Thanks, we needed that:

Peggy Noonan writing in the Wall Street Journal in a column titled "We Can Take It    The benefits of the long haul" has this to say:

• Unanticipated good can come from misfortune.
  
  
• ... this is going to take a while. And that is going to surprise some Americans, including probably some wearing our uniform.
  
  
• The second Gulf War will not be quick. ... A resentful world is about to see that America had to fight for it. They are about to see America could fight for it--that we had and have the stomach for a struggle.
  
  
• The world will be reminded that America still knows how to suffer. In a county as in an individual, the ability to withstand pain--the ability to suffer--says a great deal about character. It speaks of maturity and courage, among other things. The world knew half a century ago that America will absorb pain to reach progress. It is not all bad that they are seeing it again.
  
  
• Americans too may be heartened to see that we know how to absorb pain. Deep in the heart of many pro-invasion thinkers has been a question they do not ponder for it could only be answered in time. It was: Can we still take it? It won't be bad for us to see that the answer is yes.
  
  
• Our armed forces, the professionals, are going to learn that they can do it. They've wondered too. They are also going to learn how to do their jobs better, because they're really going to have to do the job. They are not going to feel when they return that they got all dressed up and the party was canceled.
  
  

Feeling better now? The pain and suffering is good for you.

Oh, and how about the condescension towards the military? Some in uniform will be surprised? And they are going to learn how to do their jobs better because they will have to.

It sure is easy to talk big when you're sitting comfortably far from the action.


posted by Quiddity at 3/31/2003 08:41:00 AM