It has been eight years since September 11, 2001 and nobody has forgotten; time has not healed any wounds. My parents taught me not to hate but today I fail to be a righteous man. It is hard for me not to hate those who hate us. It is impossible for me to understand cultures, governments, and religions that sanction “honor-killings” of female family members. It is impossible for me to understand people who claim a right to kill those choosing to leave their religion.
When people declare a “holy war” against us, I do not understand why we do not ruthlessly obliterate the ground that they walk on and burn their assets beyond recovery. It is impossible for me to understand many things, for only the righteous can love beyond hate, and only the righteous can possess the wisdom to understand the absurdities of life, and only the righteous can forgive. As long as I carry the images of September 11, 2001 in my mind, I can never be a righteous man.
We have not had a major incident or attack in eight years, mostly thanks to good fortune, and thanks at least in part to the efforts of the FBI, CIA, NSA, Homeland Security, ICE, and many other agencies. We give it to them in the ass when things go wrong; we owe them no less than a salute when things go right.
“Thank you” often is an insufficient expression of appreciation. For lack of better words, I will offer my humble “Thank you” to all members of our armed forces for taking the fight to the enemy, a war our enemies started over here. “Thank you” to the families of those in our armed forces for their immeasurable sacrifices. “Thank you” to all countries standing with the USA in this war against terror and hate.
Even though I am not a righteous man, I do pray that all of what has happened will someday be nothing more than pages of text among the countless lessons learned by those who found a way to make the world a place of peace.
When people declare a “holy war” against us, I do not understand why we do not ruthlessly obliterate the ground that they walk on and burn their assets beyond recovery. It is impossible for me to understand many things, for only the righteous can love beyond hate, and only the righteous can possess the wisdom to understand the absurdities of life, and only the righteous can forgive. As long as I carry the images of September 11, 2001 in my mind, I can never be a righteous man.
We have not had a major incident or attack in eight years, mostly thanks to good fortune, and thanks at least in part to the efforts of the FBI, CIA, NSA, Homeland Security, ICE, and many other agencies. We give it to them in the ass when things go wrong; we owe them no less than a salute when things go right.
“Thank you” often is an insufficient expression of appreciation. For lack of better words, I will offer my humble “Thank you” to all members of our armed forces for taking the fight to the enemy, a war our enemies started over here. “Thank you” to the families of those in our armed forces for their immeasurable sacrifices. “Thank you” to all countries standing with the USA in this war against terror and hate.
Even though I am not a righteous man, I do pray that all of what has happened will someday be nothing more than pages of text among the countless lessons learned by those who found a way to make the world a place of peace.
I have left any regret about how I feel about this behind. If there is a just and loving God, He will have to explain it to me when I get there. Until then, I hate them, with a rage that has not diminished one iota. If for no other reason than Christine Lee Hanson. Google that name.
ReplyDelete