He who hesitates is lost

My father said to me one day, "He who hesitates is lost," as I vacillated whether to jump across an irrigation ditch to join him on the other side, or walk the half kilometer distance to circumvent the ditch. At my father's prompting and encouraging words I jumped across the ditch and joined him on our walk home from the fields.

This brief episode between me and my father taught me to grow in my self-confidence. At the time of my jump I was too young to grasp the meaning of the whole enchilada and I grumbled complainingly underneath my breath. I entertained thoughts like, "How could this man, who is my father, be so heartless - expecting me to jump across that chasm of rushing water? I am but a little boy, a weakling; I need to be carried and ferried across - can't he see that?"

But I am glad my father allowed me the leeway and opportunity to do the jumping myself instead of helping me get across that irrigation ditch. Over the years I would come across such incidents wherein I would recall that very initial reaction to a challenge. Ultimately, after reflecting over the issue and/or after going through thoughtful analysis of the situation at hand I would always hear my father's voice saying, "He who hesitates is lost." And I would take action.

I look at the current situation in Afghanistan. Our soldiers are being exposed to dangers and harm that are way beyond the perils of war. Where is the Commander in Chief? General MacChrystal, the NATO commander asked for more troops to be sent to supplement the contingent that's already there. Where is the Commander in Chief? Is he sequestered in some quiet room in Camp David agonizing, praying, and reflecting on what is good for the country, asking for guidance and deliverance from God Almighty?

NO. Not even close.

He flew to Denmark with his wife in tow together with the television billionaire Oprah Winfrey, to make a splash pitch to the IOC to promote Chicago as the 2016 Olympic Games venue. There in front of the IOC Sanhedrin he articulated his case, eloquently read from his teleprompter, enunciated every syllable of his message that to deny Chicago the 2016 Olympic Games would be to go against Divine Providence as only he, the Anointed One, the Messiah could ever broker.

But wait. What about our troops in Afghanistan? What has the Commander in Chief decided to do? No decision yet. Afghanistan is not important enough to address with a sense of urgency. Got to pass Obamacare - by hook or by crook. Got to get those white lab coats, distribute them to the assembly of actors acting like doctors in favor of Obamacare for a photo op at the White House lawn. Got to celebrate an anniversary with Michelle Obama. To heck with Afghanistan... it can wait. Besides, it is Bush's fault that we are there at all.

I thought about this inaction (hesitation) by the president in the face of the war on terror. He is lost. This oval office occupier is not a man; he is but a child. Inexperienced in the ways of the world. He never had a father who taught him how to be a man and how to deal with problems like a man. He relied on his sheer ability to convince others to follow his community organizing techniques as a disciple of Saul Alinsky. This man-child is no leader. He cowers at the thought of somebody like Hugo Chavez, or Achmadinajad, or Kim Jung Il, or even a toothless old dog like Castro. He would just as soon apologize for being an American rather than stand up for what is right for the country.