"The Story of the Hornets' Nest"

There is another reason we should attack Iraq and Saddam Hussein with full and brutal force. It's a reason overlooked by most people. If there IS clear and present danger, as this Commander in Chief as stated and we don't act now, we are diminishing the memory of those who died September 11th. Maybe the best way to get this point across is in story form.

Once upon a time there was this huge and magnificent school. This was the biggest, best school in the entire world. People of every color and faith came to be part of this magnificent facility. One sunny day a janitor warned the Superintendent, the Principle, the teachers, and finally the students, about a small crack above the door of the entranceway. Unfortunately, each warning fell on deaf ears. The Superintendent and Principle and teachers and even the students were too busy with other things to fix a small, insignificant crack. Why, it was barely even noticeable.

There were other issues of more import than a small crack. They were in the midst of many battles to keep God out of the classroom, much less anything that could sneak through an insignificant little opening. There were legal battles to fight in the name of political correctness. There were sexual lawsuits to defend between teachers and students, discrimination, pay raises, vouchers, unions, uniform fights, dance and dress regulations. There were serious confrontations with Ten Commandment posters and ten thousand other task to be tackled before being distracted by some pathetic little crack above the entranceway.

Well, it came to pass that hornets began to infiltrate the school and set up a well-concealed nest. Over time and out of site from the preoccupied people, the nest grew larger and larger. Then one fateful day they sprang forth and attacked with suicidal vengeance. Hundreds of angry hornets sank their barbed stinger into the soft flesh of students and teachers and Principles and even the Superintendent. When the carnage was over, most of the school was wounded, some fatally. Many of the wasps were swatted or stomped to death, but some scattered into hiding and escaped. A few were captured and much to the disbelief of the survivors and survivors' families, Liberalis fought for their release back into the wild. (Go Figure)

Now we fast-forward to one year later. The janitor is again warning about the crack. There has been almost a full year of hindsight along with investigation, accusation, declaration, proclamation, consternation and fruitless aggravation. Those who gave their lives are remembered in tribute from songs to signs. For all the speeches and all the memorials, the crack above the entranceway is still there, and the janitor's voice is a distant and mysterious hum that seems to have no point of origination.

While politicians proclaim that "This never shall happen again!" the janitor goes from room to room soliciting support to fix the crack. Some say the nest is not in their classroom and they don't want to get involved. They coward, "If WE make the hornets mad, they may attack OUR classrooms." The janitor pleads with each teacher. "If you don't help us fix the crack and snuff out the nest again, you've let the hornets win! You'll be telling them if they strike fear into your heart, you will be afraid to defend yourself in the future. And, what about the people who gave their lives in the first attack? What about what they died for?" Alas, it was a useless cause. The power of the microphone was in the Principle's office and he filled the airwaves with doubts about any real and present danger. No one came to the aid of the poor lonely janitor---not the Superintendent, or the Principle, or the teachers, or the even the students.

So there. The cost of not heeding the warnings just a year ago was paid in thousands of innocent lives. If we ARE in harm's way because of Saddam's nuclear or chemical weapon capabilities and we, as a nation and as a civilized world, are too afraid to act, HAVE THEY NOT WON? If there is even a SHRED of truth to that statement, what does that say about us as survivors of 9-11?

Paul Gallo

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