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We have no choice. Living without liberty is not living
Received via email | Ed Evans, MGySgt., USMC (Ret)

Posted on 05/23/2002 2:10:40 PM PDT by Chuckster

I WILL NOT FORGET

I sat in a movie theater watching "Schindlers' List," and 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 worlds most sophisticated telecommunications equipment and encryption technology, thereby compromising America's ability to trace terrorist radio, cell phones, 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 statement 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 a 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.

Written By: Ed Evans, MGySgt., USMC (Ret) Not as lean. Not as mean, But still a Marine Semper Fi


TOPICS: Activism/Chapters; Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; Editorial; Foreign Affairs; Government; Philosophy
KEYWORDS: courage; jews; prepared; september11; terrorism; usmc
This was posted back in February by mamaduck. I received it again in email today and thought it was about time to remind everyone
1 posted on 05/23/2002 2:10:41 PM PDT by Chuckster
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To: Chuckster
A good reminder! It's "Why We Fight!" The jihadist enemy wants total war. We shall have total victory, and the jihadists totally defeated!
2 posted on 05/23/2002 2:20:22 PM PDT by sheik yerbouty
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To: sheik yerbouty
NEVER FORGET (Make sure you have your speakers on.)
3 posted on 05/23/2002 2:27:56 PM PDT by Maceman
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To: Chuckster
Thanks Chuck for reposting this as we approach Memorial Day.
4 posted on 05/23/2002 2:29:21 PM PDT by Grampa Dave
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To: Maceman
Thanks..I have it on my hard drive. This should be seen all over America!
5 posted on 05/23/2002 2:30:56 PM PDT by sheik yerbouty
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To: Chuckster
maybe we should consider what "liberty" and "freedom" mean in terms of absolutes.

think you are free?- try to leave without a govt. issued passport.
think you are free to own firearms? only after govt approval
think you have free speech? try to pray in public, or public school
think you own property? dont pay property tax and you'll find out you rent it from the govt.
think you own your life? 35% or so of your working life is to pay your income tax, let alone others, or go to jail. federalized semi slavery---this time, everyone is included.

i am sure there are others. lets remember what the founding fathers were fleeing from and fought for. the Boston Tea party was a protest against a very small tax, perhaps a half a percent as i recall, though this may be off. it was small, though. things are not as they seem, and thinking about it will be unsettling at first, but not thinking will get you dead, in terms of mans' means of survival: his mind.

6 posted on 05/23/2002 2:49:37 PM PDT by galt-jw
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To: Chuckster
Big OOORRRAAHH for MGySgt Evans!

Semper Fi!

7 posted on 05/23/2002 2:50:27 PM PDT by dd5339
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To: galt-jw
I couldn't agree more
8 posted on 05/23/2002 3:13:05 PM PDT by Chuckster
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To: Chuckster
I sat in a movie theater watching "Schindlers' List," and asked myself, "why didn't the Jews fight back?"

Apparently Mr. Evans failed world history. The Jews at that time did not fight back because they were not armed, as the Nazis were.

If they were, however, the Holocaust, as we know it, may never have happened.

9 posted on 05/23/2002 3:14:30 PM PDT by Houmatt
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To: Chuckster
Good post.
10 posted on 05/23/2002 3:31:39 PM PDT by weikel
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Comment #11 Removed by Moderator

To: Chuckster
That's a big A-MEN !!
12 posted on 05/23/2002 4:18:48 PM PDT by genefromjersey
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To: sheik yerbouty
How did you get it on your hard drive? When I tried to capture it, it wouldn't let me.
13 posted on 05/23/2002 5:07:32 PM PDT by Maceman
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To: Chuckster
That is the point..we have NO choice. These are treacherous times in which we live..stand tall and support and pray for our military and President Bush.
14 posted on 05/23/2002 5:16:29 PM PDT by SeaChell
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To: Maceman
Actually, I downloaded to "Briefcase".
15 posted on 05/23/2002 6:59:07 PM PDT by sheik yerbouty
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To: Thorn11cav; galt-jw
Its just that America has alot of dead wood that needs to be burnt.

Start at the universities. People always talk about the liberal media, but remember: to get a job in the media, you have to have a degree. Start at the universities. Not burning, but speaking out, fighting back... don't leave the world of ideas to Ellsworth Toohey.

16 posted on 05/23/2002 7:45:25 PM PDT by Anamensis
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To: Chuckster
A timely reminder.Thank you.
17 posted on 05/23/2002 8:36:47 PM PDT by sarasmom
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To: Houmatt
I am aware of that fact as I am sure was the author. I suppose that using "Schindlers List" was merely poetic licence in keeping with his 'movie theater' device to tie the the essay together with a theme.
18 posted on 05/24/2002 1:23:24 PM PDT by Chuckster
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