Dedicated to all those lost to us
and to all those who are fighting to keep us safe in our homes.
MAY GOD BLESS AND WATCH OVER EACH ONE OF YOU! 

~Now I Know Why~

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 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 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.)
 

~Made with Love~