Terrorism is constantly in the news and so I am often reminded of the events of 9/11.
Since we had a home on St. Lucia and frequent business in the Caribbean I often boarded a plane to go down. I was due to fly out on Air Jamaica on the morning of the 12th. of September. With all planes grounded I obviously was not going anywhere. But I started calling and finally found that Air Jamaica had one plane left in the U.S. and it happened to be at the Baltimore airport. I rebooked for the first flight that would go out on Thursday.
Was I nervous? Of course, not. I knew I was more likely to be killed by a donkey in Ireland than another terrorist attack. It was annoying to wait interminably while grim customs officials scrutinized this motley crew of travelers who were mostly Jamaicans going home.
In Montego Bay in Jamaica I learned that we would be overnighting because planes were just not where they needed to be. I wasn't surprised. Air Jamaica efficiently sent us off to the modest all inclusive they use and I went to the bar for a drink.
I was immediately spotted as an American and found I could not finish even a third of a drink before it was immediately filled again. A stiff drink at that. I finally had to leave the bar because they were being so solicitous.
At dinner I thought my waiter was going to break down. "America is like our mother," he cried.
And so it went for some time. The world was horrified at the magnitude of the crimes. The good will remaining from our efforts in World War II was enhanced by the sympathy the attacks generated.
And then along came the Bush administration. With frequent visits overseas we were able to see the effects among the world community. The arrogance and the misdeeds of our incompetent, petty and myopic government steadily eroded our standing in the world until today the world is terrfied at what we might do next to further distort and disturb the world order. The administration continues to rattle sabers at Iran even in the face of an overextended military and steadily eroding support at home. What is their plan? In the face of our military situation do they plan to send Bush's cronies into Iran swinging their golf clubs to beat the Iranians into submission?
We had so many wonderful adventures in the Caribbean. Watching the reputation of the United States forced into decline was not one of them.
What we hear from our friends overseas is that the world is looking for our end game in Iraq. The Bush administration bungled the whole thing and we as a nation are paying the price. Since we can't just walk away from our huge mistake, we would have to sit down in open and honest dialogue with the leaders of the world community and especially all people in the region to admit our mistake. eat some crow and to seek support for a commonly acceptable solution. But arrogant people would never do that. So, we wait out the rest of Bush's term and hope for better and wiser leadership in a new day.
In the meantime I think I'm going to pretty much stay home. It is safe to say that our government is hated although the world still seems to like Americans as people. But, for me, it is too painful to see what our country has become in the eyes of the world.
Since we had a home on St. Lucia and frequent business in the Caribbean I often boarded a plane to go down. I was due to fly out on Air Jamaica on the morning of the 12th. of September. With all planes grounded I obviously was not going anywhere. But I started calling and finally found that Air Jamaica had one plane left in the U.S. and it happened to be at the Baltimore airport. I rebooked for the first flight that would go out on Thursday.
Was I nervous? Of course, not. I knew I was more likely to be killed by a donkey in Ireland than another terrorist attack. It was annoying to wait interminably while grim customs officials scrutinized this motley crew of travelers who were mostly Jamaicans going home.
In Montego Bay in Jamaica I learned that we would be overnighting because planes were just not where they needed to be. I wasn't surprised. Air Jamaica efficiently sent us off to the modest all inclusive they use and I went to the bar for a drink.
I was immediately spotted as an American and found I could not finish even a third of a drink before it was immediately filled again. A stiff drink at that. I finally had to leave the bar because they were being so solicitous.
At dinner I thought my waiter was going to break down. "America is like our mother," he cried.
And so it went for some time. The world was horrified at the magnitude of the crimes. The good will remaining from our efforts in World War II was enhanced by the sympathy the attacks generated.
And then along came the Bush administration. With frequent visits overseas we were able to see the effects among the world community. The arrogance and the misdeeds of our incompetent, petty and myopic government steadily eroded our standing in the world until today the world is terrfied at what we might do next to further distort and disturb the world order. The administration continues to rattle sabers at Iran even in the face of an overextended military and steadily eroding support at home. What is their plan? In the face of our military situation do they plan to send Bush's cronies into Iran swinging their golf clubs to beat the Iranians into submission?
We had so many wonderful adventures in the Caribbean. Watching the reputation of the United States forced into decline was not one of them.
What we hear from our friends overseas is that the world is looking for our end game in Iraq. The Bush administration bungled the whole thing and we as a nation are paying the price. Since we can't just walk away from our huge mistake, we would have to sit down in open and honest dialogue with the leaders of the world community and especially all people in the region to admit our mistake. eat some crow and to seek support for a commonly acceptable solution. But arrogant people would never do that. So, we wait out the rest of Bush's term and hope for better and wiser leadership in a new day.
In the meantime I think I'm going to pretty much stay home. It is safe to say that our government is hated although the world still seems to like Americans as people. But, for me, it is too painful to see what our country has become in the eyes of the world.
posted by Roger | 7:29 AM
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