"Donal" wrote
I wouldn't say that to a terrorist!!!

Remember that for the first 3/4 of our national existence, over 300 years,
Americans fought a bitter terrorist war with the indiginous "Indians". This is
a key to our psyche. Those of us close to the traditions that 300 year war
engendered have no fear of modern terrorists because they are but minor threats
compared to the threat our ancestors faced. We like to think ourselves as self
reliant as they were and, like them, arm ourselves and practice. We believe
that one or two armed citizens on each aircraft would have prevented 9/11 -
something airport security which prevented self-defense failed to do.

But not all Americans share that heritage. The cultural decendents of European
serfs who hid in established cities well behind the frontier still look to the
lord in the castle and his knights to defend them and the very notion of having
to defend themselves throws them into panic. Look at the fear in Fred Shumer's
or Sarah Brady's eyes when they discuss gun ownership. These are an ever
growing minority, perhaps even a majority today.

Thus America's split personality.

Were it not for this second group holding us back, we'd know how to deal with
terrorists -- the same way our grandparents dealt with certain warlike indian
tribes. And baiting them is just part of our strategy. Wild young men often
attacked our isolated ranches and farms then escaped back to hide among the
peaceful innocents of their tribes - just like terrorists do today. But we
found a way to deal with that. We killed them all, guilty and innocent alike.
I suggest that the same would work today.

So the Catholic and Protestant Irish are still fighting?? So were many diverse
Indian tribes. Care to buy some weapons?? evil grin When you've murdered
each other ......

Regards ...