October 5, 2001

We must continue to be prayerful for our leaders as the war on terrorism continues.

With students I often use the game Civilization II to teach concepts of history and government.  The game brings together the conflicting factors involved.  For example, you must develop trade, make new scientific discoveries, manage your taxes, leave money for research, and choose between guns and butter.  While you must defend your civilization, you must also keep your people happy.  While a democracy is the most productive society, a democracy is more difficult to govern.

Our leaders are being forced to deal with all the interrelated aspects of economics, military strategy and tactics, public opinion, and even world opinion as they push ahead on our response to the attack.  They need our prayers.

Also, laws they pass will be with our grandchildren unless steps are taken to limit new laws to emergency powers.  Our leaders must deal with the delicate balance of powers in our society and weigh security vs. civil and human rights issues.  "Big Brother is watching" is no longer merely a line from a novel.

We must never forget that Hitler was elected.  He then invoked emergency powers, suspended freedom of the press and civil rights.  He led Germany and thus the world into the destruction of World War II and the Holocaust.  As his control tightened, it was treason to even criticize Hitler.  Many German opponents of Hitler also died in concentration camps as well as Jews.

We don't know what series of events might lead our grandchildren to elect an American Hitler who will misuse emergency powers. Our leaders need our prayers as they deal with these sensitive issues.

We need to also be prayerful and thankful for our military.  I have watched the Russian army with interest since the Soviet Union disintegrated.  Any movement toward implementing a more democratic society always depends on the army.  Even the present leader of Pakistan is in power because of a coup. Our military has always respected our constitution and supported it.  We take that so for granted.

And, of course the calling up of reserves places hardships on families and interrupts careers, not the mention the dangers that reservists will face in the conflict.

These are perilous times, even more perilous than another terrorist attack.  We need to be in prayer for all our leaders as our democratic process works out so many conflicting needs.