"American Tragedy"

Tomorrow is September 11th, the anniversary of the worst attack we've ever had on American civilians, from a murderous group of Islamic fascists. This day has had and still has enormous impact on every American citizen. Most of us remember every detail of those unprovoked attacks against our people. The site of the towers has become hallowed ground to all Americans. This area is, in a way, the same as Arlington Cemetery. This ground holds the remains of thousands of Americans who lost their lives just because they were Americans. We will have a memorial there, and when it is completed, we will continue to visit it and mourn the loss of life of all those martyred Americans. Like the deck of the Arizona at Pearl Harbor, this land is dedicated to the cost of freedom, and the price of treacherous enemies.

Soldiers know that their commitment can mean that they may be called upon to sacrifice their lives for their nation. People who get up to go to work or on a tour of one of America's greatest cities, don't expect it to be a day where psychotic killers will commit an atrocity that will take their lives. Even today, when I watch the replay of those events, I become filled with anger and sorrow. I still want pay back for what those sub-humans did to America that day. When I see video of our Flag being burned by those lunatics, my blood boils. Not so many years ago, I'm sure these same people took aid for one disaster or another from the United States. We are a nation that responds to the humanitarian needs of others; and we receive resentment from many for our efforts to help them. We help; we don't launch sneak attacks!

Tomorrow, all of our old feelings will surface again. Currently, we have a pastor who is threatening to have a ceremony where the Quran will be burned up. We have a group of Muslim leaders who want to build a mosque only a few yards from the ground where those innocent Americans were murdered. Personally, I don't understand why either of these groups would want to poke those ashes, to try to ignite that fire of hatred. Our soldiers don't need to have our enemies given any more reason to hate us. We don't need to do something that will be a "pep talk" to murderous terrorists; something that will be used as a recruiting tool. Conversely, we also don't need a structure that will be considered an insult to the entire nation.

Tomorrow should be a day of honor for the dead and their families. It should be a time of respect and reverence; not an excuse for dissension and hatred. All of the "Flags in our hearts" should be flying at half-mast.

Each day, the Flag is raised on the deck of the Arizona at Pearl Harbor. It is a time of quiet respect and honor for those men, and all men who have made the ultimate sacrifice. That same respect must be paid on September 11th. It is my sincere hope that people will not choose to use this day as a time of protest or for a political message. This day is beyond that; it is a memorial to an American tragedy that must never happen again. Do your part tomorrow: pay your respects, and save politics for another time.