President must show commitment against terrorism
The recent bombings in Brussels have once again cast a spotlight on the inexplicably deferential behavior of our president.
While the city that houses the headquarters of the European Union and NATO is suffering waves of violence, he is seen participating in a grandstand "wave" at a Cuban baseball game in the company of Raoul Castro, president of Communist Cuba.
Instead of being interviewed by the media regarding planned specific responses to a major terrorist attack, he grants interviews to ESPN. Rather than consoling innocent victims of terror, he is viewed consorting in a regal welcome to Argentina.
In doing so, he elevates the unimportant and ignores that which is urgent. He conveys apathy instead of sympathy and empathy. He continues to exhibit a cavalier attitude as the advance terrorism places us all in jeopardy.
The world is a more dangerous place these days, especially for the innocent and most prominently for Americans. This is not the time to engage in pseudo responses like "whistling when walking through a graveyard" in order to pump up our courage.
Terrorism requires definitive responses and countermeasures both before and after the fact. In occurrences such as the Brussels bombings, the president must set aside any other agenda and immediately and personally engage in the circumstances.
Such direct involvement both symbolically and in substance provides the reassurance that the situation requires.
A leader must always be the one to define reality. To do less is not to lead. The only thing worse than a leader who fails to speak to realities, is one who remains in denial.
Ronald Bearwald
Northbrook