Having seen the movie "Harry Potter and The Order Of The Phoenix" I was struck but how much art imitates life. That is, how this movie is so close paralleling the actions, or rather the thinking, that is going on today with the war on terrorism.
The parallel actually started at the conclusion of the prior movie in the series "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire" when Professor Dumbledore announces to the assembled school that Voldemort has returned. In so announcing the return Dumbledore says there are those who want to keep this information suppressed but he feels that the students, being up and coming would-be wizards and witches (Voldemort's prime targets), they need to know to be prepared.
Later in "The Order Of The Phoenix" this stance is taken to the next greater level as the leadership of the wizard world (the Ministry of Magic and the Minister of Magic himself) vehemently denies the return of Voldemort. Not only denying it but takes active steps to seemingly disarm the wizard/witch students at Hogwarts from any knowledge of defensive magic and the teaching of protection against dark forces. All the while repeating with smile how there is nothing out there to need to be protected from, even though the patterns of Voldemort's return are clear.
What does any of this have to with fighting terrorism?
Simple.
It appears that we – by way of the Obama administration – are just as head in the sand about terrorists and terrorism and the Minister of Magic his about Voldemort in the movie.
For starters, the words "terrorist" and "terrorism" is no longer used. When the new head of the Department of Homeland Security, Janet Napolitano, gave her first appearance before a Congressional committee she used the word "hurricane" 7 times and "attack" only twice. She never used the words "terrorist" or "terrorism" at all! This in spite of the fact that Homeland Security was created for the sole reason of protecting America mainland from terrorism!! I guess she must think a hurricane is a bigger threat than a terrorist.
The White House and, by order there from, the Pentagon no longer uses the phrase "war on terror" and instead calls it "overseas contingency operations". Yea. That describes protecting America from terrorists very well. I'm sure the terrorists are quaking in their shoes about our new "overseas contingency operations".
Seems like President Obama has completely forgotten about the 9/11 commission, specifically when the report clearly states that the terrorists where at war with us for years long before 9/11 and before we recognized it as a war. Looks like we don't recognize it anymore either.
I fear that, just as in the movie, the reality of the situation will only be recognized when it's right in our faces – again.
How many thousands of Americans must die this time to renew the point this is a war and not just some "operation"?
If it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck…
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