Terror and our Way of Life
This is an excerpt from the Baltimore Sun, as seen on
Commondreams.org, written by Leonard Pitts, Jr.:
We are often told that terrorists threaten our "way of life." We hear this so often that it's jolting to realize it's not true.
Oh, they threaten our lives, certainly. Your life, mine. But our "way" of life? No.
Granted, that's a broad and vaguely defined term - but still, no. Whether you take it to mean things frivolous (baseball, MTV, fireworks on the Fourth) or things fundamental (freedom of speech, equality under the law, the native idealism of our national character), there is no way suicide bombers and fanatics with box cutters can destroy our way of life.
Unless we let them. Unless we, in fear, knuckle down and destroy it ourselves.
This, I think, was the line drawn by four GOP senators and the former secretary of state. A line that says, finally, beyond all politics and partisanship and manipulation and fear: enough.
I don't mean to minimize the threat terrorist fanatics pose to your life and mine. But vital as it is that our lives be protected, there are things that matter more. Meaning the essential character of our nation.
Experts say torture is an unreliable tool for interrogation; it often produces false confessions. But even if that were not the case, even if we had to choose between saving Americans and preserving America, it should be an easy call.
Kill me before you kill my country.
Leonard Pitts Jr. is a columnist for The Miami Herald. His column appears Sundays in The Sun.
