On this day of remembrance, I would be remiss not to note my hearty recommendation of the movie United 93. I had the fortune to watch it over the weekend, powerful cinema indeed.
The film was actually recommended to me by a friend, and local Democrat, who recently brought his family to my own humble abode for an enjoyable dinner. This friend shared his own experience watching the movie, recounting how his arm shook at points in the drama. For my part, I wept unashamedly at the end. Perhaps only those that have viewed the movie may truly understand why.
Related to United 93, I was reminded by conversations with this friend, and recent conversations with my lovely bride, of how, like many Americans, the mundane details of everyday life melded into something more profound on September 11, 2001.
On that day, I had the lack of joy to be awakened early by the cursed barking of our family dog (now thankfully gone from the Earling home). My wife and I were both up accordingly, she to watch the news, I to do the dishes left from the night before.
When my wife turned on the TV, news of the first strike on the World Trade Center was just breaking. She called me into the living room from our kitchen, and I watched for a couple minutes before returning to my husbandly duty. I returned quickly upon her shriek when the 2nd plane impacted live, onscreen. I remember her asking in a state of shock if there were people [passengers] on those planes. "Yes," I grimly responded, and after a minute's reflection, told her we had just gone to war with whatever terrorist group committed this act, and with any country that may have aided them. It was only a matter of finding out for sure whom that war would be with.
In my own shock, I returned again to the kitchen, hoping to finish the dishes that cursed me in that sans dishwasher apartment, only to return to the living room once more when news of the strike at the Pentagon broke. Watching through TV cameras positioned near the National Mall, looking to the smoke rising on the horizon across the Potomac, I remember saying "now somebody is going to get their skull thumped." Though the targets were yet unclear, it seemed undeniable, even then, that whoever had the motivation to strike at the United States in this dastardly fashion, would require a serious reckoning.
Indeed they did, and indeed those like them still do.
For the peculiar reasons of our culture, this fifth year anniversary will receive much more attention than that of last year or the next. In the midst of such remembrances, some powerful, some less, lovers of the history of this country, its government, and our ideals, would do well to pause, and watch United 93. In doing so, one can give thanks for the courage of everyday Americans, and celebrate the proud standing symbol of our republic that was defended that terrible day.
Posted by Eric Earling at September 11, 2006 07:20 AM | Email Thishttp://www.traditionalvalues.org/clinton_abc.html
Posted by: JDH on September 11, 2006 07:50 AM Let me guess; You were working in Seattle that day?
In certain quarters it's oh-so-fashionable and worldly to be anti-military and anti-American. Other people die to protect their rights to crappy CD collections, daisy chains, nose-rings and hempfest. Somehow, I don't think the current crop of Liberals will be remembered as anybody's "greatest generation" (unless you're Fidel Castro or Hugo Chavez).
My family lights candle, fly the flag, and observe many moments for the lost lives. We must all be forever vigilant. Must meet evil head on. We must hug our family and friends often. We must be thankful for all of our blessings. God bless all those lost and those who lost loved ones in the attack. Thank you and bless all those who are fighting the good fight against these evil bastards and bless all of you a SP.
'nuff said
Posted by: Jeffro on September 11, 2006 09:54 AMWhen you get depressed by the large number of your Seattle neighbors who seem to have chosen the other side, it will help you to travel elsewhere in this great land and see what great numbers of Americans really think. Eastern WA will do. Texas is a real antidote. Even Chicago will cheer you up - they must have 10 times as many American flags per square mile than Seattle.
Personally, I fly my flag 24/7/365 just to irk my neighbors. Remember - Seattle is very atypical. Keep the faith.
http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/060911/ids_photos_ts/r1066002127.jpg
Posted by: CplFlagg on September 11, 2006 10:59 AMdoes anyone know of a 9-11 theme flag is out there yet to buy? perhaps with towers or with UAL 93 silhoettes? i'd like to fly THAT too next to Old Glory! every day!
Never forget!
Posted by: jimmie-howya-doin on September 11, 2006 11:23 AMUntil recently it was being said that what we are confronted with, here, is 'a civil war' within Islam. That's what all this was supposed to be: not a clash of civilisations or anything like that, but a civil war within Islam. Well, the civil war appears to be over. And Islamism won it. The loser, moderate Islam, is always deceptively well-represented on the level of the op-ed page and the public debate; elsewhere, it is supine and inaudible. We are not hearing from moderate Islam. Whereas Islamism, as a mover and shaper of world events, is pretty well all there is.Posted by: Sstarr on September 11, 2006 12:03 PMSo, to repeat, we respect Islam - the donor of countless benefits to mankind, and the possessor of a thrilling history. But Islamism? No, we can hardly be asked to respect a creedal wave that calls for our own elimination.
http://www.gcsdistributing.com/
There are some really great Shockwave Flash tributes there to our troops, and 9-11...
Posted by: ektenos on September 11, 2006 12:46 PM1) The left leaning mainstream media has laregely supressed this view, so to the extent that those on the left don't dig deeper, they are blissfully ignorant.
2) There are many on the left with the naive "Give Peace a Chance" mindset. They really believe that it's possible for evil to go away if we just lay down our arms and appease.
3) There's an actively bad side of the left that willfuly attempts to suppress any truths of violent Islam or of what happened on 9/11 etc. To these people, there is an absolute lust for power on the left and the Democrats are merely the stepping stone to that power. It's these folks that form the greatest danger and in many ways they share an ideological tie with violent Islam. Fortunately, they are foolish and the are more than willing to overtly express their hatred of America. And that's why they have been unable to attain significant power of late.
We must continue to confront violent Islamic hatred.
Let's roll.
Posted by: Jeff B. on September 11, 2006 01:32 PMFirst, the lack of understanding of the meaning of the word "conspiracy." To "conspire" is when 2 or more people plan to do something. Thus, even if the official government story of 9/11 is real, there was still conspiracy going on.
Second, the notion that anyone who questions the official story must be a "left-winger." This is absurd on its face, and only gets more absurd upon closer examination. As one example, consider the role of the John Birch Society. Who can accuse them of being leftists? They were a big driving force getting at the truth behind OKC too, under the Clinton presidency. The Clinton gang called the JBS "right-wing nut jobs." I very much doubt the politics of the Birchers has shifted that much.
In addition, the most recent poll, I've heard, informs us that 42 per cent surveyed say they do not believe the official 9/11 story. These are not all liberals, folks. I promise you that.
I need only point out that there is historical precedent -- Hitler burning the Reichstag. The U.S.S. Maine. The Gulf of Tonkin incident. It goes on and on. For myself, I make no claims to the real facts of the matter, nor do I propose theories. I do not oppose war, nor do I object to wiping Muslims off the face of the planet to put them out of our misery. But rational thinking has led me to the ineluctable conclusion that we are being lied to, whether that lying is done with good or bad intentions.
I offer my sincerest condolences to everyone who lost family and friends on that day. I can only hope that your grief will not impair your judgement.
Posted by: RedStateOfMind on September 11, 2006 11:51 PM