Beyond Sept. 11
More thoughts from prominent Orange Countians about what they think lies ahead for our economy and our society in the wake of the terrorist attacks:
One of things I have learned at the OCBC is that business people abhor uncertainty.
This is a national moment of uncertainty. And we are falling back on our strongest influences,patriotism, allusions to America as a family, our survival instinct, even our ability to deny a difficult reality,to cope with this overwhelming uncertainty.
America’s ability to come back, and come back strong, in the face of adversity is a wonderful national tradition. For the very short term, I believe uncertainty may cause people to move slowly, or in some case, even freeze up. But that’s the very short term. As the uncertainty lifts and confidence builds,real confidence, not false bravado,our vibrant economy and sound underpinnings will allow us to move on from this horror.
–Stan Oftelie
CEO, Orange County Business Council
We can all pray that the terrible acts of Sept. 11 unite the world as much if not more than it unites America. If we needed an example that isolationism in today’s world is unwise, as well as impossible, we need to look no further. If the civilized world needed to be told that terrorism, or any violence, in the name of patriotism, religion or any other excuse cannot be tolerated or could be viewed as someone else’s problem, we’ve had the ultimate wakeup call. No longer can we talk of AIDS as Africa’s problem, or have the Israel/Palestine tail wag the dog, or rationally suggest we ignore Northern Ireland or Kosovo.
One thing I fear is overreaction,not overreaction narrowly defined as retaliation, but more broadly defined to include all aspects of our lives in America. In the political arena, do we not have reason to be concerned that bipartisanship, which is needed, will be redefined to encourage a rubber-stamping of all administration decisions? Will independent thinking and honest disagreement be redefined as a lack of patriotism or resolve? How many may choose to remain silent on major policy questions merely from fear of immediate political fallout? Who might be the new Joe McCarthy(s)? A Secretary of Home Security can be a great comfort or a major intrusion on our privacy.
We have a saying in the law that “bad facts and bad cases make bad law.” We can’t let the hoodlums of Sept. 11 redefine our way of life in a way which encourages or tolerates racial profiling, feeds an existing paranoia of immigrants and immigration, hinders equal education or unduly restricts civil rights, to give but a few examples. If airlines and insurance companies are down, what will be the agenda, hidden or otherwise, of leaders in those industries? The billions for the bailout of the airlines (many of whom were financially ill well before Sept. 11) will radically alter other priorities, including education.
It would be naive to believe we will be automatically better, stronger or more united because of the events of Sept. 11, or that our decisions will necessarily be wise. But the tenor of the President’s comments and outreach have been reassuring.
–Wylie Aitken
Founding partner, Aitken, Aitken & Cohn
It is hard not to be pessimistic about the ultimate outcome of the scenario that is building. I have always been an optimist, but it seems to me that our usual yardsticks, our cultural rules and assumptions, our basic premise of how the world works, have been shaken.
Let’s say we get bin Laden (who my son calls Been Rotten). The rest of the terrorist cells are still there, like a cancer.
I do know that the only antidote to all of this is love. I have been absolutely moved to tears by the beautiful spirit that has been evident all around us since this happened. The absolute best of human nature has also been everywhere. I think we have surprised ourselves. Nothing like a common threat to make people realize what is really important. The worst and best of humanity, playing out in front of our eyes.
Einstein said, “Every human being must decide ultimately whether he believes that this is a benevolent or a malevolent universe.” I just think none of us wanted to own up to the fact that we do have to decide that in this lifetime.
I know that we will retaliate, but simple force against force won’t make it all OK again. Something more is called for, and I think that something is what we are all searching the depths of our souls for now.
–Julie Hill
Principal, Hiram-Hill Development Co.
In my lifetime (I was too young to understand Pearl Harbor) never has a president been charged with such a mandate,to rid the world of terrorism. Thank God the man in the White House watched his dad come up a little short when he was facing terrorists, is a Republican and has strong, determined military folks around him.
I believe “suitcase nuclear bombs” are in the not-too-distant future. Now the world is convinced the only reason they were not used Sept. 11 was that the terrorists didn’t have them. Hopefully, the world will make them a helluva lot harder to get.
–Buck Johns
President, Inland Energy
I sense that this heartbreaking event has prompted a period of widespread individual reassessment of our beliefs, personal safety, dreams, goals and future. It also is seriously testing our country’s resolve, its role in the world and the ability of our leaders to assure our national security. For the time being, I think we as a people have been stopped in our tracks, almost frozen in place. I think it may last awhile. Until we feel more confident about the direction of the road ahead and our footing on it, my personal view is that we may well see a longer, deeper economic slowdown.
–Larry Thomas
Group Senior VP, Public Affairs
The Irvine Company
