Shalom,An email from a friend.
_______________________
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 peo ple 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 demonstrato rs" who
exploit the right of expression 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 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, MGySgt., USMC (Ret.)
Not as lean, Not as mean, But still a Marine.
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This is the debut album by EXW friend Paul Langford. Paul is a Chicago based singer, arranger, keyboardist, producer and conductor. Paul has a career that spans 14 years. Paul's work includes arranging for groups like GLAD, Voices of Liberty, VoiceTrek, The Chicago based "Caroling Party" and Day of Discovery Singers. His arranging has appeared on recordings side by side with greats like Gene Puerling and David Maddux, and he has sung with Don Shelton, Bonnie Herman and Bob Bowker, among others.