[Opinion] The Envious Unification of American National Consensus

The unprecedented terrorist attack on New York`s World Trade Center and Washington`s Pentagon, both of which symbolize the economic and military power of the world`s uncontested supreme nation, initially shocked and enraged the American people. However, with time this initial shock is intensifying into an ever-strong resolution for revenge. President George W. Bush in his national speech proclaimed, ``America will retaliate against the people who are standing behind such atrocious act and any nation which chooses to harbor them.``

A look at the results of the joint survey conducted by Washington Post and ABC Broadcasting after President Bush`s speech reveals that 94 percent of the respondents supported military action against the group or country responsible for this terrorist act. 92 percent of these respondents expressed their support even in the case where such military action would lead to war. This is an astonishing national consensus. There had been no such case since the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.

Such sentiment is not only limited to the general public. Editorials and columns of leading newspapers are also calling for firm retaliation. Washington Post on its 12th day editorial reports under the rubric of `September 11th, 2001` explained that, like December 7th 1941, when Pearl Harbor was attacked, this day will also be remembered as a `day of shame` and that following the ancestors America must show an `iron will` in avenging on the murderers who planned and executed this terror along with all the countries which encouraged them and provided them with support and shelter. A certain columnist who wrote for the Washington Post called the Congress for an immediate `declaration of war`, and another columnist even cried out, `America`s holy war` . There is an unpropitious sensibility that something might go very wrong. The New York Times however took a more circumspect approach: That we should wait a little longer and see.

While I was writing this article, I received an e-mail from a junior professor. In the e-mail was the English quotation of Nostradamus` prophecy concerning the third world war. The passage where Nostradamus prophesied that `two brothers will be torn apart in great confusion` refers to the twin tower, and the passage that the time `the third world war will begin when the great city catches fire` in 1999 was followed by an interpretation which explained that on the current calendar it is referring to the year 2001. Although no one would take such prophecy word for word, we are undeniably disturbed by it. Nevertheless America`s astoundingly unified national consensus once again affirms the belief that external enemy clearly serves to strengthen internal cohesion.

This recent terrorist attack is not the only incident that hurt America`s pride since the attack on Pearl Harbor. There was also the Vietnamese War. The war in Vietnam marked America`s first defeat ever. The Vietnamese Coalition`s tangible and intangible power resources paled helplessly before America`s. For example, America exceeded not only in tangible resources such as country size, population, economic power, military power, quantity and quality of military arms, but also in intangible resources such as scientific knowledge, skill level, and modern organization managerial ability, Nonetheless, America lost the war. The American population was truly stunned when they received the news of defeat.

Why did this happen? Many scholars see the main cause behind America`s defeat in the Vietnamese War as dissension among national consensus. When the national consensus split the Americans failed to efficiently transform their power resources into `active power` But now, the story is different. The Americans are beginning to bond. People are showing faith in the Bush Administration`s ability to tackle this difficulty. 91 percent expressed their confidence that the Bush administration will be able to ferret out the terrorist group and ruthlessly revenge upon them.

It was difficult not to become envious of America`s unified national consensus and America`s trust in her leader when thrown into such national crisis.

However a look at the situation in Korea makes one frustrated. The people`s wish, which is the ultimate and best chance of personnel reform that can overcome the current disorderly state of affairs in the country, is being totally ignored by the ruling party. Not only so, despite recent appearances on the headlines concerning strange greetings made to Cheong Wa Dae, and despite the necessity for gathering the people`s strength for overcoming the present national crisis, the presence of certain groups in power and their blind-followers, who, by claiming anti-unification or anti-reform cause further divisions and thereby split national consensus, is truly depressing.

Lee Min-Woong (Professor of media, Hanyang University; Honorary editorialist

of the paper)