To me, 9/11 was every bit as horrible as Pearl Harbor, but the reaction from our leaders was so different.
Not a fan of FDR, but can you imagine soon after Pearl Harbor, if FDR went barefooted to a Japanese temple (I am not sure what religion the majority of Japanese are, but just as a illustration) and spoke of being tolerant and understanding to the Japanese people. Then there came a flurry of 'tolerance-speak', and we were told not to be angry with the Japanese people, it was just the leaders and military that caused this problem. Then the AG make tolerance speeches and then threats to American citizens if they were not 'tolerant'. What if the new media had daily shown isolated (and I believe that) cases of 'intolerance' and showed the same picture of a temple with a car driven into it and a temple with a broken window and denounced it as barbaric, etc. What if on any given day in the major newspapers, there were editorials and letters to the editor concerning the horrible, intolerant Americans and their attitude toward the Japanese.
On top of that, our President refused to close the borders or even protect it, suppose the head of the INS made speeches to the border patrol to 'shut up and live with it'.
If these things had happened, America would not have had the will to win the war and I do not believe we have the will to win this war against terrorism.
We gave away so many of our rights to stop drugs. I heard the same rhetoric regarding this. "If it will save one child from drugs, they can search my car, etc.", and look at how they have used and abused this. We have a law enforcement agency that is a rural drug enforcement agency. I am not sure of the official name, but they can stop you anytime and search your car. They stopped my son coming home from work late one night, and asked to search his car. He asked them why and they said drugs. When he asked what would happen if he said no, they said they would impound his car and search it anyway. Now anyone with an ounce of sense knows if you make these guys angry, they are going to 'find' something. They accused him of making drugs since his hands were stained - his is a mechanic!!!!!! He chose the better part of valor and let them search and they let him go - without an apology.
I fear that these people you wish to get thru to will keep their fingers in their ear's (that IS of course until it happens to them or their family) Then the shock of it all will be far to real for them.
I see People every day on these threads, DEMANDING we GIVE up our liberty's, I don't see much of an Apology from them either. I see Insults hurled, Nastiness, and down right accused of being "Anti-American" if you do not assimilate to the NEW AMERICA. Your post was right on the Mark. I'm sure you'll get the typical excuses how its "for the better"