April 2003 - Last Word
Spirit of Survival: A Historical Perspective
Today our nation faces major conflict. While terrorism continues to escalate, Americans must accept the challenge to stop it. No one wants war. We may disdain it, but we must not allow our fear of it to stop us from defending our people and our principles. A look at history shows why. During the 20th century, while Germany invaded Europe and Japan overran China and most of Asia, Americans opted for isolationism.

After Japan attacked Pearl Harbor, the nation quickly unified, and with sheer determination, bravely fought two campaigns on opposite sides of the world. After World War II, America reluctantly became a world power. Facing the task of rebuilding our neglected infrastructure caused by war and the Depression, we accepted the responsibility of leading the world to recovery. As colonialism nearly disappeared, new nations were formed. They all needed and expected our help. During the 20th century, as Chinese soldiers fought us in Korea, the Russian army daily harassed American troops posted in Germany. Yearly confrontations intensified and we entered the Cold War period. As strong communist allies, China and Russia were an imposing threat to the free world, and weaker nations looked to us to defend freedom. It took nearly 30 years to reunite Eastern and Western Europe, East and West Germany and Berlin.

A Russian leader pounded his shoe on top of a United Nations assembly table, telling Americans that they (the Russians) would bury our grandchildren. We retaliated by sending U2 spy planes over their land, letting them know that we were watching them and that we would not be intimidated. During the 20th century, America faced civil disobedience in our cities and on our college campuses at the same time we waged war in Vietnam. Other nations watched their television sets with disbelief as we struggled to regain control and change the awful circumstances confronting our country. The world predicted that we would fall. Instead, we faced the issues and made the necessary changes to strengthen the rights of every citizen. As other nations saw us solve our problems, people all over the world suddenly wanted to come here. Many stayed and became new citizens. Millions more are here illegally because their residence cards have expired and they don’t want to go back to their own countries.

The United States is still the last outpost for desperate individuals who want to live in peace. If we don’t maintain peace in this world, where will they go? And more importantly, what will we do? There was a time (during the long Cold War) when people were so afraid of the Communist Block that they began to utter the slogan “Better red than dead.” That’s how frightened they were. Unable to be convinced that it was better to fight for freedom than to live in a godless dictatorship, they wanted to surrender. They believed fighting would bring certain death. Many moved to other nations. When they saw the boat loads of people escaping from nations overrun by communists, they began to realize they were wrong. Most eventually returned and all but kissed the ground, so grateful to be back in America.

Today, many people insist that we are in more danger than ever before. But they forget that in the 20th century, Russia installed silo missiles in Cuba, reportedly with nuclear war heads aimed at our major cities. As troops were sent to Florida, the U.S. braced itself for war. Historically, America has faced many national and international crises. As a nation, we resolved them. It was never easy. Now, in the 21st century, we are called upon once again to demonstrate the courage of our convictions: to save democracy and maintain peace. My fellow citizens, be glad you are so lucky to live in the United States of America. Start showing your patriotism by supporting our president. Don’t be afraid, be diligent. We will survive, only to become a stronger, wiser more united nation. Dee Merian is the author of American Mosaic, Real Stories of the 20th Century. ™
DEE MERIAN