Wed, 04/04/2007 - 6:31pm

This article represents the opinion of the author and not necessarily that of DCguide.com

"For the first time in history, fire melted steel”. These are the words of a TV personality who hosts a popular network television show. The host pointed out that the planes that entered the world trade center on September 11th did not cause the collapse of the 2 buildings. She claimed that the buildings were bombed because fire can’t melt steel. Is that so? I’ve got one word for her-FORGING.

Perhaps it was the 2 full tanks of jet fuel that caused the building to burn. How hot was it in these buildings? Many of us are glad that we were not there to find out. My sympathy goes to those who suffered physically and those who lost their lives as a result. I will not even mention the loved ones, the many children who are left behind. When burning steel reaches a temperature of 600 degrees Celsius, it only has 20% left in strength. It collapses at 500 Celsius. It’s simple. Any Engineer can attest to that.

The burning buildings, fed by gallons of jet fuel may have brought the burning to a 500 degree Celsius, just what steel needs to melt and turn into wet spaghetti. Yes, steel can turn into wet noodles when it melts. At that point, steel is unable to give support to any force. Not even my little body, let alone a giant building.

Was claiming that the country bombed the world trade center irresponsible? Was that undermining the country?

Others have made as serious allegations, accusations and just plain and simple bad moves as the steel-melting bomb episode.

Harry Belafonte attended a TV and Radio broadcast held by Venezuela’s president Hugo Chavez. During that broadcast, Mr. Belafonte was quoted in the Associated Press saying “No matter what the greatest tyrant in the world, the greatest terrorist in the world, George W. Bush says, we’re here to tell you: Not hundreds, not thousands, but millions of the American people ... support your revolution,”. Pardon me? Raise your hand if you gave me him permission to represent you. Raise your hand if you think Harry Belafonte’s statement was inappropriate, ok, I’ll say, not very smart.

Recently, the speaker of the house, Nancy Pelosi, decided to visit Syria. Not exactly a friend of the US. Not that she does not know about Syria, she has highly paid advisors and the public has given her free advice on her trip there. People will do what they want to do sometimes, so who am I to say anything.

It just does not make sense. It seems that too many Americans are pulling out their own agenda without weighing the common good. Is their agenda to benefit their own personal interests or are they just not aware that their actions serve but to give strength to enemies of the US? Their enemy too, if you’ll permit me to say. I’m not calling anyone dumb or accusing anyone of lacking common sense or reasoning. I’m simply saying it the way it appears.

Being part of a country where our rights are respected- ok, we try our best and we sue those who violate our rights- we should in the very least, respect the rights of the country itself. Those who oppose the president can criticize him. The US constitution gives us the right to do so. However, does the US constitution give us the right to derail the country? As individuals, all of us should want to support what is best for the nation even if it means putting our own agendas on the side.

It is a shame that too many take this country for granted. We have a good thing going and we should continue with the enlightened process.

Each one of us can play a part in keeping our country safe. But it is not by going against an elected president, further jeopardizing the lives of thousands of young service men and women who are serving their country abroad and by putting millions of us in the homeland at risk. We need to have compassion yes. We need diplomacy yes. But we must not contribute to our enemy’s desire to defeat our ways of lives.

About the author
Marie Gachelin can be reached at mgachelin@yahoo.com

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