign students.
Offensive? I find the murder of more than 5,000 people before the eyes of the world offensive.
-- Jim Patterson, Largo
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