How scared should we be that North Korea has launched another nuclear weapon this week?

Their leader, Kim Jong-un, with his pudgy boyish face, looks harmless, but his actions are proving to be those of a madman.

News sources report that the small country already has more sanctions levied against them by the United Nations Security Council than any other country, but they do not seem to care.

Neither words nor actions are resonating.

We know there is an imminent threat, and for some reason it appears there is currently no action that is working to thwart North Korea’s efforts.

Rewind 15 years ago this Sunday when the U.S. was attacked on its own soil.

There had been no warnings and no real serious threats or prior concerns, but on Sept. 11 at 8:45 a.m. that Tuesday morning, a Boeing 767 loaded with 20,000 gallons of jet fuel crashed into the north tower of the World Trade Center in New York City.

Less than 20 minutes later, a second jet flew directly into the south tower of the World Trade Center, and then at 9:45 American Airlines Flight 77 slammed into the west side of the Pentagon military headquarters.

Lastly, a plane possibly bound for the White House or the Capitol crashed in a Pennsylvania field. That incident killed all 45 people on board, most of whom were heroes that day.

On Sept. 11, 2001, more than 3,000 people died in the “surprise” attack.

I certainly do not want to be a fear monger, but as we remember 9/11, which initiated a sweeping change in the way our country responds to possible danger, I feel there needs to be great concern with Kim Jong-un as he thumbs his nose at us, no surprise here.

Maybe we are not yet within distance of a North Korean nuclear attack, but the polarization among us, the presidential candidates’ lack of authenticity and our gridlock in congress have me terribly concerned that our country is barreling down a dangerous path that could lead to another attack.

It is far past the time for us to challenge those who serve.

And do not think for one minute this quagmire of political turbulence has happened overnight. Just like the self-serving Kim Jong-un, we have all witnessed a slow eking of power mongering by those serving in Washington.

It feels as if our leaders, like the North Korean leader, continue to inch themselves into their self-serving agendas while the rest of us are left working as serfs for our lord’s estate.

It is time for change, a change back to a government of the people, by the people and for the people.

 

Terri Cowart Frazier is a staff writer at The Vicksburg Post. You may reach her at terri.frazier@vicksburgpost.com.