I have names for my two cars. Big Red is the name I have given to my dear departed Grandmother's 1980 Ford LTD: it's big, it's red and thus the name. I named the 1988 Volvo, the Little One. I wash my cars by hand because I just can't force myself to take them to some impersonal, mechanical car wash that would abuse their bodies. I pamper my cars partly because I like clean, shiny cars. But mostly, I enjoy this activity because it affords me time to think random thoughts about the oddities of American life.

Last Thursday, while the Little One got a needed wash, I started thinking about the unintended results that occur when a person's word selection is not precise. More specifically, I was thinking of the way our President has been using the words, "War on Terrorism," and how those words may have undesirable results.

He surely got the attention of this old veteran when he began talking about a war. However, I should have known better than to take him literally. He was talking like a politician and not like a general when he uses that "W" word. You see, this old veteran gets very nervous when the word "war" comes from the lips of the President of the United States of America. I wish Mr. Bush would use that word more precisely.

After a few days, it was apparent that he was speaking like a politician, but I had been listening as a veteran. There was not going be a real war, just one of those "wars" like the war on drugs. Well, I began to relax a bit after I figured that out. Please Mr. President, don't scare me like that again! Gee, it was almost a repeat of the panic caused by Mr. Wells' frightening radio broadcast, "The War of the Worlds."

Meanwhile back at the car wash, I began to reflect on Mr. Bush's words and how they may have a few unintended results. For example, now that we have this ongoing "War on Terrorism," I bet the President never thought, in his wildest dreams, that he would become an outspoken pitchman for big business.

Did I hear the President's voice on my old garage radio saying that the American public needs to "get about the business of America" or did the Turtle Wax in my ears cause me to misunderstand? I thought I heard him suggest that we go fly to one of our great America cities and enjoy the sights and culture. Did I really hear him say, "Go to Disney World?" No, that can't be correct: surely it was the purring of Little One that distracted me because if I did hear him correctly, such talk would reduce the President to the status of a "barker" on the midway of the Texas State Fair. Surely he did not intend to entice the American people to spend money on things they do not need just to provide profit for the airlines; or, did he? Please Mr. President don't ask me to charge more stuff on my Master Card. Many Americans have done their capitalist duty and charged so much stuff that they've reached the limit on their card some months ago.

Mr. Bush also encouraged Americans to get back to their normal lives. That's not bad advice: a bit rushed, perhaps, but not bad advice. Life does continue after such terror, I know, but I'm not sure if we Americans want to continue a way of life that gives flight to big business.

After such terror, how can we "get about the business of America"? Don't we need to stop and reflect? Don't we need to go out to the garage, find the garden hose, the soap, the rags, and wash our beloved cars? Washing the car provides us an avenue for reflection and, heaven knows, we need time to think on what has happened to us recently. If we were to pause for a while, we may discover that we have had enough of the normal American life.

A routine day, for many Americans, has become a panic attack filled with road rage, frazzled soccer moms, multi-tasking, cell phones and glutinous work loads that we attempt to stuff into a work week fashion by designers from Paris, France, rather than by "Bubba" from Paris, Texas. I think the President is asking too much of us! In this American life we work more hours than before but without any monetary advancement. If we are expected to add a "War on Terrorism" to our normal day, it may be the straw that breaks our back. Surely the President does not intend to suggest such a thing, did he? Get back to our normal life AND support the "War on Terrorism"? Really now, who has the time?

When you read the next sentence you're going to think I've lived in Dallas way too long and that I have fallen victim to one of the conspiracy theories. Our government is spending our tax dollars on welfare, not warfare! That $15 billion aid package for the airlines is simply corporate welfare. I guess this handout will be entered into the expense ledger for the "War on Terrorism" and the American taxpayer is expected to pay up, without question?

The President needs to be more careful about such things or he is going to give some liberal-minded people a great idea for a mega buck scam. If those folks at the Dallas Peace Center heard the President's speech they may use the same logic and create a "War on Homelesness" or a "War on Poor Education", or a "War on Insufficient Health Care" or a "War on Poor Child Care," or a "War on War" and siphon off mega bucks to give away to the underserved folks they say live in our communities. I know some of you may think I've inhaled too much exhaust from my cars, but just think about it.

I almost forgot to note that our tax dollars underwrite the cost of the National Guard who have been called up to provide security services at our airports. I want to know, who will pay for their services -- the airlines, the airports, or will it be Mr. and Mrs. Texas Tax Payer? Surely the security provided by the National Guard comes with a cost and I'd like to see the price tag before I buy. I can almost hear my departed granddad's voice saying to us, "never buy a pig in a poke sack, son."

One last question: if the President's "War on Terrorism" is to be a total effort, conducted by all of society, does that mean you and I have just been drafted into the military? Well, as some say, "I've been there and done that" and I'm too old to do it again. Besides, I thought we had a voluntary military force. Surely he did not mean to indicate we are all in the Army, did he? I think this "War on Terrorism" is really a war of words, and they are not well-chosen words.

So what is all the fuss? At this moment in history, our country needs an enemy upon which to project our collective, free-floating anxiety. The old USSR provided us with this "lightening rod" service; however, from the time the USA became the sole superpower, we have been without a solid enemy upon which we could project our hostility. Without a good, substantial enemy our anger has built up and boiled over, upon occasion, but it has never been fully discharged. The result is that we are left with a growing cloud of collective anxiety, and anger.

This "War on Terrorism" may be nothing more than an expensive therapeutic session for our collective anxiety and it may well end without any resolution of our "issues." Why do I think that, you ask? Well, enemies that can't be located on a map or reached by phone, fax, or email simply will not provide us with the needed anxiety reduction that the old USSR provided. We have found out that there is nothing worth blowing up in Afghanistan. The people are so poor it's pathetic to suggest we bomb them, and the country has already been reduced to a pile of rubble from years of war. So, why spend the money to do what's already been done? Where are all the good enemies, who can put up a good stiff fight, when our country needs one?

What to do? I suggest we pull the car into the driveway, grab that garden hose and wash an automobile or two and, while we wax the car, let's attempt to process our growing anxiety in ways that don't project our unprocessed anger upon other people and/or nations.

I'd also suggest that our President clearly, and precisely, describe events that occur in this world of ours. If his word choice doesn't get more precise he could, unintentionally, scare old veterans, like me, to death. Or worse, he could get lots of our young men and women in uniform killed.

Now, where did I park Big Red? It's time to wash and wax away more anxiety.

Dick Davis
Dallas, Texas
September 27, 2001