PLAIN TALK ON 9-11 DAY, 2006

I am Chairman of the House Special Committee on Military and Veterans’ Affairs, which also encompasses legislative oversight of Alaska’s Homeland Security. I’m also retired from the US Air Force. From those perspectives, I make the following comments on 9-11 Day 2006:

President Roosevelt called December 7th 1941 “A day that will live in infamy.” The sneak attack on Pearl Harbor by the military force of Japan against the military force of the United States killed 2,403 American service members. I’m old enough to remember Pearl Harbor Day. And I’ll remember the day forever.

Like everyone else, I’ll also remember another day of infamy: September 11th, 2001 – “9-11 Day.” I was at home here in Anchorage, awakened by my daughter Robyn’s phone call, whose office building is on Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington DC. My son Bob Jr., was also in downtown Washington DC, assigned to the US State Department. They could see the smoke arising from the Pentagon.

On 9-11, 2973 people died, mostly civilians. This was no sneak attack of military against military. It was the premeditated brutal killing and maiming of civilians. It was an attack against the Judeo-Christian culture of the western civilized world.

I’m amazed by clueless people who would “blame America first” and ask, “Why do they hate us?” The answer is irrelevant. The only point of “understanding the terrorists,” is to learn how we can better protect ourselves from them, and to lessen the threat.

Turning airliners into kamikazes to fly into buildings and murder thousands of innocent Americans is an act of war. Period. End of story. “Wrongdoings,” real or perceived, of the modern American culture, or our sometimes inconsistent foreign policy, is irrelevant.

Unfortunately, the perpetrators of 9-11 weren’t simply a gathering of crackpots. They were advanced troops from the malignant and pathologic world of Muslim fascists who aim to convert or kill. To some degree, this war has been going on for a millennium.

And this is a religious war (there, I said it). Not recognizing the reality of religious war doesn’t make it less so. This isn’t a matter of “religious tolerance.” I am very tolerant of other people’s religions – until they try to kill me, my loved ones, and my fellow Americans. Every government has the inherent right to protect the safety of its own citizens. Remember: our Islamic fascist enemies have sworn to strike again (and I believe them).

Unfortunately, we not only have to fight the terrorists – we must also deal with appeasement politics, short memories, political parties pointing fingers, Pollyanna neo-pacifists, and those who would merrily sing “Kumbiyah” - while the enemy plans and executes the next outrage.

Our president set the standard when he said, “I will not forget this wound to our country or those who inflicted it. I will not yield; I will not rest; I will not relent in waging this struggle for freedom and security for the American people.” Patriotism is not a dirty word. Self-defense is not aggression. Like all wars, victory will belong to the strongest and the most perseverant. Put the accent on perseverance.

Refresh your memory of 9-11 at
http://www.barmitzvahs.org/worldtradecenterphotos/htdocs/photos30.html

WHY GRANDPARENTS’ DAY IS SPECIAL TO ME

Obviously, I’m in favor of both grandparents and grand-parenting. I was raised by my grandparents John and Edna Lynn, and my granddad was raised by his grandparents Jeremiah and Ann Elizabeth Lynn. Both Jeremiah and Ann Elizabeth were born in 1829. Being raised by grandparents raised by grandparents (in addition to my personal accumulation of years) is probably a factor in my long time “older perspective” – read “conservative perspective” – on a number of subjects. And now, I'm also a grandparent many times over – 18 grandkids to be precise and, who knows, could be more!

Today is “National Grandparents Day.” The day of celebration became official in 1978. Grandparents have been special to me all of my life.

A NOTE ON MY WINDSHIELD

Disclosures: My personal vehicle has an official state house license plate. Yes, it is something of an ego trip. Yes, it makes me drive more carefully so I don’t lose votes! And yes, the front license has a frame that states in small sized letters “Choose Life” on top of the frame, and “Children are a Gift from God,” on the bottom.

Today when I returned to my car, I found a note under my windshield wiper, to wit: “I’m pro-choice. I vote. I do not think a ‘state house’ plate should be in a bracket that says ‘Gift from God.’” Not appropriate. N. Wilson”

Well, congratulations – the note scribbler did put a name on the note (even though I haven’t been able to identify the person). I’m also pleased this person is Blessed with enough time to write such notes. Oops! I’m a legislator and wrote “Blessed.” Strike “Blessed with enough time,” and replace with “has enough time.” I mustn’t offend the intolerant.

LABOR DAY 2006

For more than 100 years, Americans have celebrated Labor Day. However, the original significance of honoring American workers and organized labor has tended to morph into a Holiday celebrating the “last fling of summer” – and perhaps, in Alaska, the arrival of mountain top termination dust and, for parents, the beginning of a new school year. Everybody loves a Holiday, especially a three day Holiday weekend! (But remember, the "real" Labor Day is September 1st)

But lest we forget, the Holiday does celebrate American “labor.” In fact, Labor Day salutes the contributions workers have made to the power and prosperity of America (and that means all of us). To keep things in balance, perhaps we should also have a “Business Day,” because business prosperity is likewise essential for America’s well being.

Politically (and, as a politician, that’s what I have to deal with), I can tell you that too often legislative debate involving labor and management issues devolves into a “we-versus-them” power struggle of “you’re either with us, or against us.” Not so.

As an unproductive result, legislators are too often labeled as “pro-labor” or “pro-business,” as if labor could thrive without business, or business without labor. Personally, I’m “pro-issue.” Who sponsors legislation is irrelevant. As a representative, I attempt to look only to what I perceive to be the merits or demerits of a particular bill, and nothing more.

Neither labor nor business has a monopoly on goodness and virtue. The quality (and success) of a business is rooted in the quality of life of employees. Success in business equals profit; success in labor means appropriate wages, benefits, and working conditions. It’s nothing less than a symbiotic relationship. The goals of labor and management must harmonize, or both will fail.

Workers have only skill and labor with which to bargain. Business has only a place for skill and labor to be employed, managed in a manner that makes a profit that enables both labor and management to pay the bills, both at home and for the business. It’s a tough but essential balancing act. Compromise is required, or everybody loses.

Two quotes come to mind, “If there is no struggle, there is no progress.” (Frederick Douglass, human rights activist). “We must indeed all hang together, or, most assuredly, we shall all hang separately” (Benjamin Franklin, print shop owner and businessman).

Happy Labor Day!