Just yesterday I remarked to my husband my fear about seeing Howard Dean elected to office. The terrorist cells that are expected to create acts of violence in many of the urban centers in the eastern United States is what prompted my comment. My husband suggested that those who would choose to hurt innocent people would wait until after the election because they wouldn’t want George W. Bush to have the press focused on him as he leads the world in this great fight. I expressed that it was a frightening time.

If any democrat other than Joe Lieberman was elected to office, I began to imagine that all of President Bush’s inroads in the war on terrorism would be erased in one big swoop! I admit my mind can run away with me but I was thinking that the world that I grew of age in would be nothing more than history and that my children and their children would never know the security and safety and unlimited opportunity of this great country of ours.

I have great frustration with the liberals that walk around deluded in the notion that we can use reason when confronting terrorists; and actually believe that these forces of evil could possibly understand or appreciate our western values and way of life. These School of Dr. Spock graduates would have our country find out the hard way that a firm hand is needed when people like Saddam Hussein or Osama bin Laden are having a tantrum. Every good parent knows that giving into tantrums brings more tantrums. A strong parent knows that in the long run, the best thing to do is remove the child from their audience. Eventually the behavior will stop because the wanted reaction doesn’t occur. The last thing this world needs is for a bleeding heart liberal to explain away that type of behavior because it would teach these egocentric children that their screaming and yelling (through acts of violence) is effective in getting what they want.

It was with tremendous relief (I could actually feel the tension lifting out of my shoulders) that I allowed myself to bask in the joy of Saddam Hussein’s capture. I couldn’t help but smile at the images of the Iraqi people who were literally dancing in the streets at the news. It was like watching the Munchkins in The Wizard of Oz. But as in that movie, I was quickly brought to reality when Bush reminded us in his address to the nation that our fight is not over, that there is danger ahead. I could almost see the writing in the sky when Dorothy saw the bad witch flying around on her broom. Yet I know the end of that story. And with President Bush’s continued presence at the helm, I know that this tale will have a happy ending as well.

So at this great juncture I need to stop everything that I am doing so that I can express my gratitude to President Bush, Tony Blair and the leaders of those I the Coalition, who stand together in their conviction in how to achieve a substantial level of world peace; who will continue to espouse the correct path to travel when dealing with terrorism. I want to thank the soldiers (and families who raised them) that fight our fight, the good fight, against terrorism. Those who defend freedom walk with great honor and garner my utmost respect and adoration. I am ever grateful to those good citizens who realize their responsibility to be well educated in the issues that confront our country; those who voice their opinions with reasonable arguments that open minded people can understand and uphold, those who would not criticize our leaders or country unless constructively and with love in their hearts.

The glass is half full. The worst is over. And no one should tell you otherwise. I feel like Dorothy when she found out that she could go home. And you know, there is no place like home.

Nancy Salvato is a middle school teacher in Illinois and an independent contractor for Prism Educational Consulting. She is the Educational Liaison to IL Sen. Ray Soden and she works with national and local organizations furthering the cause of Civic Education. She is a columnist for American Daily, The Common Voice, GOP-USA, OpinionEditorials and The New Media Journal.us. Her writing has been recognized by the US Secretary of Education. She has been published in The Washington Times, The Washington Dispatch, Iconoclast, Free Republic Network & Townhall.com., as well as other nationally and internationally published media outlets.