Submitted By Barbara - shapiro@ey.com Written By: Ed Evans, MGySgt., USMC (Ret)
I sat in a movie theater watching "Schindlers' List", and asked myself, "why
didn't the Jews fight back?" Now I know why.
I sat in a movie theater, watching "Pearl Harbor," and asked myself, "why
weren't we prepared?" Now I know why.
Civilized people cannot fathom, much less predict, the actions of evil people.
On September 11, dozens of capable airplane passengers allowed themselves to be
overpowered by a handful of poorly armed terrorists because they did not comprehend
the depth of hatred that motivated their captors.
On September 11, thousands of innocent people were murdered because too many
Americans naively reject the reality that some nations are dedicated to the
dominance of others. Many political pundits, pacifists and media personnel want us
to forget the carnage. They say we must focus on the bravery of the rescuers and
ignore the cowardice of the killers. They implore us to understand the motivation of
the perpetrators. Major television stations have announced they will assist the
healing process by not replaying devastating footage of the planes crashing into the
Twin Towers.
I will NOT be manipulated.
I will NOT pretend to understand.
I will NOT forget.
I will NOT forget the liberal media who abused freedom of the press to kick our
country when it was vulnerable and hurting.
I will NOT forget that CBS anchor Dan Rather preceded President Bush's address to
the nation with the snide remark, "No matter how you feel about him, he is still our
President."
I will NOT forget that ABC TV anchor Peter Jennings questioned President
Bush's motives for not returning immediately to Washington, DC, and
commented, "We're all pretty skeptical and cynical about Washington."
And I will NOT forget that ABC's Mark Halperin warned if reporters weren't
informed of every little detail of this war, they aren't "likely.....nor
should they be expected.....to show deference."
I will NOT isolate myself from my fellow Americans by pretending an attack
on the USS COLE in Yemen was not an attack on the United States of
America.
I will NOT forget the Clinton administration equipped Islamic terrorists
and their supporters with the worlds most sophisticated telecommunications
equipment and encryption technology, thereby compromising America's
ability to trace terrorist radio, cell phones, land lines, faxes and modem
communications.
I will NOT be appeased with pointless, quick retaliatory strikes like
those perfected by the previous administration.
I will NOT be comforted by "feel-good, do nothing" regulations like the
silly "Have your bags been under your control?" question at the airport.
I will NOT be influenced by so called, "antiwar demonstrators" who exploit
the right of statement to chant anti-American obscenities.
I will NOT forget the moral victory handed the North Vietnamese by
American war protesters who reviled and spat upon the returning soldiers,
airmen. Sailors and Marines.
I will NOT be softened by the wishful thinking of pacifists who chose
reassurance over reality.
I WILL embrace the wise words of Prime Minister Tony Blair who told a
Labor Party conference, "They have no moral inhibition on the slaughter of
the innocent. If they could have murdered not 7,000 but 70,000, does
anyone doubt they would have done so and rejoiced in it?"
There is no compromise possible with such people, no meeting of minds, no
point of understanding with such terror. Just a choice: defeat it or be
defeated by it. And defeat it we must!
I WILL force myself to:
I sat in a movie theater, watching "Private Ryan" and asked myself, "Where
did they find the courage?" Now I know.
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