Ercille I. Christmas

‘Rebooting’ America’s Image
January 13, 2010

President Obama had a vision. He would set out to "reboot” America’s image in the Muslim world, in order to convince the Islamic world that the cowboy era of President Bush was kaput. We, including those who created "man-made disasters,” could all get along. He made speeches seemingly without end about this quest. His interminable stops on what was labeled the "Apology Tour,” reminded me of the story of the Knight on a quest for the Holy Grail. It got to the point where the impression was that he was apologizing for America inhabiting the planet! Still, I was hopeful.

Even the enemies of America began to resent being subjected to the seemingly endless apologetics, except for one group. His bowing down to other heads of state did not go over that well, even to those at the receiving end of the bows. There were quizzical looks and expressions of wry amusement. Ironically, every time a bow was made, and another apology proffered "we the people,” were always receiving the wrong view. We were beginning to develop a national inferiority complex. I continued to hold on to hope.

President Obama tried. I give him a solid A minus for his tenacity in apologizing for the perceived sins of his country of birth. I can really appreciate his point of view that the peoples of all nations should be able to be on a friendly and equal footing. He was greeted with a standing O, when he drew a line in the sand in Cairo with his declaration: "I consider it part of my responsibility as President of the United States to fight against negative stereotypes of Islam wherever they appear.” I have to admit that I was a bit puzzled at the "part of my responsibility,” phrase of that sentence, but still I was right there with him wishing that no race, creed or religion should be stereotyped. Personally, I would have settled for him stating that he would call out anyone who even tried to besmirch his country and all of its citizens.

Ah yes, the one group that did not hear that he would "fight against negative stereotypes of Islam wherever they appear,” was that group made up of murderers politely called Islamist Fascists, prolific contributors to the understandable negativity of human beings being murdered on a regular basis, in the name of the religion of peace. The virulent members of that group apparently heard a conversation that went something like this:

"As president of the United States, I am going to retreat in the face of definitive proof that it is not stereotyping when it comes to Islamic fascists who want to kill my countrymen, evidenced by the blowing up of airplanes, buildings and people. I am steadfastly proceeding with plans to close Gitmo and return those 90 or so Yemenis to Yemen, to do what they do best.”

Aide interjecting: "But, Mr. President, isn’t that the same place where those radical preachers have acolytes willing, ready and effective (well except for underwear bomber boy) to enforce those negative stereotypes you are trying to erase? I am just asking.”

President reiterating: "I said – proceed with the closing of Gitmo.”

Chastened aide: "Yes, Mr. President. Right away, Sir!”

Cut to caves or other dwellings where the "decision makers” who send out the "muscle” to kill and maim, while these decision makers remain safely behind, are chuckling – "What a Dhimmi!”

Even with the bodies still piling up, I was hanging in with the president and his vision of peace on earth and good will to men. Unfortunately, America’s image got rebooted, but I do not think quite in the way the president intended. I like to think that between December 2001 to about December 2008, the image of America was that of a country that would dispatch effective and efficient troops to "discipline” terrorists who try to blow up Americans, on their own soil and on foreign soil. Maybe it was not utopia, but it was at least relatively safe. Less than a year later, the rebooted image is that of a country ripe for the picking, one airline or Military base at a time. A few troops were indeed picked off at a base, on American soil. Does the name Fort Hood ring a bell? I am still ticked off at the political correctness that was in effect prior to, immediately after, and ongoing.

Recently, seven CIA workers were blown to smithereens at a base in Afghanistan. Their killer was yet another bomber who did not get the message about counteracting "negative stereotypes.” He positively resembled the non-stereotypical Islamic Fascist who wants to kill us. As usual he had more names than can efficiently fit in a section of a telephone book. Even with the Fort Hood and subsequent killings, I was still there with Mr. President. I was even hoping for an end to the killing, primarily carried out by members of the Muslim faith, and maybe having a "People Summit,” minus beer or other adult beverages, in deference to religious sensibilities.

Then, I was sent an article, "How Many People Have Been Killed By Islamofascists In The Past Two Months?” The article was from FrontPage Magazine, and it listed terrorist killings and maiming for the last two months of 2009. Out of curiosity I actually counted the list of murdered which totaled 1154. Had underwear bomber boy succeeded in his December 25, 2009 attempt, that number could have been increased by almost 300. The killers cut a swath through barbershops, homes, mini buses, checkpoints, churches, bazaars and other various other places where victims live and congregate. The victims ranged from other Muslims, to Christians and Buddhists, real equal opportunity killings. Numerous children were included in the body counts. I did not have the heart to tally that number of dead.

I was conflicted between the president’s vision and the piles of bodies being accumulated, day after day. Do these murders fall into a "negative stereotype,” or the reality of positive proof of a love of killing by murderous thugs? I searched for answers. I sought clarification, as I desperately wanted to follow the lead of the president, in wanting to be liked. Within days, I received assistance in resolving this conflict between stereotypes and deadly actions. It was now the New Year and the beginning of a new decade. I was hopeful that maybe finally, we could all be friends. I pulled up a story showing that the New Year was ushered in with almost one hundred deaths at a sports stadium in Pakistan, facilitated by a branch of the fraternity of Islamic Fascists. My vacillation vanished.

I turned my attention to the broader concept of nations getting along. Maybe things would be more positive on that front. Under the rebooting strategy, ideally, countries such as Iran were supposed to lie down like lambs and forget about continuing to build nuclear facilities that appear to be suspiciously like facilities for weapons of mass destruction. In reality, the Iranian president is paying as much attention to the US president, and his attempts to buff up the image of America, as he is paying to those in his country, who are trying to get out from under his yoke. The only difference in results, between his demeanor towards the protestors in his country and the US president, is that many of the protestors are being permanently silenced. The parents of Dr. Ramin Pourandarjani have filed a suit to determine his cause of death. He seemingly having died once, but by multiple causes. First, it was claimed that he died from a heart attack. Later that became a suicide. The third version is that he died from an overdose. I am almost certain that the parents will never be able to find out the truth. We residing in the "Big Satan,” are stereotypically safe – for now.

I have had it. We can’t all be friends. As individuals, and also as a nation, we have to learn to distinguish between friends and enemies and structure relationships accordingly. This task brings me no joy. I hate to be the one to break the news to President Obama. He has unraveled his sublime image in the eyes of many Americans and even Many Muslims. He has not done any favors to the image of the US. Human nature being what it is, falling to your knees, bending at the waist and leaving vulnerable parts exposed, are not actions that engender respect, or even likability. Again, there is tangible proof, the bodies being scraped up from buildings and buses, that the ones who really got a reboot, to feel emboldened enough to ramp up their efforts to kill us all, are the terrorists.

The rebooted image that they perceive of America and its leader is that of a wimp in the White House, leading a bunch of potential victims. They do not respect symbolic meetings sitting around campfires, singing "Kumbaya.” The only language they understand is "strength and power,” and the will to act.

My fervent wish is that by our fearless and effective actions, the terrorists who hang out in caves, in plain sight, or in renowned universities, will perceive our president, as a great and fierce warrior. He will carry the proverbial carrot, with the flowery words of friendship, and a huge stick for "negotiations.” A new beginning for me, would be that the curricula in those schools, where terrorists-in-training are taught how to kill, is rebooted with the following lesson.

"You see that country called America. Don’t mess with it. Its president will "whup your butt.” Stop these attempts to blow up their buildings, behead their citizens, including their troops and other protectors. And…stay away from their embassies. You never know what will greet you there if you try to blow them up! The dude is serious!” Or however that translates in the language of terrorism. Bottom line: Don’t even attempt to tread on us!

I see faint signs of progress in wielding the stick of protection of US citizens. I am relieved and pleased that after initially stumbling about with his response, following the Christmas Day attempted bombing, Mr. President finally adopted the President Harry S. Truman, "the buck stops here,” style of governing. He accepted responsibility for the "systemic failure” that almost allowed a different sort of Christmas present to be handed out to close to 300 passengers on NW Flight 253. It is also a welcome sound to hear him resurrect the "T” word as in "terror.” It is great to see that this democratic republic has not changed into an autocracy.

You go, Mr. President! Show those practitioners of "man-made disasters,” AKA terrorism, your "testicular fortitude!” Check with Madame Secretary of State for any necessary instructions for implantation of said "testicular fortitude.” That is her field of expertise. I am just humbly borrowing that expression from her, unworthy though I am to even employ it. Mr. President, I want to see you succeed in protecting the lives of your fellow Americans. For that I would give you a sparking A plus!