Posted on 07/16/2004 4:24:33 PM PDT by SandRat
One Marine's Thoughts
---------------- 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 the 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.) Not as lean, Not as mean, But still a Marine.
Keep this going until every living American has read it and memorized it so we don't make the same mistake again.
bump
"I will not pretend to understand".
"I will not forget".
AMEN! SEMPER FI!
"I will not pretend to understand".
"I will not forget".
AMEN! SEMPER FI!
I got this via e-mail from a friend and have sent it to my address book! They loved it.
Bump for later.
bump
Wow. I'll help email that one out...
Here, please.
That pretty much says it all.
Affirmative, that's how I got it. Someone fowarded it to me with lots n lots of other email addressees.
Wait til the Republican Attack Machine turns loose Adm. Denton and Sen. Zell Miller after the convention, Kerry will really howl in angst then.
Thanks for the ping!
I look forward to it..Great email...!
...AMERICA LAND OF THE FREE BECAUSE OF THE BRAVE...
Americans have been too tolerant of the power of lying. When a mugger threatens, "Hand over your money and you won't be harmed", he's lying. When a highjacker orders you to sit still and remain calm, he's lying. I've talked to my son telling him the worst of all conduct is to lie. The worst of all existance is to live believng a lie. To be misguided, misled, wrongheaded are symtoms of the disease that plagues our American culture. Criminal (or terroristic) acts rely on threat, compliance to the threat to bring relief but too often this is not the case. In logic that which is true implies something which is false is false. The nature of the lie. Better stated, If you hand over your money, you won't be harmed" (example,as are all the rest) The lie is believed and the harm is done. Our commom sense has been harnessed, our survival skills and instincts dulled by liberal laws that provide aggressors access to our country's freedoms and benefits. The lack of concern for one's safety as a personal responsibility, trusting in the calvary to show up allows those who wish us harm success in their endeavors. We don't want vigilantism, we don't want victimization either. This is where we take our stand and stop listening to lies. Thank you Master Gunnery Seargent.
Thanks for the bump. BTW, you have freepmail.
Thank you, My2Cents and SandRat.
And thank you, Ed Evans, MGySgt., USMC (Ret.).
Great Post ! , I bring up most of these points nearly every day in conversations at work .
I work in a Union environment so I fight the war on terror daily with what I say. I never start the conversation but when it is done the enemy( liberal ) walks away dazed and will never be the same again.
I hope the US Marines know that I have their backs here on the homefront every day .
My ammo is my words
My chief intelligence source is now the freerepublic community.
To the U.S Marines ,... and all coalition,
WE are your alies here at home and we are the majority , not the media.
You are our only hope . Never give up , our lives depend on you soldiers out there !
Just today, I had the priveledge to have a long conversation with a Marine who survived heavy action in Vietnam. I learned a lot .
Our dialog covered the parralells of WW2, Vietnam and the W.O.T. I learned a lot.. Our conclusion was that The Vietnam war was meaningful and it did make a difference.
Two days ago, I was stopped at a traffic light and saw a sticker in the back window of a car, It read " D A M " (written in american flag colors) and below it said " YOUR AMERICA " their window was down so I said , Gently but firmly, Nice sticker, And the Genex types looked baffled , then I said , "thanks, it lets me know you are the enemy"
I will not forget the take over of our embassy and the 444 days captivity of our people.
Note to the mad mullahs in Persia: Make no mistake, we are coming for you...and sooner than you might think.
5.56mm
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