Conference that WILL make a difference

"Terrorism, Security and America's Purpose: Towards a More Comprehensive Strategy" Conference, hosted by the New America Foundation, 9/6-7/05.

After watching this conference (via live and recorded video*), I am convinced that it has been a big success. And not only can it make a difference, it is sure to make a significant difference because:

• It was about something that is powerfully important to the well-being of America, homeland security. All of us want to get it right. We must find ways to balance war against the use of other tactics to make us safer from terrorist attacks. And we must genuinely include on our national agenda safety from the multiple threats beyond terrorist attacks, such as natural disasters.
• Steve Clemons did a masterful job of convening and facilitating the forum. He was mercilous about keeping to the schedule, but remained very open to the serendipity of the moment along the way. He is a real "pro" as a classic facilitator. And Clemons has dynamite contacts.
• "Big People" found a way to be there, when they could have very easily opted out. For example (and I have omitted titles for the sake of brevity): Lee Hamilton, Jane Harman, George Soros, Roger Cressey, Joseph Biden, Andrew Kohut, Wesley Clark, Tom Clancy, Lawrence Korb, Grover Norquist, Morton Halperin, Ted Sorensen, Jim Saxon, Francis Fukuyama,Warren Rudman, Juan Cole, Madeleine Albright, Mary Fetchit, and Chuck Hagel.
• Steve made a relatively successful attempt to present a balance of people within the political spectrum. And all of them were very smart.
• Many at the conference remarked pointedly that it was very timely and relevant, with its proximity to the tragedy of Hurricane Katrina.

Because this conference will make a difference, why not get in on the action? I invite my readers to take the time, if you have not already, to watch portions of it on video, available on the Foundation' website. After that I suggest that each of you do just one thing as a follow up to what you learned from the speakers or the dialogue. Seven Suggestions:

1. write an e-mail or letter to one of the presenters
2. write a letter to the editor of a newspaper
3. communicate with your own Senators or Representatives about what you want them to do right now
4. find out what kind of preparedness your own community has in place; your life can and does depend on the answers you get
5. validate non-partisanship, at the same time as you passionately and respectfully express your most profoundly held political beliefs
6. honor the 9/11 families and survivors by telling them that they will not be forgotten
7. check out which of the 9/11 Commission Report recommendations have been adopted, and let your elected officials know what remains to be completed

Remember, I suggested that you take at least one action. Give yourself a hat tip for one follow up action , applause for multiple actions, and an ovation for coming up with your own creative actions.
*As a personal aside, I admit it; I had been a "newbie" to streaming video. After all, it has been only a few months since 1) I graduated to a Dell Inspiron 9100 notebook, 2) even fewer months since I got SBC Yahoo DSL, and 3) just recently "learned to walk and chew gum at the same time" with all the complexities of Microsoft XP.