[RR] To The Point

[FLATPANJAK]

 NO FLAMES PLEASE
 
  
 I sat in a movie theater watching "Schindler's List," 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 world's most sophisticated telecommunications
 equipment and encryption technology, thereby compromising America's
 ability
 to trace terrorist radio, cell phone, 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 self-expression to chant anti-American obscenities. 
 
 I will not forget the moral victory handed to the North Vietnamese by
 American war protesters who reviled and spat upon our returning
 soldiers,
 airmen, sailors and marines. 
 
 I will not be softened by the wishful thinking of pacifists who choose
 reassurance over reality. 
 
 I will embrace the wise words of Prime Minister Tony Blair who told the
 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: 
 
 -hear the weeping 
 -feel the helplessness 
 -imagine the terror 
 -sense the panic 
 -smell the burning flesh 
 - experience the loss 
 - remember the hatred. 
 
 I sat in a movie theater, watching "Private Ryan" and asked myself,
 "Where
 did they find the courage?" 
 
 Now I know. 
 
 We have no choice. Living without liberty is not living. 
 
 -- Ed Evans, MG.Sgt.., USMC (Ret.) 
 Not as lean, Not as mean, But still a Marine. 
 
 
 
 
 
   
   
   

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--- Begin Message ---

I sat in a movie theater watching "Schindler's List," 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 world's most sophisticated telecommunications equipment and encryption technology, thereby compromising America's ability to trace terrorist radio, cell phone, 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 self-expression to chant anti-American obscenities. I will not forget the moral victory handed to the North Vietnamese by American war protesters who reviled and spat upon our returning soldiers, airmen, sailors and marines. I will not be softened by the wishful thinking of pacifists who choose reassurance over reality. I will embrace the wise words of Prime Minister Tony Blair who told the 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: -hear the weeping -feel the helplessness -imagine the terror -sense the panic -smell the burning flesh - experience the loss - remember the hatred. I sat in a movie theater, watching "Private Ryan" and asked myself, "Where did they find the courage?" Now I know. We have no choice. Living without liberty is not living. -- Ed Evans, MG.Sgt.., USMC (Ret.) Not as lean, Not as mean, But still a Marine.

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--- End Message ---