Clusterheadaches.com Message Board


    
      
        Clusterheadaches.com Message Board
        (http://www.clusterheadaches.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi)
      

        New Message Board Archives >> 2002 Posts >> I Will Not Forget..........
        
(Message started by: TerryS on Aug 13^th, 2002, 4:18pm)

Title: I Will Not Forget..........
Post by TerryS on Aug 13^th, 2002, 4:18pm

I WILL 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."

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 statement 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.

Please forward to every American who still believes in freedom
and that we are NOT helpless in the fight against terrorism.

Title: Re: I Will Not Forget..........
Post by Melissa on Aug 13^th, 2002, 9:17pm

thank you Terry for posting this, it's a chilling cold hard truth...

love,
mel

Title: Re: I Will Not Forget..........
Post by kim on Aug 14^th, 2002, 7:34am

Ditto!!! so true. Thanks TerryS.

Title: Re: I Will Not Forget..........
Post by sailpappy on Aug 14^th, 2002, 8:05am

;D ;D Terry,
Most of the people in our country have never seen life in a third world country, places where little children carry weapons and it is as normal as kids skating down the street here, countries steeped in hatered, where life is somehow worth less than it seems to be here.
Places where fighting and war have been a part of their history for so long that the people have become desynstized to the loss of life.
Somolia
Isreal
Pallestine
Korea
china
viet nam
many south african nations
Places where atrosities like mass murder go unpunished,like Iran and Iraq where they test their weapons of mass destruction on their own people.
I was not a Marine, but this Big Red 1 will never forget either! Thanks for the little reminder!
Give me Liberty or give me Death, Live free or Die,
First Air Cav, 7/17th Air Cav/3rd of the 1st Air Cav. Central Highlands to the DMZ 69-71 Pappy

Title: Re: I Will Not Forget..........
Post by echo on Aug 14^th, 2002, 11:08am

Great post Terry.

We will never forget. Wish I was young enough to take another tour.

US Army, SSgt, MP (Vietnam & state side)

Title: Re: I Will Not Forget..........
Post by catlind on Aug 14^th, 2002, 11:19am

You are one of a few Terry :)

My addition to this thread will be a poem that we in Canada grew up knowing by heart and recited every November 11th, on the 11th hour. I was surprised when my hubby, USAF had never heard it:

In Flanders Fields

In Flanders Fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky -
The larks still bravely singing fly,
Scarce heard amongst the guns below.
We are the dead. Short days ago ,
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow.
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
in Flanders Fields

Take up our quarrel with the foe;
From failing hands we throw -
The torch; Be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
in Flanders Fields.

Written by Lt. Col. John McCrae M.D. Canadian Army

Cat

Title: Re: I Will Not Forget..........
Post by Bob P on Aug 14^th, 2002, 11:28am

I think hub violated little Susie Pudtaker in Flanders field, one warm summer evening back in '68.

If ya ask him, he'll probably tell ya the whole story.

Title: Re: I Will Not Forget..........
Post by Slammy on Aug 14^th, 2002, 11:33am

Canada has an army? ;D

(ducking) sorry, couldn't resist! :D

Hey! it's me! :)

Slammy 8)

Title: Re: I Will Not Forget..........
Post by catlind on Aug 14^th, 2002, 11:39am

Slammy...............................

aRgh, the problem is that Canada's Army isn't much anymore so I can't even really fight back on that one!
:-/

Now that you've stood back up after ducking
consider yourself smucked in the face with a Canadian snowball :P LOL

As a side note I'll have you know that the Canadians won in the first ever military sniper competition :P

Cat

Title: Re: I Will Not Forget..........
Post by Margi on Aug 14^th, 2002, 12:20pm

Catlind's right. We do have an army here. OK, so it consists of two Newfs in a canoe, an attack beaver and a REALLY sharp knife, but we're still pretty danged fierce.

I didn't realize you 'mericans didn't know 'In Flanders Fields'. That's pretty cool, Catlind. :) I think it's even printed on our five (or ten?) dollar bills now.

Title: Re: I Will Not Forget..........
Post by TomM on Aug 14^th, 2002, 12:39pm

Pappy, as usual, you are right on target. You're my hero! ;D--TomM--

Title: Re: I Will Not Forget..........
Post by TerryS on Aug 14^th, 2002, 1:31pm

USN ARC 4 USS THOR......1966-1970 :)

Title: Re: I Will Not Forget..........
Post by Drk^Angel on Aug 14^th, 2002, 3:50pm

Isn't Canada's army personel trained by the US Army?

PFDAN......................... Drk^Angel

Title: Re: I Will Not Forget..........
Post by catlind on Aug 14^th, 2002, 3:55pm

Erm...I may have seen the occassional Canadian forces here at Fort Drum NY....erm...maybe they were just visiting? LOL

Cat

Title: Re: I Will Not Forget..........
Post by Slammy on Aug 14^th, 2002, 4:02pm

Who's Erm? :D

Fort Drum? Oh yeah, that's where they learn to mountain climb and yodle! ;D

Slammy 8)

Title: May I add this............
Post by gammavh on Aug 14^th, 2002, 5:06pm

was written by my son.

This was written by: David J. Hearn
September 2001

[center][/center]
This was written by: David J. Hearn
September 2001

WINGS.

That morn began just like the rest.
Streets filled with people,
Living life, Doing their best.

Police officers protect all on their beat.
Firefighters always ready,
Truck polished, Kept so neat.

Shops stocked and ready,
Anticipation high.
Outside, line forming,
All ready to buy.

To majestic heights,
The twins stand proud.
The bliss destroyed,
An explosion loud.

A deadly cloud now blocks the sun.
Far down below humanity runs.

The second twin rocked,
More of the same.
Again down falls a deadly rain.

The city's finest rush to aid.
The victims of this evil made.

Such disbelief,
This can't be so.
Into the danger the hero's go.

All races and religions live in this town.
No warning at all,
One twin crashes down.

With shock and horror,
Our heads hung low.
Humanity loved,
Buried down below.

Such disbelief,
This can't be so.
Into the second,
The heros go.

Tears wash the dust from the hero's face.
Comrades lives taken,
As into danger they raced.

They must continue,
More lives to save.
The second twin falls,
Becomes their grave.

Sorrow in our heart,
On our knees we pray.
Many hero's became angels,
Got their wings that day.

*********************************************

[left][/left]
Great post too. I agree with you 100%. It should never ever be forgotten or minimized. And I swear if Tony Blair ever forgets who his friends in the USA are he'll be voted out of office. It's only the fools in this country that are scared to back him. Not the ordinary people.

gam

Title: Re: I Will Not Forget..........
Post by Melissa on Aug 14^th, 2002, 6:09pm

gammavh, your sons poem is moving... You have a very talented guy there! Thanks so much for sharing that...

:)

Title: Re: I Will Not Forget..........
Post by TomM on Aug 15^th, 2002, 7:07am

I will never let anyone I know ever forget Sept 11. American soil was attacked on Sept 11 just like on Dec 7. I was not around that fatefule day in 1941, but I have been humbled by the visiting the Arizona Memorial just as I was humbled by all Americans who helped, served, and did what was asked by our nation that beautiful blue sky, clear visibility, warm mid 70's degree day.
I never went to 'Nam; never made it to Granada; even missed the Gulf War. But I served.
--TomM-- USCG 1980-1987, and proud of it.

Title: Re: I Will Not Forget..........
Post by hub on Aug 15^th, 2002, 11:22am

I have every piece of information that I can find on the flight 93 heroics. I still get a knot in my throat when I think of it.
But what does that have to do with the flippin canadian army?
buncha frogs

Title: Re: I Will Not Forget..........
Post by catlind on Aug 15^th, 2002, 11:50am

Now now Hub, the only frogs in Canada are commonly known to reside in Quebec only ;)

(no offence my PQ clusterfriends)

Cat