Something All Americans Can Give to Victims and Heroes of 9/11
By Michael Bresciani (09/05/06)
President Roosevelt’s speech about the “a day that will live in infamy”
was the rallying cry for millions of Americans all throughout the dark
years that followed the bombing of Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941.
Following that speech America gave until it hurt. She gave her sons, her
wealth, her prayers and her resolve. Has 9/11 produced a rallying cry and
if so what can we give now?
What Americans can give to the victims and heroes of 9/11 is not all that
different than what they gave after the bombing of Pearl Harbor in 1941.
The nature of the offense to America is so radically different than it was
on those who perished at Pearl Harbor that it requires a great deal more
careful thought and discernment. The enemy that caused the events of 9/11
is positioned throughout the world and in the most cowardly way remains
largely in hiding. They are empowered by hatred and the perverted notion
that they are killing others for God. Cowardice and hiding has not made
them any less a formidable enemy, in fact they have actually become a far
more deadly enemy.
President Roosevelt was also known for saying “there is nothing to fear
but fear itself.” Enter the modern terrorist. Fear is their stock in
trade. America must walk constantly looking over its shoulder and glancing
suspiciously into the eye of every stranger who is dressed differently or
speaks an unfamiliar language. That fear spawns yet another fear that
maybe measures taken to deal with the first fear may go too far and
extremes by our own countrymen will bring dangers yet unseen. All this
fear is just as deadly as nuclear fallout or the effects of a biological
weapon. It strikes the heart the mind and indeed the very soul of America.
Although immorality, self indulgence and liberalism has assaulted America
in this generation there is little doubt that enough brave, selfless and
level headed Americans are left to rally. While across the rallying line
the voices of the naysayer’s can be heard bellowing their objections and
disapproval at least it is in a language we understand. While they are
practicing their right to free expression we can be relatively sure that
they won’t use guns and bombs to make their point. The anti-war crowd is
not likely to start a war. In the unlikely event that they do start a war
it couldn’t last very long, remember they are “anti-war.”
One of the first things America could start giving to the effort against
terrorists is to show a little patience. When Boston was in the thick of
the biggest excavation in American history, “The Big Dig” the city was
torn up and all normal routes of travel were detoured, blocked or changed.
An entire highway was being built under the city that left Bostonians
wishing it would just cave in so they could get back to normal. Just
outside one of its underground entrances near the center of Boston was a
sign that read, “Rome wasn’t built in a day, if it were we would have
hired their contractors, please be patient.”
The policies and actions taken to defeat terrorism will not be built in a
day but they are being built. Bush bashing, anti war rallying and
complaining about airport security checks are symptomatic of a country in
too much of a rush and pathologically self absorbed. Those are the
conditions that terrorist counted on in the past to make their moves.
America could also give a great deal more care and respect to our soldiers
especially those already fighting or providing support for those who are
in the field. Nothing could be more demoralizing than a wishy washy
American public to the psyche of a soldier in harms way. Whether you
believe in the war is not nearly important as whether you believe in the
soldier. If we equip our soldiers with the finest state of the art
electronics and weaponry in the world and then bicker, debate and
dissimulate about the war he or she is fighting we are essentially tying a
ball and chain around a streamlined warrior. These are our sons, brothers,
sisters, daughters, classmates, fellow workers, neighbors and
citizens…give them a break. Don’t mess with their courage, their faith or
their resolve; it is their greatest source of strength.
Finally we could all try to retain at least a fair modicum of dignity.
Hollywood, the movies, the music industry and the media in general are
pouring out trash in volume all under the guise of “giving people what
they want.” Most people that have a measure of self respect left still
don’t want our nation to be compared to or reduced to the level of a bunch
of dogs in heat. Having fun is not a life’s calling or a part of the quest
for the Holy Grail.
Unrest around the world, recent memories of 9/11 and the American penchant
for faith in God and adherence to the teachings of the Bible have produced
another concern for some people. It could be called the 5/5 watch. That is
that at five years past 9/11 it looks like we are just five minutes from
twelve on the prophetic clock. It is hard to argue with this idea and when
our nation collectively enters into a denial about it, that in itself is
yet another sign of its approach. The portent of Armageddon and the second
coming of Christ have attached to them two main elements. The first is
that many warnings will be sounded by ministries, ministers, prophets and
Christians in general. The other unsettling promise about those events is
that not many people will take heed to the voices of those doing the
warning.
The Apostle Peter put it this way. Knowing this first, that there shall
come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, And saying,
Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all
things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. 2Peter
3:3-4 KJV
Rev Bresciani is a graduate of Delgado College and Union Seminary of New
Orleans. He is the author of two Christian books. He is also a
contributing author for several online news and commentary sites. Please
visit http://www.americanprophet.org
(Printer friendly version) Email: Michael Bresciani
