Posted on 06/04/2004 5:17:24 AM PDT by KentTrappedInLiberalSeattle
Before the dust had settled on Manhattan in September 2001, our nation's collective resolve seemed decided: We would find and hold accountable those who used our nation's freedoms to kill thousands of us.
It was hard to find American flags to fly after that day. Like Pearl Harbor, Sept. 11 steeled our resolve to defend America - but for some, only temporarily.
Some in America now seem to have forgotten we are at war. In an age of near-instant gratification of every need, I suppose you could blame that erosion of resolve on our short attention span. In this presidential election year, some have decided to use whatever logic available to undo the election results of 2000. Still others, I believe, are dredging up the spirit of the '60s and view fighting this war effort like rebelling against the Vietnam War.
As someone who has proudly worn the uniform of the U.S. Air Force, I know that no war is good, but some wars simply must be fought if our founding principles are to have any relevance. For me, the horror of Sept. 11 is lasting. I believe there are two very distinct groups of Americans now: the Sept. 10 Americans, who are in denial, and the Sept. 11 Americans.
The question every American must answer is this: Are we truly at war? I believe we are in the early stages of a conflagration that could likely be the next World War. It is a war that pits our sense of freedom and justice against those with radical interpretations of a culture intent on our conversion or our demise.
In America, we invite diversity and are all better for it. In some Mideast nations, you are besieged, bombed or beheaded for your diversity. The contrasts are stark and unavoidable, even by those who hate President Bush and all Republicans. Terrorists are cowards who hide behind masks and attack the innocent. The terrorists who attacked in Munich in 1972; the death squads in El Salvador and Ireland; the bombers of Marine barracks in Beirut; those who blew Pan American Flight 747 out of the sky over Lockerbie, Scotland; those who attacked the World Trade Center, twice; those who bombed the federal building in Oklahoma City; those who used sarin gas in attacks in the Tokyo subways; those who flew loaded planes into the Pentagon and an open field in Pennsylvania; those who bombed military housing towers in Saudi Arabia and the USS Cole; those who blew up commuter trains in Spain and nightclubs in Bali. All of them did not do so because we are Republicans or Democrats; they did so because they fear freedom.
They fear the light of truth so they bomb and behead, they attack and retreat, hoping to wear down our will. Today's terrorists believe and count on all Americans being overweight videogame players, more interested in fixing the outcome of "American Idol" than of defending our freedom. They hold women and children in low esteem and fear seeing others experience the rights that all of civilized humanity have come to believe are basic. I pray they are wrong.
Those Americans who fought in World War II are called the "greatest generation" because they found the will to put their hopes and dreams on hold, to cast aside their political and personal bigotries and defend America and what she stands for. I don't see that collective spirit in many of today's Americans. Many have simply not come to the conclusion that we are at war, for whatever reason. They are content to fight the small, partisan political battles but do not see the War on Terror as the terrorists do.
Terrorists have declared they intend to fight until we are finished, however long that takes. They have the big-picture view that many Americans lack. I pray that we do not endure more attacks like those of Sept. 11 before we cast aside our divisions in favor of the concepts that unify America. I pray that happens, but in my heart I know more attacks are coming and more death will be visited upon us because of what we represent.
I am a Sept. 11 American. I know the world has changed and that Americans must defend America. Everything else we do, everything else we believe, pales in comparison to that duty.
How can we expect to win a war, when we have an enemy within...The Democratic Party?
Thanks for posting
And those that believe we are not at war are called Democrats.
That's wonderful! Thanks for posting!
"I believe we are in the early stages of a conflagration that could likely be the next World War. It is a war that pits our sense of freedom and justice against those with radical interpretations of a culture intent on our conversion or our demise."
THE TRUTH!
And anybody who thinks the Islamofascists will lay down their bombs if JF'inK gets in in November is deep in denial.
Technically.... no we're not at war because congress has shirked its duty.
This is what has become so discouraging about this election cycle. We're losing a lot of good people to retirement who may very well be replaced by Rats. If the election were held today we'd probably lose the Senate by at least a two-vote majority. The national GOP really has to get motivatin' to keep that from happening.
Sen. Campbell's eloquent clarion call to remember 9/11 is all the more ironic because, if you believe the polls, the CO electorate may very well end up sending a Rat to Washington to replace him, a Rat who typifies the Sept. 10th American. Every seat is important in a closely divided legislature, I know, but I'm getting more and more indications that, above almost all the others, this CO seat is one we need to hold.
Bump
That is why Al Qaeda must 'renew' the terror soon. I live 75 miles (and two mountain ridges) from the Washington Monument and expect to be awakened one night by a bright flash, boom and subsequent gale force winds as the WH/Capitol/Pentagon go up in a conjugal mushroom cloud.
BUMP
read later
"I believe we are in the early stages of a conflagration that could likely be the next World War. It is a war that pits our sense of freedom and justice against those with radical interpretations of a culture intent on our conversion or our demise."
The Senator hits the nail on the head, but he needed to go a little further in his analysis. That is, this is not a war on "terror" - this is a war between islam and the West, in particular the United States, which is referred to as the "Great Satan" by these muslims. This is the continuation of a fight to the death, against a cult that believes we convert to their views, or we cease to exist. We are fighting a cult that has infiltrated virtually every country in the world, who, at least among the most extreme are willing to commit suicide to spread their "message", who are among the most backward, yet ambitious, or power-hungry groups anywhere. They still live in the 10th Century in their world views, yet they have become adept in the use of 21st century information channels and technology. They are truly dangerous and pose a clear and present danger to the national security of the US, and there is, in my estimation, no chance of coexistence between islam and America. There are no "moderate" muslims, islam is a death cult.
I am astounded that in the US, so many people do not seem to understand what we are up against in islam. Or, is it that the media from which it seems the majority of Americans get their information - do not tell the truth? The leftist media do not seem to understand that an islamic victory will end the US as we know it. There will be no free media, there will be no women senators or congressional representatives, there will be no Katie Couric on TV, no Maddy Albright, running their treasonous mouths in public. These women will be barefoot, in burkas, in the house, serving their "men" (if you can call so many of these muslim "warriors" men). There will be no US Congress, no President, no Hollywood, no seditious, America-hating Michael Moore (now, there's a good idea, I'll say), no John Kerry for that matter (another good thing). Ted Kennedy will be strung up in public, as will all the other democrat traitors, as well as the majority of the "academics" including Al Franken and Noam Chomsky. In short, there will be a ruthless, backward, greedy, power-hungry group of "mullahs" intent on seeing all Americans on their knees 5 times daily praying to some false idol rock in the middle east in the name of Satan, for there should be no doubt that islam is a falsehood concocted by Satan to test us in our faith and in ourselves.
I hope that we retain this seat
I like Ben seemed like a decent guy
Well, for someone that used to be a Democrat and is now a Republican, I think he finally said some things that really needed saying. I'm glad he finally and truly converted to Republicanism :)
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