What we can do

self: letter to editor ^ | 09/12/01 | self

[Scarlet_Pimpernil]

We stumble to work, at a loss for words over the tremendous personal loss of our brothers in New York and Washington. Beyond the grief, above the anger, one question permeates the collective American psyche, and its not just what can be done, but What can I do? The answer came to me after our church's impromptu prayer service, as I was watching Gulf War Hero "Storm'n Norman" being interviewed on the news. "Let me say just one more thing. We went to great risk in the Gulf War, of our own personnel, to spare the lives of civilians. These bastards killed innocent people on purpose…" While we prayed, and reminded each other that our God was still sovereign and had a plan, we were asked to pray for our enemies. I confess I couldn't do it with any meaning, I tried and spoke sweet words I did not mean. The others in the prayer circle were honest enough to merely ask Jesus for softer hearts, but they failed to lift up their enemies as well. Later, after hearing the General's words I was able to pray with a passion I would like to pass on. When America accidentally bombed an aspirin factory in an enemy country who harbored terrorists, there was outrage in our country. We apologized as a country for dropping the bomb in WWII, even though it mercifully ended the conflict with Japan. There was dancing in the streets of Palestine yesterday, celebrating death, in this case the cold blood of mothers and fathers of innocent children. You see, we are fundamentally different than them. Our pastors preach the gospel of love in our churches, their leaders preach suicide bombing, the gospel of death from every hilltop. We are fundamentally different as a people, a city on a hill that can not be hid. We are different because we believe in a higher law than what is at the end of a gun, or commandeered jet liner. The first tangible thing we can do is simply not give in to fear. The real battle is still raging at the end of every panic line at every gas station, and it is for the soul of our country. We need to pray for our leaders to execute justice, and in a way that does not kill out of hate, but lovingly, mercifully, and quickly dispatches those who would kill again. We should pray with passion for the fallen peoples around the world, who's hearts and minds have been hijacked by this gospel of hate: we should pray for our enemies, and guard against being hijacked ourselves in our own fear and fury.

[TrueBeliever9]

What we can do is WAKE UP - and GET OUTRAGED AT CONGRESS! Everyone should write, email and fax the congress today stating NO MORE of our TAXPAYER DOLLARS to terrorist nations! IT SHOULD STOP TODAY STAT!