[at-l] Return to Normalcy

[hikester@mindspring.com (Lynn Setzer)]

***NOT ABOUT HIKING****

I would like to share with an experience for the lessons it contains.

In 1992, I traveled to Russia as part of a humanitarian contingent
delivering food/medical supplies directly to families.  We were also going
to walk in the May Day parade in Red Square with our fellow
democracy-seeking Russians in a show of solidarity.  It was to be the first
May Day parade where tanks wouldn't roll through the streets of Moscow.
(Those of you who, like me, grew up wondering if Communists really would
drop bombs on our heads, will marvel at this, I'm sure. "Duck and cover"
drills leave a lasting impresion.)

While I was there, two extraordinary things happened.

First, the democracy-seeking Russians were run out of Red Square: old-time
communists preferred to see tanks.  As I stood in Gorky Park and watched the
tanks role down the hill toward us, I wondered what would happen.

As it turned out, nothing.  The tanks stopped about three blocks away.  The
show of strength was enough to satisfy the old-timers.

Some of you may be thinking: I don't remember hearing anything about this.
You're right, you didn't.  Even though I was standing  right next to the NBC
cameras -- doing the "HI, MOM!" wave -- the film of our botched parade and
of the Communist flags and tanks rolling toward us never made it to the TV
screens in the US of A.

Why?

Because the Rodney King verdict had been rendered.

That's when Soviet TV broadcast the worst news of all: ALL OF AMERICA IS
BURNING translated my Russian hosts.  "You may not have a home to go home
to," he continued.  "There may be NOTHING left."
I watched in horror as TV footage did indeed show America burning.  As fond
as I had grown of my Russian host family, I didn't want to stay in Russia
indefinitely.

It wasn't until I returned home that I saw how twisted the reporting had
been. All of America wasn't on fire.  In fact, most of America hadn't even
seen fire.  Yes, America has problems that need fixing, but the country
hadn't capitulated into chaos.

So what did I learn?

Governments and groups that don't like us really, really, enjoying kicking
us when we're down. They enjoy distorting the news. It serves their
propaganda purposes.

Right now, all of the images being broadcast into our living rooms are being
twisted across the globe in ways we can't even imagine.

Yes, I am heartsore at the attack.  Yes, I am angry.  Yes, I have the
undeniable feeling that I'd feel lots better if I could hit something.  Yes,
I'm doing what I can, but frankly, it doesn't feel like I've done enough
yet.

But I am NOT going to bow to the attackers.  Furthermore, I am not going to
give them what they want most: recognition of terror.  I, for one, plan to
erase that word from my vocabulary. I would like to encourage all of you to
quit using the T-word.  This attack is indeed horrible because of its
magnitude, but it is no more terrifying than other attack.

Please, as we go through this next trying period, don't give in to fear.
Quake if you must, but do it privately.  Let us not for a moment forget that
the eyes of the world are upon us.  What we do and how we behave will tell
our attackers whether or not they they sent us reeling.

Lynn