Do Not Forget

[drazz]

"DO NOT FORGET"

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 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.

[Devilman]

[PencilVillian]

Cool.

[muthmaniac]

Drazz, are you the author of this "letter"? If not, I would think that you ought to quote where you got it from.

Just a thought, and that's all that I'll say about this.

-John

[drazz]

damn...did you read the name at the bottom dude....ED EVANS....why cant some of you just read the damn post ...stupid ass

[shinolahead]

*edited out my previous sarcasm*

"stupid ass"?
Is there maybe a way to correct him without resorting to namecalling and put downs?

[drazz]

well...he was close to being called a peckerhead....but he didnt quite make it....close...but not close enough...maybe with his next post he will get lucky...

[penciljack]

I think you're going to want to shape up really quick, Drazz. There's no reason to be insulting folks like this. Especially since it basically ruins the poigniancy of what you posted to begin with.

[legend of 8]

I think I understand where Drazz is coming from, if only a little bit. This is a rant in the extreme, I will admit. But, some things are better left unsaid. There is a certain way things MUST be done, even if we don't understand it. Yes, we knew, but, on the same token, we also knew about many others, and they were merely pranks. We cannot, repeat CANNOT jump up at every single little threat. That is why people prank: they wanna laugh at us looking for something that isn't there. And the threat that they got was pretty outstanding. Think, would you have thought that they would actually been able to blow up the towers? I didn't.

So, in all fairness, we must accept and adhere to certain things. Drazz, I sincerely hope that you have calmed down now.

Devilman, that is a great pic. You may be snide, you may be mean, but you also know when to say (so to speak) the right thing.




And, PJ? Every time I look at your avatar, I see the bulldog, and then, it vanishes. Did you ever get that full pic up? (laughs) Sorry, but I just had to lighten the mood a little.

[shinolahead]

I'm in the military. I will be taking an oath this Friday to re-enlist for another 5 years. It wasn't an easy decision.

There are 2 factors that go into my decision - my family and my belief in freedom.

I will not be happy on Friday. I am re-enlisting with a heavy heart. I continue my service out of a sense of necessity. I'm not filled with rightousness, nor do I have a need for revenge or a desire to show anyone the might of America. I feel it is necessary to take action against those that take action against freedom.




While I agree with alot of the points made in that speech, I find the judgment, stereotytping and loaded jargon contained in that speech to be counteractive to any kind of peace - and most of the negativity is aimed at americans. I don't find it hard to imagine similar propoganda being used to recrute those that would fight against us.
Do you honestly believe that there's a whole hoard of "evil doers"? An army of heartless demons fighting against us righteous angels?
I find it much more likely that there are a handfull of powerfull and influential ringleaders recruiting on army of people desperate for answers. I'll bet that they feel just as justified as we do.

Does this mean I condone their actions? No - not one bit. If called, I will cary a gun against them.
But because they threaten the lives and freedom of my family, of liberals and conservatives and dumbasses and heroes and people who like Jerry Springer and those who watch the Pet Psychic and those who still by Leifeld comics and those that think John Devilman is a sexy sumbitch.
I think to go into this with any sense of rightousness or superiority will only create more divisions.

I'm sure people disagree with this and that's fine. Please keep it civil.