Who do I trust?

Like Jefferson and Franklin I believe in the goodness and decency of the overwhelming majority of people. I believe that to be the case of most people worldwide. Furthermore, I believe we’ve proven that our American system of government and adjudication, though flawed at times, is by far the best produced by any society in recorded history.

I’m convinced broad smiles with tears of joy would be their reactions if Jefferson and Franklin could see how their dream of self-governance has evolved almost 228 years later.

Like Jefferson and Franklin, I believe in and trust the American people. In my personal study of American and world history, our American society seems best able to produce honorable, trustworthy leaders in times of crisis. Somehow, we the people instinctively know who to trust, even when an apparent minority of us made the choice for all of us.

“Maintaining the cause of America is in a great measure the cause of all mankind.”
“Society in every state is a blessing, but Government, even in its best state, is a necessary evil; in its worst state, an intolerable one.”
from
Common Sense
by
Thomas Paine

“These are the times that try men’s souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: it is dearness only that gives everything its value. Heaven knows how to put a proper price upon its goods; and it would be strange indeed if so celestial an article as freedom should not be highly rated.”
from
The Crisis in 1776
by
Thomas Paine

We Americans are extremely fortunate to have thoughts like Paine’s along with the heroic deeds of so many to re-call and bolster us in times of crisis. For 228 years profound words have been backed up by heroic deeds… This is our American Heritage and the rest of the world just began learning this for themselves 40 or 50 years ago!

I believe we can and should trust our current president and the institution of the presidency. I believe we can and should trust our ability to investigate and prosecute any one in the U.S. military for illegal actions. We have very recent history to back up this notion.

Only 30 years ago the American people, through their representatives in congress forced a president to resign. A few years before “Watergate” the American military prosecuted those involved in a Vietnam War massacre. These and hundreds, maybe thousands of other situations in American history prove our system works.

I’m convinced that we must finish the war against tyranny in Iraq, but I’m equally convinced that the Iraqi people must be made aware of the traditions and heritage we hope to share with them.

50 years ago millions of people enslaved by Communism listened to the broadcasts of “Radio Free Europe.” Entire families would huddle around crude and “illegal” radios and dream of freedom. Our challenge today, even with the so called “mainstream Arab media” is not much different from the challenges we faced in getting the truth to people “behind the Iron Curtain.” Even Egyptians are living “behind the Islamic Extremist Curtain.” America must begin broadcasting “the truth” to these people through out the Middle East. Unlike the state run media of the former Soviet block I believe the media in Arab nations like Egypt, Jordan, even Saudi Arabia and Syria would prefer to be more balanced and fair if those in charge of these outlets felt less threatened by their own political extremists.

I think we Americans can and should do more as individuals! I wish a way could be found to match Americans with Arabs via email so millions of us could exchange ideas one on one. I’m convinced if Arab families could meet and converse with American families via the Internet much could be accomplished.

In closing… I live roughly 60 miles south of “ground zero” in New York City. My wife’s late father (he passed away in 1989) worked for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey specifically on the construction of the World Trade Center. An old college buddy of mine was Director of the World Trade Center (he survived). All the images of that day are very fresh in my mind. Now we have graphic video of these tyrants beheading a kind and generous young American, Nick Berg, who only wanted to help the Iraqi people. I have watched that video. I wanted to see the enemy in action for myself. However indirectly, the evil perpetrated against the USA on 9-11-01 would have eventually required that we invade and topple the tyranny of Saddam Hussein. The timing is sure to be debated for a long, long time. Right now, we know who the enemy is and we know we will bring them to justice. Let’s do everything possible to help the Iraqi people understand our true motivation.

Mike Heid
Chairman/CEO
BasicTek, inc.