Words matter

Many years ago, my English teacher stressed to her students that “words matter.” As we close out 2008, as we reflect back on over seven years since 9/11 and about the same number of years since our major response to terror around the globe, I am convinced she was right. Words matter.

Shortly after 9/11 and the devastating attacks on New York, the Pentagon and an empty field in Pennsylvania, I started referring to America’s response as WWT or World War on Terrorism. One of my early columns for this site was in October 2001, titled “WWT …World War on Terrorism.” I also used this phraseology on the set at WRAL and WRAZ when commenting on America’s response to global terrorism.

Over this same time frame, elected leaders and the leadership at the Pentagon often referred to a “Global War on Terror.” Somewhere along the way, politicians, pundits, the media and military leaders started talking about America’s fighting men and women being involved in two wars – Iraq and Afghanistan. I find this referral disturbing.

America and many other countries in the world are involved with only ONE WAR, and that is a World War on Terrorism. When we reflect back on World War II, we didn’t see it as two wars, one in Europe and one in the Pacific. We were in a WORLD WAR! The intent of the enemy Axis powers was total defeat of democratic nations allied against them.

Today, we face a different global enemy, an enemy which is also intent on destroying our democracy and our way of life in favor of a fringe religion. We must not let that happen.

By defining our military efforts as involvement in two wars, in two countries, we tend to diminish the real global threat of terrorism and thereby lessen our response to this global threat. Consequently, our nation is not truly at war. In my way of thinking, our national leaders have not adequately communicated the real threat to our country and our way of life and therefore have not asked us to endure some of the hardships and sacrifices attendant to a world war such as my generation witnessed in WWII. Many have referred to today’s conflict as “the military is at war; America is at the mall.” (Although with the current economic crisis, America is somewhat less frequently visiting the mall.)

After more than eight years of penning (with the help of a keyboard and mouse) this column, this will be my last such endeavor. I have greatly appreciated the opportunity to pass along some of my thoughts over these many years. But as with all things in this universe there is an appropriate time to change course. This is such a time.

Hopefully over these years, some of my words did matter.