By late morning the weather was spectacular, but inside our hearts it was the blackest of black. Loss of hope left room for despair as two immense buildings fell in an avalanche of steel and concrete, men and women.
Today our world is filled with troubles--war, economic woes, diplomatic failures, and political angers. An Islamic imam in New York insists on going forward with a building that many, including me, consider provocative and insensitive.
A pastor in Florida is condemned for lack of tolerance and sensitivity for threatening to burn the Quran.
How many Western religious books have been desecrated in the name of Islam? How many Bibles did the US Military destroy to avoid even the appearance of U.S. GIs proselytizing? How many home-made "care" packages went to Iraq and Afghanistan devoid of pork products in sensitivity to Muslim beliefs?Tolerance and diplomacy must travel in both directions for it to succeed. Where's the tolerance from Islam?
After the anger and horror of 9/11, the feeling I remember most is how America came together in love and patriotism. I still retain that feeling.
It's something that, in addition to victims of terrorism, we should never forget.
We almost singlehandedly attempt to save the world and then are the targets of people who get their kicks out of killing and destruction.
ReplyDeleteHow in hell can we be expected to relish the idea of a mosque being built near the scene of Islamic terrorists' most evil deeds?
I don't know if we should stoop to their level and burn their holy books but just what are we supposed to do...take whatever they dish out and not react with any anger towards the evil doers?
Your pictures are lovely and I empathize with your thoughts and feelings. We're human, not doormats.
For just a hint of actual reality about the mosque issue and the book-burning, turn off Fox News read this: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/09/10/this-is-how-the-media-wor_n_712229.html
ReplyDeleteOh, and Shaddy - your 'We almost singlehandedly attempt to save the world' bit is probably worth entering in the next Bulwer-Lytton Fiction Contest.
Beautiful pictures, Gully. This is too much the hot button topic for me to discuss on the internet.
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