9/11: WE SHALL NEVER, NEVER FORGET!

From Concordville.org

The morning was bright and crystal clear, blue skies, temperatures forecast for the mid-70s, with low humidity.  I decided to take advantage of the fair weather for a spur-of-the-moment canoe trip down a beautiful, fast-flowing, spring-fed river.  I had not gotten far out of town when my cell-phone rang with a call from my secretary.  She asked if I had seen the morning news or had my radio on.  I replied that no, I was totally absorbed with the prospect of a day on the river.  When she told me that planes had flown into the Twin Towers, my first thought was that there was some sort of coup taking place. But, quickly, I dissuaded myself of that; and, then, news reports began to sort out the situation.  Gradually, it became clear that our country had been brutally attacked by fanatical terrorists whose way of thinking might have come out of the 15th century.  Whether Americans wanted it or not, our country was at war with radical Islam. And it still is!

The spirit of unity was overwhelming.  Americans of all political persuasions and spiritual outlooks wanted to help in any way possible.  In the day after the attack, while we were on the road, it was common to see hill people gathering on court house squares for impromtu prayer meetings.  Every little town had its flags lowered; and, in the days that followed, blood drives seemed to be going on everywhere, although they were largely symbolic, owing to the need for blood being much smaller than the burgeoning supply.

It was one of the most horrific days in our nation's history, but, at least, we were united.  During  the 12 years since that day, we have become fractured as a nation; and, in many ways, we have become a mass of squabbling tribes, each demanding what it sees as its rights.  Sadly, our present leadership has done even more to spread the virus of disunity.

So, on this day of remembrance, let us honor the martyrs of the Twin Towers and the brave souls who "got rolling" to foil the schemes of the demented beings who hijacked flight 93.  To exploit this day for any other cause would be an abomination.

It is my hope that the so-called "Million Muslim March" planned for today in Washington will simply fizzle out.  It is not only a bad idea to schedule such an event on this day, it is also an outrage!  If the organizers of the march wish to choose an occasion to protest what they see as violations of their civil rights, let it not be on 9/11.  Consequently, one questions not only their judgement but also their motivation.  Are Muslims denied their right to vote in this country?  Are they suffering discrimination in housing and public accommodations?  Do they find prejudice in the workplace?  Are they not allowed to build their mosques?  Do they experience bias involving their dietary requirements?  In summary:  Methinks these Muslims doth protest too much!

With that in mind, let's take a look at the other side of the coin.  Daily, throughout the world in Muslim-dominated settings, Christians suffer overt discrimination.  In fact, in places like Egypt, Syria, Iraq, Iran and Pakistan their lives are literally on the line.  Christians, as I write this, are being thrown into prisons, raped, assaulted and murdered, simply because they choose to be true to their faith.  Yet, I hear not a peep of protest from American Muslims about the atrocities that are being visited upon my Christian brothers and sisters by Muslim fanatics in Muslim countries.  Just imagine what would happen in, for example, Islamabad if Christians organized a mass demonstration on Eid-al-Adha to protest their plight in Pakistan.  I can well imagine that there would be a massacre of great proportions.  But, of course, in the world of political correctness and multiculturalism, we are not supposed to think about the double-standard,  and certainly not when it comes to Islam.

9/11 should have been a wake-up call to the declaration of war that was made against Western values by the fanatics and extremists of Islam.  That war continues to this day, but perhaps in stealthier ways.  With that in mind, it appears that the best way that we can remember the souls of the martyrs and heroes of 9/11 is to reawaken our vigilance, realizing that for as long as the threat of terrorism exists, we are truly and unalterably at war.


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