Can you remember what the old normalcy was?

Thursday – February 3, 2011

Can you remember what the old normalcy was?

Can you remember when it was fashionable to say the Pledge of Allegiance? Can you remember when it was ok to speak the words of Christianity let alone say the word Christianity or use the word God in a public place? Can you remember the days when you went to a baseball game and watched a game for the sake of the sport? Can you remember when you could go to the airport, board a plane and get to your destination without being searched? Can you remember the days when you could listen to the news and not have your senses drained with words of terrorism, riots, markets crashing, implementing Sharia law in the U.S. and the Muslim Caliphate? Can you remember the days the nation was secure in its employment, its foundation and in its own security?

Can you remember a day when our own president’s nationality wasn’t questioned, let alone his religious preference?

These are all important memories that a new generation of Americans will not have the pleasure of knowing. These are all important memories that a new generation of Americans will not be able to pass down to another generation. These are all memories that only a free nation could provide for its youth and its posterity.

Can you remember the days of normalcy? Do we even know what normalcy is? Do we equate disposable income with normalcy or just being able to pay the bills with normalcy?

The events in Tunisia, Yemen and Egypt over the last two weeks are a new window into the future of what memories will now consist of on a world wide basis. Our government is now making a decision as to whom it will support and how radical the government of these countries will be. It is no longer a choice of who will be the lesser of two evils, but rather if they will be sympathetic to a Muslim State or a radical Muslim State. Is Israel now doomed as a result of this new normalcy? Will this new choice move to eliminate the West as they have prescribed in memorandum and in philosophy? These are all questions that we are now facing.

Is the caliphate a reality of inaction or action and on the part of whom? Is the Muslim Brotherhood as far reaching as we are now finding out?

What will become of Christianity, and why is it now a word that cannot be said in public circles without it being considered out of the main stream or extremist.

All of this is a result of what happens when you are taken out of the equation. Every Middle Eastern or Arab country that is ruled by a despot, a premiere, a dictator and tyrant has been able to take the citizenry out of the equation. It starts with little things like the encroachment of basic freedoms. It starts with being afraid to say words and to recite a Pledge of Allegiance. It starts with government taking advantage of crisis to promote a new normalcy.

I wrote earlier in the week about the wink and the nod. Many of the things that happen politically in the world do not happen by accident. Many of the things that happen politically in the world happen on purpose. The purpose might be for good or bad. It all depends on where you happen to be and how it affects you.

The events in Egypt this week have happened on purpose, by a group of citizens. No doubt, Hozni Mubarak must go. But he should stay and be permitted to go through the transition of power. He is a political figure that respects the peace that has come of his making with Israel and for the greater part of the Middle East 30 years ago. A slow transition of power will lessen the opportunity of a political vacuum occurring similar to that of Iran in the 70’s. Much of that was out of our control, except for the beginning when this country turned its back on the radical element in Iran out of fear of confronting it. I believe we are now making the same mistakes by asking that Mubarak leaves now. Our approach should be even-handed and should be supportive of a change that will encourage democracy and not a theocracy. This was the basis of George Bush’s belief in encouraging democracy rather than just letting things happen as we are seeing now with the Obama administration.

If you analyze all the countries and all the governments in world history which one has been the most successful? Which one can make the memories of a lifetime shine and which one has given the world the key to freedom and which one welcomes those that want to be free? Very few Middle Eastern Countries fit this bill. Very few Asian countries fit this bill. Very few European countries fit this bill. In fact very few countries around the world now don’t fit this bill. There is only one country left that can so why not boast of our successes. Why not make the citizens of other countries want to follow in our footsteps not because of our financial aid but because of moral authority and by using the example of freedom and liberty.

When a leader can lead because of moral authority it makes it makes it easier for others to follow. When a leader is effective in giving the people what they want and what they need it makes it easier for others to follow. But when the leader of the free world is viewed as weak and self absorbed because of legacy then it makes it easier for other forces to influence and encourage instability. Unfortunately this is what is on display in Egypt today and now around the world.

I don’t know about you but this is not the normalcy I want for my country.

Gregory C. Dildilian
Founder and Executive Director
Pinecone Conservatives

A footnote: Our future and our existence is under assault by the forces that we now see on our television screens. We can choose to deny it, or just go along with it or we can choose to encourage what American normalcy is all about so when we need it we won’t forget what it was.