>"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.
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