Peggy Noonan: Give Them a Medal

Opinion Journal ^ | 12/21/2001 | Peggy Noonan

[Pokey78]

Here are my heroes of September 11. Who are yours?

We wind up the year. It has been full of drama. We now prepare for fun. Christmas is coming, very soon, and whatever religious holiday you celebrate, you've probably got some cheer and downtime coming. And this is good.

[cantbebought]

Some stood through for the Red, White and Blue....

[MAKnight]

A posthumous Award to Todd Beamer and the guys on Flight 93 ... my first choice. He led people to bring down a plane with themselves onboard to save the lives of others. They knew that the chances of survival were virtually nil but they did it anyway. What could be more heroic?

To the men of the FDNY, who rushed into what they knew was an incredibly dangerous situation and lost over 300 precious brothers in the tragedy. They might not have known that their chances of survival were so low but they still gave their lives so others may live ... awe-inspiring.

To the NYPD ... who also rushed to help the people they had sworn to serve and protect ... and who, within the course of only an hour made the Left-Wing snobs in the New York Times and their readership in the penthouses look like idiots for their consistent demonization of them for all these years.

To the Mayor of New York, His Honor Mr. Rudolph Guiliani, who also made the Left-Wing snobs look like idiots for denigrating him and defined on that fateful day, the true meaning of leadership. He also allowed us to see, more clearly than ever, that the previous occupant of the White House was not a leader ... again showing us the abject stupidity of the Left.

To the United States Secretary of Defense, His Honor Mr. Donald Rumsfeld, again showing us the true meaning of leadership, putting himself on the line (which may have been somewhat stupid) to help his subordinates. And since that fateful day has shown the nation and the Left-Wing Clymers in the media, what to expect of the holder of that office.

To the President of United States of America, his Excellency Mr. George W. Bush. For rallying the nation around him and uniting us in our sorrow and instilling the resolve in our hearts necessary to win this war. For devising a successful plan of attack that has also made the Left look as stupid as stupid gets. And for being an allround excellent President ... simply remarkable.

And finally, to the American people as a whole, especially those who contributed their time, earnings and love to those directly affected and for standing tall and proud for their nation. That's still pissing off the Left to this day. It takes special courage to be a hero ... a lot of people found that special courage that day. Honor them ... and give yourselves a well-earned round of applause.

Well done America ... you've done your founders, and he who guides your destiny, proud.

[HangFire]

Love Peggy;-)

[JohnHuang2]

Me too ;^)

[RonDog]

Todd Beamer BUMP!

Let's Roll!

[aruanan]

No, Peggy. Stop inflating the meaning of the word "hero". Medals only for those who were killed or injured trying to save lives other than their own or who were killed trying to kill the terrorists. Everyone else was a victim, not a hero. Now, this doesn't mean they were cowards; they just weren't heroes. Otherwise people who die in their sleep in a fire set by arsonists or who get shot up and die during a bank robbery or who get mugged for being the wrong color on the wrong side of town at the wrong time of day are heroes. No, no, and no. Heroism, like cowardice, is determined by your response to a situation, not by the effects of the situation on you, and certainly not because of the intention of the one inflicting the situation on you. Thus, the passengers who rode into oblivion on the first plane that hit the first tower were victims of terrorism but they weren't heroes. The passengers on Flight 93, though, who participated in trying to take the plane back from the hijackers even though they knew they could die doing so, they were heroes. And, no, Peggy, Oprah is not a hero.

[austinTparty]

Peggy Noonan ping

[onyx]

Indeed! Todd beamer BUMP! Let's Roll!

[Neets]

Thanks for the article pokey,,,thanks for the ping John!!

[JohnHuang2]

You're welcome =^)

[Humidston]

All gave some. Some gave all.

We were thinking the same thoughts.... The heroes of Flight 93.

[CWRWinger]

That is one list, not too well thought through. For one thing, it's too long and includes too many. Cocaine snorting McCartney is no hero.

[Elle Bee]

thanks & Merry Christmas

.

[Bryan]

These are individual awards and it's hard to give them to the entire NYPD and FDNY or the Americans on the aircraft. I do have three recommendations but aside from Giuliani, they are posthumous.

There are eight American men who died in Afghanistan. Four deaths were not combat related. Three more were due to friendly fire. One was a CIA agent and I believe he should rceive a Freedom Medal.

There are also two postal workers who died of anthrax and they should receive Freedom Medals as well. The postal workers who are now sorting a tidal wave of Christmas cards are on a front line of ths war. And it is a front line all their own.

[Freedom'sWorthIt]

I would not give the major media "leaders" one single award for anything except cheering on the terrorists (when they are not on camera!) Fox News to a degree is the only exception.

The real heroes should include President and Mrs. Bush, and Vice President and Mrs. Cheney---but I know they cannot give this award to themselves......

I would also nominate all those in the Federal Government agencies (which includes all in our military) who have done truly outstanding work in preventing any further attacks and in tracking down those who did the deeds. As President Bush said - they are now earning their salaries - bigtime!

For the non-hero awards, I would like to nominate numero uno - Hillary Clinton for NOT attending the funerals of "fellow" New Yorkers and for NOT giving President Bush the respect he deserved and deserves at this time especially. 2nd place non-hero goes to Daschle who continues to work for the destruction of America's economy in order for his "party" to reap election rewards in 2002.

Sorry - but the non-heroes deserve their place in hell, just as the heroes deserve the Freedom medals. We have had both heroes and traitors.

[.38sw]

Miss Noonan does it again!

[lonestar]

Sorry - but the non-heroes deserve their place in hell, just as the heroes deserve the Freedom medals. We have had both heroes and traitors.

I agree that Hillary should continue to get the recognition she deserves. Her behavior must not be forgotten but should live on . At least 'til the next election. LOL....

[Freedom'sWorthIt]

"Her behavior must not be forgotten but should live on . At least 'til the next election. "

Don't worry. It will. We will not forget or let anyone else forget her "behavior" no matter what mighty spin machine efforts her media puppets churn out.

[ben richards]

Stop inflating the meaning of the word "hero". Medals only for those who were killed or injured trying to save lives other than their own or who were killed trying to kill the terrorists.

I agree. There is so much talk about all of the heroes and I think the term has become diluted. It has been done with good intentions. One disagreement, though. There are some who made it out of the buildings without injury, who put themselves at great risk helping others to escape. These, too are heroes, by my definition.