Never Forget
As we remember the attacks of 10 years ago today, I don't have much to add to what I said last year, other than that, when our resolve weakens, I hope we all remember how we felt on that day. God Bless all the victims of the horrific terrorist attacks of 9/11/01. My faith teaches me that we are supposed to forgive those who attack us. I haven't reached that point yet.
posted by Bubblehead at 12:00 AM
53 Comments:
"Never forget" also means "Never forgive." Food for thought.
I was in Israel a couple of years ago, touring Jerusalem. One of my Israeli Jewish guides, clearly a very, very bright man in his own right, who was engaged to a Danish medical student, passed along an observation from someone he himself respected as being a brilliant individual. It was in regard to the Holocaust Museum in Jerusalem...which is a major airplane-hanger sized collection of memorabilia, pictures and stark evidence of what man is capable of doing to man.
The 'mensch' offered the opinion that he wished the Holocaust Museum had never been built...for one reason: it was a constant source of training generations of of Israelis that "no matter what we do in retaliation...this justifies it."
Again..."never forget" = "never forgive."
We all need to bear in mind that history teaches us that all too often it's not the snake bite of hostilities that kills a nation...it's the poision of unforgiveness.
Shalom.
9/11/2011 1:00 AM
Nor have I Joel (reached the point of forgiveness). Don't know that I ever will.
Anyway, God Bless America on this day of remembrance.
9/11/2011 3:19 AM
I will never forgive those that did this. I don't blame the group for the actions of a few.
I take solace that they are answering to a much higher authority.
9/11/2011 8:24 AM
You may forgive or not forgive, forget or not forget, the choice is yours.
However, always remember that the "people" that did this and the source that drives them is still alive and well.
This will never be over until all the battles in the War on Terror have been won or loss. And for those who think the battles of Afghanistan and Iraq are the only battles to be fought, then they really do not understand the enemy.
9/11/2011 9:45 AM
No offense, sir, but please keep "faith" out of this. Faith is what brought down the towers in the first place. Faith doesn't win wars, it perpetuates them. If there is an all-powerful, all-loving deity, I'm sure it would rather we were all atheist and get along with each other than kill ourselves in its name.
9/11/2011 10:40 AM
It's a free country, 10:40 AM anon...as much as some might wish to muzzle others. The U.S. Constitution provides for freedom of religion.
Are you, or have you been, sworn to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States? Get with the program.
BTW, the word 'faith' appears 247 times in the Bible, but only twice in the Old Testament.
A fine Sunday morning to you.
9/11/2011 11:06 AM
To The One, beg to differ, we (as in humanity) should never forget the bestiality a few can inflict if we want to avoid a repetition.
Religion has justified building most of what man deems greatest, from the Piramids to the Cathedrals, and justified some of the worst abuses, but fon't kid yourself, the worst of the worst massacres were perpetrated by ideologues without God: the Communists and the Nazis.
Faith has nothing to do with barbarism.
9/11/2011 11:20 AM
To my childhood friend I lost that day ...
To my fellow sailors who have fought along side me ...
To the true hero's who came back in a flag covered box ...
To the families who supported us all ...
To my fellow American's ...
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures.
He leadeth me beside the still waters.
He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death; I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they
comfort me.
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.
And let us all say AMEN.
9/11/2011 12:01 PM
The reference in the Constitution to religion:
Amendment 1 - Freedom of Religion, Press, Expression
Ratified 12/15/1791
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
Those of us who have taken 'the oath' might just want to read the thing we've sworn our lives to protect once in a while.
9/11/2011 12:43 PM
Rob, here's a secular alternative.
9/11/2011 1:22 PM
Wahabi extremists backed by Saudi money did it, so we slaughter thousands of Iraqis and afghans and leave hundreds of thousands, maimed, displaced and homeless.
9/11 was a sad and terrible thing. Why have we worked so hard and sacrificed so much to make it more so, all the while rewarding and lining the pockets of those responsible?
9/11/2011 2:27 PM
Geopolitics is chess...not checkers.
Go look at a map of the Middle East. Find Iraq. See what's around it, country-wise. Imagine why it might be more than a little bit strategic.
Dr. George Friedman's America's Secret War goes over the 'why' behind Iraq in detail. Read and learn.
Long story made short: Attacking Saudi Arabia was out of the question in terms of oil flow (America's lifeblood). Not doing anything was also out of the question, as a provocation such as 9-11, unanswered, would only lead to more 9-11s, perhaps economically-fatal.
What to do? Step right up to the plate Saudi neighber, Saddam Hussein. We've got a bean ball waiting for you. Be sure to take lots of stretched-neck gallows pics for Saudi royals' consumption.
Game over. Thanks for playing.
9/11/2011 3:16 PM
Geopolitics is chess...not checkers.
Go look at a map of the Middle East. Find Iraq. See what's around it, country-wise. Imagine why it might be more than a little bit strategic.
Dr. George Friedman's America's Secret War goes over the 'why' behind Iraq in detail. Read and learn.
Long story made short: Attacking Saudi Arabia was out of the question in terms of oil flow (America's lifeblood). Not doing anything was also out of the question, as a provocation such as 9-11, unanswered, would only lead to more 9-11s, perhaps economically-fatal.
What to do? Step right up to the plate Saudi neighber, Saddam Hussein. We've got a bean ball waiting for you. Be sure to take lots of stretched-neck gallows pics for Saudi royals' consumption.
Game over. Thanks for playing.
9/11/2011 3:16 PM
"Attacking Saudi Arabia was out of the question in terms of oil flow (America's lifeblood)."
Except that most of our oil doesn't come from Saudi Arabia. It comes from ourselves (approx 1/3) and our two neighbors to the north and south of us - Canada and Mexico. Most of the Saudi oil goes to Europe and Japan.
9/11/2011 3:25 PM
Reload, petroleum-boy...about 10-22% of America's oil imports comes (or has come) from Saudia Arabia.
Graphics: http://lugar.senate.gov/energy/graphs/oilimport.html
http://www.window.state.tx.us/specialrpt/energy/nonrenewable/images/exhibit4-21.png
Saudi oil production for U.S. consumption was also quite high from Saudi Arabia in 2001:
http://www.scaruffi.com/politics/oil.html
As no small aside, Saudi Arabia also has the greatest amount of known oil reserves of any country in the world.
But maybe that's why Mr. Friedman has a Ph.D., and you have a "piled higher and deeper."
9/11/2011 3:50 PM
1106, 1243 - I'm not Congress, nor amy I trying to pass a law to outlaw or favor any religion, just utilizing MY right of free speech to voice my taking offense. Saying "god bless the victims" is tantamount to telling a rape victims that their attackers love them.
1120 - Are you seriously saying that Nazis weren't influenced by religion? "We were convinced that the people needs and requires this faith. We have therefore undertaken the fight against the atheistic movement, and that not merely with a few theoretical declarations: we have stamped it out." Adof Hitler, in a speech in Berlin.
Stalin's barbarism was a result of his own nature, not from a lack of faith.
By the way, which "god" should bless the victims, the one who stood by and let it happen or the one in whose name they were killed?
9/11/2011 5:09 PM
One thing that annoys me about people talking about 9/11. They call it a tragedy.
I remind them it wasn't a tragedy....it was an atrocity.
Just sayin.
9/11/2011 5:42 PM
@ Anon of 5:09PM:
The 'godless' communists in the form of Stalin and Pol Pot's killing fields whacked a whole lot of folks. You're not on thin ice regarding atheists, you've fallen through it.
And you did type "please keep "faith" out of this...your words. If you're offended, as you claim, go ahead and register your complaint in that fashion, but please be honest about telling people to shut up as regards faith-based ideas. You made a mistake. Man up and admit it.
As regards the concepts of God, yours strike me as being particularly small and childish. Just sayin'.
Consider actually studying the very broad subject a bit while witholding judgement til the end. You're not coming across, exactly, as Mr. Eclectic.
Peace.
9/11/2011 5:57 PM
You're very close, if not over, the line. I've seen it common place that a lot of religious fanatics consider atheists and agnostics to be immoral and a blight on society. Pull your head out of your ass. There are many people who follow this line of thought who have fought and even possibly died for their country. The bible may not be on my shelf, but you know what text I follow in my daily life? The United States Constitution, which many of our fellow followers on this blog also follow.
I do have morals and ethics. I have no religion. I do, however, respect the beliefs of others. I'm also not an "in your face" kind of agnostic. This is exactly what the former post was about. Whether religion vs atheist/agnostic, or religion vs other religion, it will often be a topic filled with animosity or even hate. But in closing, I will remind you that the attacks on September 11th were not tied to religion, or that fact that we have freedom. They were because of our meddling in the Middle East, especially in mainly Saudi Arabia. Most conflicts in human history have been fought over resources and the land around said resources.
9/11/2011 7:48 PM
It's threads like this that reminds me of the extremism apparent in the US military.
We go to Iraq, kill tens of thousands of Iraqis, execute families in their home, then blow up up said house to hide the evidence. We gun down children gathering wood in Afghanistan, and kill thousands of Afghan civilians (albeit inadvertently), all while producing no discernible benefit, apart from pushing our country further into debt.
10 years after 9/11, we are war mongers, imperialists, and under the thumb of an increasingly intrusive government, who arrests, holds, and targets its own citizens for assasination without trial, due prorcess, and for "crimes" that should be protected by the Constitution that we all swore to protect.
It's shocking to me that anybody can sit here, now, in the world we live in today, and say that it was all worth it and recommend that we stay the course. We are a worse country now than before 9/11 in nearly every way. At the very least, I think this deserves a moment of reflection and questioning where we went wrong.
9/11/2011 7:51 PM
"I think this deserves a moment of reflection and questioning where we went wrong."
Perhaps by not listening to Bin Laden, when he very explicity said what his goal was...the bankrupting of the United States?
9/11/2011 8:00 PM
I have no problem with atheists in and of themselves, merely because of their faith in atheism.
As the man said: "At least they don't blame God for their troubles."
9/11/2011 8:01 PM
"We are a worse country now than before 9/11 in nearly every way. At the very least, I think this deserves a moment of reflection and questioning where we went wrong."
Good point, maybe if had done something prior to 9/11, things would have been different. Imagine the outrage if we had just gone to other countries to take out terrorists prior to 9/11?
T, you would make an excellent armchair quarterback!
9/11/2011 8:34 PM
You mean, like, have attacked Bin Laden with Tomahawk missles in, say, August of 1998?
Wizard idea...but he wasn't at the appointed warhead-on-foreheads location.
9/11/2011 9:25 PM
duh:
I am absolutely not advocating that we should invade countries preemptively (even though that is what we do now... Iraq? Yemen? Philipines?)
Honestly, the information was there before 9-11, but we (collectively) failed to believe it and ignored the warnings:
http://articles.cnn.com/2002-09-18/politics/intelligence.hearings_1_federal-intelligence-agencies-terror-attacks-world-trade-center?_s=PM:ALLPOLITICS
Governments of the world even were intercepting communications of KSM directly talking about (albeit in code) the attacks months before 9-11 occurred. Yet, we need the Patriot Act? The TSA? Two Wars? Search and seizure without a warrant? What, in all honesty, have we gotten for these things?
- The TSA has never caught a terrorist (thrown away a lot of nail clippers and lighters though)
- The Patriot Act is a brutal violation of Americans' Civil Rights
- The wars in Afghanistan and Iraq have bled us dry, killed tens of thousands of innocent Iraqis and Afghani people, killed thousands of American Soldiers, and have greatly lessened America's standing in the world.
All of this to prevent an event that has less risk of killing an American citizen than a lightning strike.
Dude, the Terrorists WON! Most of us just don't see it that way.
9/11/2011 9:29 PM
"Dude, the Terrorists WON! Most of us just don't see it that way."
I think that you and Al Qaeda have a very different idea of "winning."
On the other hand...so does Charlie Sheen.
9/11/2011 9:46 PM
Sure, Al Qaeda is mostly over and done for, but we are a much diminished country. In that way, they've at least partially achieved their objectives
9/12/2011 5:11 AM
Someone posted about how bin Laden wanted to bankrupt the US. Well he has nearly achieved his goal. Even if we don't go totally bankrupt, it will still take another decade or longer to fully recover our economy.
9/12/2011 7:17 AM
"Dude, the Terrorists WON! Most of us just don't see it that way."
If, by winning, you mean still scraping by in the same wastelands as years ago unable to escape predator drone shadows and unable to launch a single successful follow up to 9/11, then yes, they are the champs.
"Yet, we need the Patriot Act? The TSA? Two Wars? Search and seizure without a warrant? What, in all honesty, have we gotten for these things?"
My family and I are still alive and free, and judging by your ability to respond on a blog you are too.
9/12/2011 7:26 AM
"Someone posted about how bin Laden wanted to bankrupt the US. Well he has nearly achieved his goal."
I wouldn't say he "achieved" his goal, more like there happened to be an economic collapse (as happens every few years) while he was still alive. Unless al Qaeda had operatives working in Fannie and Freddie approving homeloans to those who couldn't afford it they are just beneficiaries of a completely seperate crisis. Besides, we are pretty much bankrupt right now and you don't see al Qaeda dancing in the streets celebrating...they are too busy beating their wives.
9/12/2011 8:05 AM
We go to Iraq, kill tens of thousands of Iraqis, execute families in their home, then blow up up said house to hide the evidence. We gun down children gathering wood in Afghanistan, and kill thousands of Afghan civilians (albeit inadvertently), all while producing no discernible benefit, apart from pushing our country further into debt.
Comments like that really grind my gears. Parent is using the word 'we' to imply that part of the mission was to gun down children or execute families, much the same way that people point out fringe elements of any group to say "see what those guys are doing, that entire group is bad!"
With a military the size we have, there will be bad people in it who do bad things. We find those out and punish them, and move on. But to imply that one of the reasons we are in Iraq is to execute families in their homes, is downright false, not even deserving of the term 'disingenuous'. It would be akin to me reading about a murder in North Dakota and coming to the conclusion that the only reason people move to North Dakota is to murder people. Does that make sense? Nope, and neither does the parent's argument.
T, when it comes down to it, you're pretty much just rehashing the 'baby killer' statements of the Vietnam era. You may be trying to say it in a PC way, but when it comes down to it, you are calling anyone involved in GWOT a baby killer. That is an accusation I have decided to take personally, but in the interest of civility I will hold off on ridiculing and belittling you.
9/12/2011 11:00 AM
The President said: "The search is underway for those who were behind these evil acts. I have directed the full resources of our intelligence and law enforcement communities to find those responsible and to bring them to justice. We will make no distinction between the terrorists who committed these acts and those who harbor them."
If countries such as Iraq and Afghanistan had taken him at his word, and not harbored those individuals who are either dead or rotting in Guantanamo, the horrible things that happened in those countries would have been over a long time ago.
A Retired Sailor
9/12/2011 11:01 AM
t was on a boomer. Whaddya expect...? Heterosexuality?
9/12/2011 12:46 PM
Portattackstart:
From an American Perspective, you are correct. Obviously, a small minority of American soldiers are "bad", and most of the civilian deaths were unintended, either by mistaken identity, "fog of war", poor intel, etc... FWIW, I'm still in the USNR, so I am at least moderately more likely than most of the commenters here to go waste ~$1 MM fighting pointless wars in the sandbox, so clearly I don't think all military are evil...
But from an Iraqi/Afghan perspective, it is meaningless. From a net impact of "evil deeds completed", it is meaningless. "I killed you family but it was an accident!" does not play well anywhere in the world, nor would it play well here if the role was reversed. I don't see how these types of actions can be read as doing anything but creating new reasons to take up arms against the USA.
But they hate us for our freedom... right?
A Retired Sailor:
I like how you put Iraq in there... The Iraqi terrorists must have been holed up with all the WMD ;-)
9/12/2011 4:15 PM
t said,
- The TSA has never caught a terrorist (thrown away a lot of nail clippers and lighters though)
A lot of what TSA does is nonsense but have you ever seen a bomb in a suitcase? Ever caught a money smuggeler enroute to Pakistan? Ever met a real terrorist? I have. I have. I have met three.
Don't dispell everything.
9/12/2011 4:15 PM
"Reload, petroleum-boy...about 10-22% of America's oil imports comes (or has come) from Saudia Arabia."
Reload your own self, dumbass. I stated that "...most of our oil doesn't come from Saudi Arabia." I can see math isn't your strong point. (Were you a qualified submarine officer?) What part of *most* did you not understand?
Anyway, I can play dueling URL's too. Here's one from the US Energy Information Administration: http://205.254.135.24/pub/oil_gas/petroleum/data_publications/company_level_imports/current/import.html.
Have a look and you will see that: "Canada remained the largest exporter of total petroleum in June, exporting 2,524 thousand barrels per day to the United States, which is an increase from last month (2,481 thousand barrels per day). The second largest exporter of total petroleum was Mexico with 1,222 thousand barrels per day."
Saudi was third with 1169 thousand barrels per day. (And by the way, that's June 2011, not 2001.)
And that doesn't even consider what we produce domestically - you know from places like Texas, Louisiana, Alaska etc.
But thanks for playing.
9/12/2011 8:49 PM
I'm not saying those things don't exist. Just that the TSA sucks at finding them. Though, to my understanding, they do catch a fair amount of people smuggling reptiles, drugs, and cash. They may catch terrorist financiers, I suppose.
They have caught a dry run now (, I will give credit where credit is due, however was it worth $100 Billion? Remember the FBI and CIA knew about 9-11 before it happened, they just didn't believe that it was actually possible. It wasn't a lack of screening that caused 9-11, just a bunch of people sitting on their hands.
http://www.abc15.com/dpp/news/region_phoenix_metro/central_phoenix/tsa-speaks-out-about-fake-bomb-arrests
9/12/2011 8:55 PM
So, I think it's important to note that Oil is sold on the world market, so it doesn't particularly matter *WHERE* your oil comes from, total supply or lack thereof still affects the total price, unless it is some sort of under the table deal ala Iraq's violations of the oil for food program.
9/12/2011 9:19 PM
Have they asked for forgiveness?
9/12/2011 10:00 PM
Dear 8:49PM dumfuck anon.
The issue was why we didn't attack Saudi Arabia after 9/11. If you've lost track somehow, that was in 2001. Thus the relevant oil data.
Just go back to sleep, boomer fag. Sorry to disturb your slumber
9/12/2011 11:05 PM
But in closing, I will remind you that the attacks on September 11th were not tied to religion, or that fact that we have freedom. They were because of our meddling in the Middle East, especially in mainly Saudi Arabia.
You are either incredibly naive, woefully ignorant of the history and tenets of Islam, unbelievably stupid, or a combination of all three. Islam IS at war with the non-Islamic world. To deny this truth is to dig your own grave.
9/13/2011 12:54 PM
I thought it silly to address someone as "dumbfuc anon" over facts that are readily available. So I thought I'd do the 15min (or less) of research to hopefully bring what should be a respectful thread out of gutter. So the power of google & MSExcel have yielded the following for collective consumption.
Oil statistics for year 2000:
_________total______%imports__%consumption
Saudi: 516,467bbl____12%_________8%
Canada:661,351_______16%_________10%
Mexico:502,509_______12%_________8%
Nigeria:306,815_______7%_________5%
Iraq: 226,804________5%_________4%
OPEC Nations_________45%_________30%
Non-OPEC_____________55%_________36%
Persian Gulf Nations_22%_________14%
In 2000 66% of our oil was imported.
(data back into the 1990's)
http://205.254.135.24/dnav/pet/hist/LeafHandler.ashx?n=PET&s=MTTIMUS1&f=M
I hope this helps.
Even mad men pray to God, but this does not diminish God, for he is above this, rather it testifies to the lack of understanding which these men have of God. Indeed they do not know Him, rather they seek to create God in their own image, an endeavor toward which man will never succeed, and is truly what makes such men mad. So those like Joel (presumably) and myself seek to conform ourselves to the image of the humble, loving & forgiving God that we know. Joel says he's not there, well it turns out man will never succeed in this endeavor either, but that does not mean it is not worth working towards, for in this effort success is achieved simply and completely with each step in the right direction.
Keep the Faith Joel.
So long as man is imperfect atrocities should not be forgotten, lest history be repeated. Lack of education and an understanding of the past atrocities of the world are perhaps the most important factor in fostering the radicalism from which terrorism stems, as well as the violence in and general hatred found among the peoples of the middle east. When one works with and talks with educated and devout muslims in the UAE or Bahrain it is hard to imagine that the Al Qiada radicals are acting out of a commitment to the same religion. I would argue that it is not the same religion at all.
Obviously Iraq and Afghanistan were were places of terrible atrocity well before we decided to make a concerted effort there. At this point it is our responsibility to prevent a social implosion due to takeover by a ruthless faction in both of these places. Not an enviable place for us as a country to be, but leaving would as irresponsible as any action we've take military since the end of WWII. We are not there to forcibly make these nations American, we are essentially there for the common defense of our nation and theirs at the same time. In order provide for our common defense we must not let a ruthless regime take hold which will support terrorism.
Freedom Speech Exercised.
Remember the damaging power of misguided ideology
Remember the realities of this world, in which such terrible intent exists
Remember the fallen of that day
Remember the heroes of that day and everyday since that has seen this country safe from further successes of such magnitude.
9/13/2011 1:23 PM
dj, fantastic point of view.
On a side note did anyone watch the comedy that was the tea party debate last night? I only watched high lights but since Rick Perry was ganged up all night, I am kind of kicking myself for not watching it.
9/13/2011 3:05 PM
You are either incredibly naive, woefully ignorant of the history and tenets of Islam, unbelievably stupid, or a combination of all three. Islam IS at war with the non-Islamic world. To deny this truth is to dig your own grave.
Maybe you should go read some more Pamela Gellar, she see the evil of "Ay-RABS 'nvadin' AMERUKUH!", just like you!
9/13/2011 7:39 PM
t, I would think that since you're a definite fag, you'd be more up on exactly what Islam has in store for infidels - especially infidels with a penchant for homo ass pounding.
9/13/2011 8:52 PM
Being gay is rad. It's the new trend in the sub force.
http://s1.proxy04.twitpic.com/photos/thumb/395632710.jpg
Ummm... NSFW
9/13/2011 10:43 PM
@9/11/2011 5:57
I said "please", as in I made a request. I didn't demand Joel remove all mention of faith, I didn't give him some kind of threat, and I certainly didn't try to hack the site and remove his ability to practice free speech. Get over yourself.
As far as being "small and childish" regarding a sky fairy? That's cute. I used to be quite fundamental myself, until I actually read the bible. If those are the kinds of fairy tales that help you go to sleep at night, you're pretty sick.
I am grown up enough to stop believing in bogeymen and to actually apply logic and reason to the mysteries of the universe, rather than giving up and saying "gawddunnit" and considering myself higher than other people just because of my particular flavor of imaginary friend.
9/14/2011 7:31 AM
Couple of typos (w/regrets, IR enjinear):
Re Afghanistan & Iraq: "leaving would as irresponsible as any action we've *taken militarily* since the end of WWII."
"Freedom *of* Speech Exercised"
"Remember the heroes of that day and everyday since that has seen this country safe from further *atrocities* of such magnitude.
9/14/2011 10:43 PM
It's not even worth it to fight the "we were attacked on 9/11 due to x" argument anymore. Everyone is already decided. I believe that everyone who thinks the main reason we were attacked was because we have freedom is a threat to this country, albeit unknowingly. I'm not very sorry if it offends you.
9/15/2011 7:03 PM
Anon @ 9/11/2011 5:09 PM said:
"By the way, which "god" should bless the victims, the one who stood by and let it happen or the one in whose name they were killed?"
Oh silly person, if you actually had a good view of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation you would realize that "The god in whose name they were killed" is a false god contrived by crazy self serving radicals. Further if by "the god who who stood by & let it happen" you mean the one true God of Noah, Moses, Abraham, Issac, Christ, His 1st 12 Apostles, and Paul, then you are woefully lacking in your understanding of God & his gift of free will to all of his creation. For unlike school children, God does not arbitrarily choose who is correct and punish the rest based on a narrow perspective. He holds ultimate judgement and distributes his gifts equitably in a manner which, not surprisingly, cannot be understood by such a simple creature as mankind. And again we come back to keeping "The Faith" and the example set for us in His son.
9/15/2011 8:47 PM
God hated the the Thresher and the Scorpion!
9/16/2011 6:48 AM
From a civilian and grandchild of someone who was killed in the Shoah:
Years back, I was severely betrayed by someone I considered a close friend. It was something that hit me as hard as 9-11.
I still live next door to this person.
The only way I can deal with it is this:
I have not forgotten.
The way I cope is that I see this man as resembling a rattlesnake or a shark.
One doesnt hate rattlesnakes or sharks. One recognizes that these creatures bite for thier own reasons.
The only thing I can do is remain polite to this fellow but keep him at a safe distance to prevent a repeat.
And that is what we have to do with the people who get their sense of agency and purpose from some diseased theory of martyrdom.
Be aware they are out there, take intelligent precautions, be productivly alert.
Rancid stale anger clouds the mind, poisons the body and prevents skilled response to hazard.
At worst, terrorists can kill or maim us.
Only we can destroy America by gutting our own civil liberties.
I decided this man was insane at some level.
I continue to be civil to him, hope he someday wakes up.
But I also have made sure never to let him get close enough to do a repeat.
9/19/2011 4:03 PM
You only have to forgive them after they have repented. Or you have. Depending.
10/20/2011 7:00 AM
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