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On this day, radical Islamists brought terror to our shores. It is hard for our minds to contemplate a human darkness so vile that it celebrates murder and the destruction of innocent lives. But we can honor the bright memories of the fallen. Each person, whether taken in unknowing sacrifice or resigned to death after heroic struggle, stands in our mind’s eye in the brilliant light of faith and patriotism. In the years since 9/11, the spreading evil of radical Jihad has been visited on other cities around the world. Yet, our resolve remains strong. From soldiers guarding our liberty on foreign shores to those of us living under the umbrella of the protection they provide, we are united in remembering loved ones lost on that day and in our determination to protect our homeland from future attacks.
My sons tell me it’s time to contribute to their blog with a dispatch from the campaign trail. Boy, are they working hard ߝ and having fun at the same time! Iߣm told the Five Brothers blog is one of the most popular features on our web site. I guess I can’t put this off any longer. This week I found myself in Iowa. At a forum in Sioux Center, attended by more than 250 people, I got the opportunity to answer questions from citizens. It’s something we do regularly. We call them “Ask Mitt Anything” forums. Of course, as I tell audiences I meet with, “I don’t know everything, but you can ask me anything.” And they do. Usually, the questions tend to focus on the same topics ߝ immigration, taxes and spending, the war against terror. But people also ask me about mercury pollution, the diabetes epidemic, the price of corn and just about anything else that pops into their minds. All important topics, to be sure, but I was asked about the U.S. space program and how we stay ahead as a nation when it comes to science and discovery. My friend Eric Kriss served as my Secretary of Administration and Finance in Massachusetts. His uncle was Milton Friedman, the Nobel economist. I once asked Eric to check with his Uncle Milton on what advice he would have given Queen Victoria, a century ago, that would have allowed Britain to stay ahead of the rest of the world. Of course, back then, Britain was the superpower, with an empire upon which “the sun never set.” Few people would have imagined that it would be overtaken by the United States, an emerging new player on the world stage. We may face a similar challenge with the emergence of Asia and the arrival of China as a significant economic competitor. The answer to my question, how a smaller nation stays ahead of a larger nation, is by leading in technology and innovation. America can lead the world forever if our families instill productive values in our children, if our schools excel in education, and if our enterprises invest in new ideas and technologies.
When I was recently in Colorado Springs, I spoke with a man whose son is serving in Iraq. He said the criticism at home of the war effort was demoralizing. He made the point that as our fighting men and women are defending our liberties overseas, we as Americans need to stand by them. Afterwards, my nephew suggested there should be a “surge of support” to go along with the troop surge. I told him that I couldnߣt agree more. This is why Iߣm writing on the blog today and sending this message out to all of Team Mitt.
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