Watching some talking heads on TV just a while ago, my curmudgeon dearly beloved said, ‘I guess I’m a dinosaur.’ He states this as fact and has stated it before when watching the news or certain shows on TV.

I know what he means when he says that. He’s irritated that true costs of the freedoms we enjoy do not seem to be even known by the news readers or celebrities.The notions of personal discipline and personal responsibility don’t seem to be in their consciousness. In fact, these concepts don’t seem to even flicker in their sub-consciousnesses. They appear to be completely alien concepts.

Watching some of the talking heads on TV I see poofy, briefcase toting, pink-fingered little metro-sexuals, stylin’ and prancing down the street, ipod and Treo in hand, taking full advantage of our freedoms without giving a fleeting thought to current events. Thinking only about their stock portfolios and when they’ll be able to fit in their next pedicure.

Please don’t misunderstand. I don’t have a problem with metro-sexual males. I don’t think men should be a bunch of knuckle dragging cretins. I don’t have a problem with how anyone wants to dress or behave. I don’t care what their sexual preferences are. I really don’t care.

BUT - there are some serious issues at hand.

We are in the midst of the most dangerous war this country has ever faced. We don’t have the time our parents had during World War II. We can’t afford the luxury of internal debate about isolationism and appeasement. The oceans don’t protect us from our enemies as they once did. Our enemy can attack at any time, any where, without warning, without us having time to prepare.

This war is not against another nation, it is a clash of ideologies. It’s a blood feud. It is a war with a religious paradigm whose adherents are fanatics. These fanatical religious extremists have declared war against not just the United States, but against western civilization. Their stated purpose is to destroy us, all of us. They’ve made no secret of what they intend to do.

And yet, we ignore them. In spite of all evidence to the contrary. Apparently we don’t think they can really do it. Or we don’t think they mean what they say.

That’s not all of it either. This war is being waged on two fronts. Externally and internally. We are fighting amongst ourselves.

There are those of us who hear the declarations of Jihad - and believe they mean it. We are the ones that are not willing to risk that they don’t really mean it and are willing to accept that it’s not about Afghanistan or Iraq - but about Jihadists who will utilize any means necessary to achieve their purpose. The purpose being to kill Americans and other westerners.

There are others who flat out refuse to accept that as reality. Even when it is explained in excruciating detail, they argue and flail around and refuse to accept it as fact. This faction seems to prefer to blame us for the problems we are facing and rage against their own nation for the problems of the world. Criticizing the United States or other western nations is certainly safer than criticizing Jihadists.

Accepting this reality is not so simple. To accept this, one would have to accept that the way of life we take for granted is being threatened. It would mean that we will undoubtedly be called upon for personal sacrifice. Real personal sacrifice. We will have to take personal responsibility.

Personal responsibility. Personal discipline. Personal sacrifice. Do Americans still know what that means? Do we still know how to do that? Are we willing to do that?

Maybe we can call up the old crusty Vietnam era drill sergeants, sober them up and tell them to make warriors out of the youth of America today. Could even they make men out of these guys?

What will happen when we can no longer ignore the fact that we are at war, and can no longer deny who we are at war with?

Who will fight this war?

The Roman Empire lasted 1,000 years. How long will the American Republic last?