"DO NOT FORGET"

I sat in a movie theater watching "Schindler's List," asked myself,

"Why didn't the Jews fight back?"

Now I know why.

I sat in a movie theater, watching "Pearl Harbor" and asked myself,

"Why weren't we prepared?"

Now I know why.

Civilized people cannot fathom, much less predict, the actions of evil people.

On September 11, dozens of capable airplane passengers allowed

themselves to be overpowered by a handful of poorly armed terrorists because

they did not comprehend the depth of hatred that motivated their captors.

On September 11, thousands of innocent people were murdered because too

many Americans naively reject the reality that some nations are dedicated

to the dominance of others. Many political pundits, pacifists and media

personnel want us to forget the carnage. They say we must focus on the

bravery of the rescuers and ignore the cowardice of the killers. They

implore us to understand the motivation of the perpetrators. Major television stations

have announced they will assist the healing process by not replaying devastating

footage of the planes crashing into the Twin Towers.

I will not be manipulated.

I will not pretend to understand.

I will not forget.

I will not forget the liberal media who abused freedom of the press to

kick our country when it was vulnerable and hurting.

I will not forget that CBS anchor Dan Rather preceded President Bush's

address to the nation with the snide remark, "No matter how you feel

about him, he is still our president."

I will not forget that ABC TV anchor Peter Jennings questioned

President Bush's motives for not returning immediately to Washington, DC

and commented, "We're all pretty skeptical and cynical about Washington."

And I will not forget that ABC's Mark Halperin warned if reporters

weren't informed of every little detail of this war, they aren't "likely --

nor should they be expected -- to show deference."

I will not isolate myself from my fellow Americans by pretending an

attack on the USS Cole in Yemen was not an attack on the United States of America.

I will not forget the Clinton administration equipped Islamic

terrorists and their supporters with the world's most sophisticated

telecommunications equipment and encryption technology, thereby

compromising America's ability to trace terrorist radio, cell phone, land

lines, faxes and modem communications.

I will not be appeased with pointless, quick retaliatory strikes like

those perfected by the previous administration.

I will not be comforted by "feel-good, do nothing" regulations like the

silly "Have your bags been under your control?" question at the airport.

I will not be influenced by so called, "antiwar demonstrators" who

exploit the right of expression to chant anti-American obscenities.

I will not forget the moral victory handed the North Vietnamese by

American war protesters who reviled and spat upon the returning soldiers,

airmen, sailors and Marines.

I will not be softened by the wishful thinking of pacifists who chose

reassurance over reality.

I will embrace the wise words of Prime Minister Tony Blair who told

Labor Party conference, "They have no moral inhibition on the slaughter of

the innocent. If they could have murdered not 7,000 but 70,000, does anyone

doubt they would have done so and rejoiced in it?

There is no compromise possible with such people, no meeting of minds,

no point of understanding with such terror. Just a choice: defeat it or be

defeated by it. And defeat it we must!"

I will force myself to....

- hear the weeping,

- feel the helplessness,

- imagine the terror,

- sense the panic,

- smell the burning flesh,

- experience the loss,

- remember the hatred.

I sat in a movie theater, watching "Private Ryan" and asked myself,

"Where did they find the courage?"

Now I know......We have no choice. Living without liberty is not living.

-- Ed Evans, MGySgt., USMC (Ret.)

Not as lean, Not as mean, But still a Marine.