I Think It's Going To Be Alright

Like many Americans,I spent a few moments, now and again through out the day, thinking about terrorism. What it is and how it has affected my life. I came to some rather dismal conclusions.
See, terrorism isn't about killing people per se. Rather, it is about making people afraid. Killing people is just a pleasant side effect for the terrorist.

This is how wikipedia defines terrorism:

Terrorism is "the systematic use of terror especially as a means of coercion."[1] There is no internationally agreed definition of terrorism.[2][3] Most common definitions of terrorism include only those acts which are intended to create fear (terror), are perpetrated for an ideological goal (as opposed to a lone attack), and deliberately target or disregard the safety of non-combatants. Some definitions also include acts of unlawful violence and war. A common misperception of terrorist groups, especially after the 'Global War on Terror' began in 2001, is that they are solely Islamic-extremists or radical religious groups with religious motives.

Terrorism is also a form of unconventional warfare and psychological warfare. The word is politically and emotionally charged,[4] and this greatly compounds the difficulty of providing a precise definition. One 1988 study by the US Army found that over 100 definitions of the word "terrorism" have been used.[5] A person who practices terrorism is a terrorist.

Seven years ago today the most horrendous act of terrorism to ever be targeted at US citizens was carried out before our very eyes. The goal: To make America afraid.
My biggest concern is that to some extent it was successful and I find that very sad.

I miss the days when America was viewed as just a young pup with maybe too much bravado and swagger, yet always there to lend a hand when her friends and allies needed her. Sort of like best friends on the playground. Now we seem to have entered into the uncertain and difficult society of "high school" Where alliances are made and broken between 2nd and 3rd hour. Where rumors and fabrication are used to propel an individual to his or her desired status.

But what I believe, because I simply have to, is that when a society's comfort zone becomes disrupted, as it certainly did seven years ago, some of the uglier aspects of human nature are brought forward and in this case played out on a world wide stage. Additionally I believe that Americans are not stupid people on the whole; that Americans are basically kind and thoughtful and fairly smart. I think that the over zealous nuttiness of these years following 9/11 are soon to be drawn to a close, because we the people will require it to be done. It's run it's course and it's time to move on to a more mature mode. To think about our future after high school so to speak.

I think it's going to be alright.