You know, the thing is that when Ahmed Abu Khatallah got pissed off, he didn’t wet his pants at the idea that he’d be attacking the consulate of the most powerful nation on Earth. He just went out and did it, killing our ambassador to Libya in the process. He’s not a bedwetter. He is a religious fanatic, but he’s not a coward. How much more courage does it take to attack the United States than to prosecute a criminal in court?
I’m not a rah-rah macho kind of guy, but I do expect my government to demonstrate some testicular fortitude. It embarrasses me when American elected officials act scared of anything, even when it is in some way understandable. This country is known for its can-do attitude, and I like that. When I was growing up and even into my early thirties, I knew guys who stormed beaches in Libya and Italy and the Solomon Islands. They didn’t talk about it much, but they sure as shit weren’t afraid to hold a trial for some asshole who attacked our foreign-assigned personnel.
On most political issues, I disagree with the Republicans because I have different values than them. But when it comes to folks who are afraid to hold trials for terrorists, it’s much more personal. I feel like these people are destroying my country’s reputation. They’re cowards. They’re cowards and they’re the face of my country. I have a really hard time abiding that. I don’t want anyone else in the world to see or even know that some of my countrymen are this pathetic because it shames me.
I feel somewhat similarly when I see people make idiotic anti-scientific statements, but cowardice really cuts me to the bone. I want these people to shut up not because I care about whatever political points I think they might be scoring but simply because I am ashamed of them. I am ashamed that they are Americans.
