We like to think of ourselves, and our communities, as innocent victims of sinister forces that are beyond our control.

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And whether we rise or fall as a nation doesn't depend on some economic forces that are beyond our control.

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The truth is: the price of gas depends on a lot of factors that are often beyond our control.

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But there are reasons for that --again, some of them beyond our control -- but that are beginning to -- the headwinds created by them like the earthquake in Japan, have subsided somewhat.

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And that tells you that there are other things beyond our control, like unrest in the Middle East, or other factors like the growth of emerging countries such as China and India.

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Sometimes the struggles we go through are the result of choices we made, and sometimes they are the result of consequences that were completely beyond our control.

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Now, there are those who say that this terrorist threat is beyond our control, and we passionately believe that is wrong.

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