I heard it on the radio. The folks in the advertising dept. at my paper were planning on participating in the national moment of silence at noon. I went in to the ed dept. to shut the radio off and the President was just then walking to the podium. I turned it up. We all listened intently, and agreed that it was a great speech. God Bless our President and our nation.
The only low point of the serive, other than BHC, was the preacherette who gave the benediction urging that we not avenge evil with evil. I fear she will be disappointed in days to come.
Could you elaborate on the wording? Could she perhaps have been referencing these stupid attacks on Arabs living in the States or to the calls to forget about collateral damage when we attack? If she was saying we shouldn't strike back, she should read her Bible better- God gave every nation the power of the sword with which to protect it's citizens. Not to mention that the war against terrorism passes Augustine's Just War test with flying colors. With unyielding anger and steel resolve...
I wish I had taped it, but as I recall, "avenge eveil with evil" seems pretty close to a direct quuote. She (in a short benediction) did not frame it in any particular context. But it seemed to me she was speaking about military retaliation as opposed to domestic violence against Arabs is U.S. Then again, I might just be a little hypersensitive right now ;^)