SassTown

If any of you reading this has any connection with Attorney General Eric Holder or the President himself, Barak Obama, could you forward this little parable to them in light of the recent decision to try  five of the 9/11 terrorists in Federal Court in NYC, mere blocks from the sacred sight of the former World Trade Center.

You could practically feel the breeze on your face and smell the salt spray when scenes of the majestic Pacific Northwest filled the screen while the New Moon movie trailer played in full glory on the Emagine Theatre screen. The typically unflappable Mayor nearly squealed (let me assure you, I’ve never squealed) with anticipation when Jacob bounded out of the house and transformed into a giant wolf mid stride. But my heart raced and I rashly promised my 8th grader that IF she got straight A’s I would take her to the opening showing of this movie.

To clarify, I was agreeing to her proposal that I take her to the local theatre  Thursday, November 19th to wait in line with a hoard of other crazy people for the midnight showing of New Moon. On a school night. Meaning that we would get home around 2 a.m. all jacked up from our exciting outing and attempt to get to sleep before the alarm goes off at 6 a.m. to begin the school day routine. When I made that promise to a child who had struggled in 7th grade to get passing marks in several classes, I thought the chances of having to pay the price of this commitment were highly unlikely.

Well, it’s November 16th and my daughter has achieved her goal, straight A’s in her classes. Being a woman of my word, I have left it up to Ms. S to decide if we are seeing New Moon at the midnight showing. Having years of experience in manipulating my charges into making “their” decisions, I have dangled the carrot of making it a girls big night out if she waits until the weekend. We can go to Benihana’s and then to the movie with whatever concessions she desires. If she decides we shall go for the midnight showing it will be business as usual Thursday evening. Homework, dinner at home, evening free time and going to the movie theatre at 11 p.m. We’ll take bottled water to drink because we have to go to bed immediately upon arriving home.

I’ve also reminded my migraine suffering charge that loss of sleep seems to be a common denominator, that trying to function on very little sleep friday could lead to trouble. Being a teenage girl, who I am sure will get revved up by her peers who are going to the ill timed movie opening, I am not counting on this decision to go my way. A teeny tiny part of me is resigned to making the most of the memories if forced to chaperone this middle of the night outing. In full disclosure, unlike when I had to take them to Disney cartoon movies, I’m sure I will thoroughly enjoy myself. I will only be cursing my lack of productivity on Friday when my aged ass is dragging all day.

I gently reminded her in my great wisdom, just because we can, doesn’t mean we should. I didn’t coin that phrase but  being a mother of 6 I have been known to utter it a time or two (or thousand) but who’s counting?

Why am I relating this lesson in wisdom to the current conundrum created when Attorney General Holder announced that he had chosen to bring the 9/11 suspects to American soil to try them as civilians in criminal court? I have watched and listened as both sides of this controversy get revved up to passionately make their case either in opposition or support of this decision.

You know I am the queen of practicality and I see a lot of issues that could arise and not go the way our esteemed leaders are predicting. The men in power seem to think that we are going to demonstrate to the world the superiority of our legal system by trying this case in our federal court system.Since they are the ones elected to be in power it seems like they can.  

Security costs money and the I can’t imagine a bigger security nightmare than transporting KSM and his cohorts from jail to court everyday in Manhattan. The disruption to the area that is the financial epicenter of our country can’t be good for business. It has taken a long time for NYC to recover financially after the attack on the WTC. I can’t imagine it’s going to be a big draw for convention planners to have to fight the chaos the city will incur during the period of the trials, not to mention potential harm to tourism.

There are a lot brighter folk than I to analyze the risk to Americans that will be incurred with this trial, not to mention further pain and suffering of victims families. I’ve heard supporters make the case for New Yorkers who want the trial here in federal court, saying that it will finally give them closure. I applaud there fighting spirit, but I also think they are being naive to believe this is not going to a freak show of epic proportions.

That brings me all the way back to that concept: just because we can doesn’t mean we should. We could bring these guys back to NYC. We could let KSM showboat, mock us, further terrorize the victims families,etc. But it doesn’t mean we should.