Online Only: Fighting the frosty foes

What do Osama bin Laden and Jack Frost have in common? More than you think.\nA few weeks ago, Congress resolved to oppose President Bush’s “troop surge” with an aggressive, hard-nose, nonbinding resolution. At the time, Defense Secretary Robert Gates stood up for the president and warned that the resolution would only serve to “embolden the enemy.” He is right – withdrawing our troops now would only validate our enemies’ strategy. This habit of appeasement is nothing more than a conspiracy by America-hating lefties. \nThat is why it pains me so much to see IU making the same mistake. \nFor the first time in more than 10 years, the University canceled classes Wednesday (until noon). Buses ran empty. Students and faculty alike hid in their homes and the school’s “critical employees” were left to fend for themselves. Did it work? Of course not. \nThe next day, winter struck back. The temperature plunged to 18 degrees, entire trees were encased in ice, cars spun their wheels in futility. It was a disaster. And the snow kept coming.\nThis proves my point that by canceling classes, we have emboldened winter. By withdrawing students from academic buildings, we have validated winter’s strategy. Before you know it, IU will have a plan for a phased cancellation of all classes. You know what that means – ice age. \nI know how hard it is to watch your friends wipe out on the icy sidewalks, or to chip in futility at the ice on your windshield, but we have to stay the course. Every time you skip class, it is a victory for winter. (By the way, I also heard winter wants you to vote for Al Gore).\nNo doubt, the winter in IU is tough on students. You come home for a week, maybe even a few months, only to be sent back to college. It has become increasingly common for students to return for a fifth, sometimes even a sixth deployment. Nevertheless, we have to stay until the job is done. (Sidenote: the word on the street is that early spring has been selling arms to winter. We can get to that later).\nTake comfort in the fact that we are not in this fight alone. A coalition of hundreds of universities has joined in the war on winter. If we remain firm in our resolve, we can bring sunshine and warm breezes to the Midwest. \nLet’s not have another slip-up like Wednesday. \nOf course, some “meteorologists” (liberals) might try to tell you it would have gotten colder anyway, that it would have snowed another three inches whether IU canceled classes or not. But that is as dumb as suggesting that Iraq is such a troubled region that it is going to be plagued by violence for years to come regardless. That would be like saying terrorism will continue to strangle the Mideast whether we “surge,” “stay the course,” or “withdraw.” That’s just crazy-talk.