Resisting Fear, Folly of 2001

Perhaps the best that can be said of a year of terrorist attacks, anthrax-laced letters, war profiteering and assaults on the Constitution is that there are just a few hours left in 2001. But we reflect back on the year that is passing with at least a measure of good feeling.

Let us explain why:

Amid the horrors of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, we witnessed expressions of courage and humanity that proved both Americans and America to be stronger than the cynics could have imagined. Politicians and media personalities may have used the moment to advance their ideological and personal agendas. But millions of heartland Americans responded to the crisis with generosity that comforted victims, filled charity coffers and signaled that America could survive even the most devastating losses. Before the elites of Washington had scrambled out of their bunkers, Wisconsinites were opening their hearts - and wallets - to fill the void.

U.S. Sen. Russ Feingold's lonely defense of civil liberties made it impossible for the Bush administration and Congress to undermine the Constitution without a fight. On the surface, it appeared that the Wisconsin Democrat lost his battle to protect Americans from unrestrained wiretaps, unlimited detention and no-knock searches of our homes. In reality, his willingness to stand alone against the administration and the Democratic leadership of the Senate told millions of Americans that the flame of liberty had not been extinguished by the fearmongers of Washington. The rights that have been so battered will eventually be restored, and that day will come more quickly because Feingold refused to join the parade of fools and liars who said America needed to sacrifice liberty for false security.

Within days after the terrorist attacks, the Bush administration and congressional leaders of both parties moved to use the tragedy as an excuse to raid the federal treasury for billions in corporate welfare giveaways. U.S. Rep. David Obey, D-Wausau, broke with his own party's leadership to lead the fight against the $15 billion airline bailout bill. In the months that followed, Obey's consistent critique of congressional war profiteers who would use this moment to line the pockets of their campaign contributors has had an impact. Obey's fellow Democrats have begun to follow his lead, just as some Republicans have been shamed into pulling their hands out of the federal cookie jar. No, Obey did not stop the frenzy of fiscal foolishness altogether, but he did play a critical role in slowing down war profiteers.

When local political profiteers sought to turn a flap over how to display patriotism in Madison's schools to their partisan advantage, many national observers - and even a few local handwringers - predicted that Wisconsin's tradition of respecting differing views would be sacrificed on the altar of wartime fears. How wrong they were. The campaign by conservatives to recall School Board member Bill Keys was a spectacular flop. Even Madisonians who disagreed with Keys refused to join in the effort to punish an official who had the courage of his convictions.

It may be true that few will miss 2001. But we will look back upon this year with pride in the Wisconsinites who refused to surrender their common sense or their humane values. They were the exceptions whose leadership will, eventually, define a better future.