A letter for critics of United 93

[StarOfAfrica2]

I know we had a thread on this, but it devolved into a bunch of opinions on Iraq.  I read Mr. Beamer's letter today, and just thought I'd share what he thinks.  His son was Todd Beamer.

United 93

By DAVID BEAMER
April 27, 2006; Page A18

The calendar says it's April 25, 2006. At noon, my wife, Peggy, and I are walking around Battery Park -- near the Tribeca area -- in New York. It is our first time. The flowers are blooming; kids are fishing; people boarding the ferry to Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty. Kids are laughing and noisy. The sun is shining. The vendors are hawking T-shirts, pretzels and some "designer" wares. And just up the street there is a hole in the skyline and in the ground.

In the park, there is a memorial with walls standing tall. Walls filled with so many names of those who gave their all in the Atlantic in World War II. How fitting that the names are here to honor those who gave their lives to enable this fun, this laughter -- on this sunny day. The sights and sounds of freedom continue.

Fast forward -- it is 10:30 p.m., April 25. We have just seen a movie premiere at the fifth annual Tribeca Film Festival. A film festival that has done so much to energize and revitalize the city, its people and especially the area that has that hole in the skyline and in the ground. This year the movie that had its worldwide premiere at the festival is titled "United 93." It is about the day when the hole in the skyline of New York was made -- the day when a hole was made in the side of the Pentagon near Washington, D.C. -- the day when a hole was made in a quiet mountain meadow in Pennsylvania. The day that our nation was attacked; the day when the war came home -- Sept. 11, 2001. The day our son Todd boarded United 93.

Paul Greengrass and Universal set out to tell the story of United Flight 93 on that terrible day in our nation's history. They set about the task of telling this story with a genuine intent to get it right -- the actions of those on board and honor their memory. Their extensive research included reaching out to all the families who had lost loved ones on United Flight 93 as the first casualties of this war. And Paul and his team got it right.

There are those who question the timing of this project and the painful memories it evokes. Clearly, the film portrays the reality of the attack on our homeland and its terrible consequences. Often we attend movies to escape reality and fantasize a bit. In this case and at this time, it is appropriate to get a dose of reality about this war and the real enemy we face. It is not too soon for this story to be told, seen and heard. But it is too soon for us to become complacent. It is too soon for us to think of this war in only national terms. We need to be mindful that this enemy, who made those holes in our landscape and caused the deaths of some 3,000 of our fellow free people, has a vision to personally kill or convert each and every one of us. This film reminds us that this war is personal. This enemy is on a fanatical mission to take away our lives and liberty -- the liberty that has been secured for us by those whose names are on those walls in Battery Park and so many other walls and stones throughout this nation. This enemy seeks to take away the free will that our Creator has endowed in us. Patrick Henry got it right some 231 years ago. Living without liberty is not living at all.

The passengers and crew of United 93 had the blessed opportunity to understand the nature of the attack and to launch a counterattack against the enemy. This was our first successful counterattack in our homeland in this new global war -- World War III.

This film further reminds us of the nature of the enemy we face. An enemy who will stop at nothing to achieve world domination and force a life devoid of freedom upon all. Their methods are inhumane and their targets are the innocent and unsuspecting. We call this conflict the "War on Terror." This film is a wake-up call. And although we abhor terrorism as a tactic, we are at war with a real enemy and it is personal.

There are those who would hope to escape the pain of war. Can't we just live and let live and pretend every thing is OK? Let's discuss, negotiate, reason together. The film accurately shows an enemy who will stop at nothing in a quest for control. This enemy does not seek our resources, our land or our materials, but rather to alter our very way of life.

I encourage my fellow Americans and free people everywhere to see "United 93."

Be reminded of our very real enemy. Be inspired by a true story of heroic actions taken by ordinary people with victorious consequences. Be thankful for each precious day of life with a loved one and make the most of it. Resolve to take the right action in the situations of life, whatever they may be. Resolve to give thanks and support to those men, women, leaders and commanders who to this day (1,687 days since Sept. 11, 2001) continue the counterattacks on our enemy and in so doing keep us safe and our freedoms intact.

May the taste of freedom for people of the Middle East hasten victory. The enemy we face does not have the word "surrender" in their dictionary. We must not have the word "retreat" in ours. We surely want our troops home as soon as possible. That said, they cannot come home in retreat. They must come home victoriously. Pray for them.

[Sandman]

I went to New York. I visited the park. I saw a movie. My son died five years ago. Blah blah blah blah blah.

It's all just so much hooey. The Director of Intelligence has yet to make any changes to the intelligence community. If the Department of Homeland Security has accomplished anything it's hard to tell and the vast majority of shipments into this country are uninspected.

I don't feel any safer today than I did on September 10, 2001.

The only real difference is that air travel has become a colossal pain in the ass. Oh... that and we have one helluva federal deficit.

But what the hell... grab some popcorn, watch a flick and see if we can guess how it ends.

[Maverick]

And your solution is?

[Shaky]

Originally posted by Sandman
I went to New York. I visited the park. I saw a movie. My son died five years ago. Blah blah blah blah blah.

 

You really are a bitter, blind person, aren't you?

[Sandman]

Originally posted by Maverick
And your solution is?

Continued dissent.

[Maverick]

I see. So in other words bi****ng and complaining is the sum total of your plan to make the world a better place. Check. That should really make an improvement.

Are you sure you're not just a shade account for nash or gscholz??

[Sandman]

I vote at every election and complain to my elected representatives. That is my personal solution.

[StarOfAfrica2]

Originally posted by Sandman
I went to New York. I visited the park. I saw a movie. My son died five years ago. Blah blah blah blah blah.

It's all just so much hooey. The Director of Intelligence has yet to make any changes to the intelligence community. If the Department of Homeland Security has accomplished anything it's hard to tell and the vast majority of shipments into this country are uninspected.

I don't feel any safer today than I did on September 10, 2001.

The only real difference is that air travel has become a colossal pain in the ass. Oh... that and we have one helluva federal deficit.

But what the hell... grab some popcorn, watch a flick and see if we can guess how it ends.

Respectfully, Mr. Beamer is not offering you the solutions to all the world's problems, not even is he offering you the solution to our problem with terrorists or even just Osama.  All his letter says is that we should not put our heads in the proverbial sand hoping it was just a fluke and let the rest of the world go on by.  We have a tendency to do that.  A few years of domestic peace, suddenly the rest of the world's problems dont affect us, people start talking about isolationism again.  We are part of the world whether we like it or not, and must react to secure our safety, or at least try.  

Mr. Beamer has recognized that after a certain amount of time has passed, people want to try to forget 9/11.  They want to put it in the history books and study it, but dont want it to be current.  Because if it is, if all that horror and pain and anger and fear is still alive, still fresh, then so are the ones who caused it.  Osama is not just a man on TV or in a history book, he is Here and NOW.  Al Qeada is not just a group of extremists you hear about on talk shows and the news, they could be on your bus, on the subway, on your plane.  People want to put that fear behind them and if we are going to continue chasing terrorists around the globe and fighting them, and continue to stay safe at home with extra precautions, then people have to be reminded of why we are doing it.  It has to be fresh.  It has to be current.  It has to STAY fresh, until the job is done (if such a thing is possible).  Memorials are great.  For memories.  This isnt about memories, or at least not JUST about memories.  Its about reminding us there is still a job to do.

YOU may not need reminding.  Others do.

[Sandman]

Originally posted by StarOfAfrica2
Osama is not just a man on TV or in a history book, he is Here and NOW.  Al Qeada is not just a group of extremists you hear about on talk shows and the news, they could be on your bus, on the subway, on your plane.  People want to put that fear behind them and if we are going to continue chasing terrorists around the globe and fighting them, and continue to stay safe at home with extra precautions, then people have to be reminded of why we are doing it.  It has to be fresh.  It has to be current.  It has to STAY fresh, until the job is done (if such a thing is possible).  Memorials are great.  For memories.  This isnt about memories, or at least not JUST about memories.  Its about reminding us there is still a job to do.

YOU may not need reminding.  Others do.

I am in violent agreement with this. Our elected leaders have failed us. They took their eyes off the ball.

[SFRT - Frenchy]

I felt safer on September 10, 2001 than today.

[Mr Big]

Originally posted by SFRT - Frenchy
I felt safer on September 10, 2001 than today.

I don't feel any different.

[StarOfAfrica2]

Originally posted by Sandman
I am in violent agreement with this. Our elected leaders have failed us. They took their eyes off the ball.

Again, that isnt the point here.  It is true, I'm not disputing it.  It's just not what this is about.

[E25280]

Originally posted by Sandman
I am in violent agreement with this. Our elected leaders have failed us. They took their eyes off the ball.

*sigh*  Another one who says we can't walk and chew gum . . .

War on Terrorism.  Terrorism caused by a fanatical culture.  Defeating said culture is only way to win said war.  Said culture supported actively by many governments in the middle east.  Iraq one of said governments.  Iraq also "easy" target due to other international factors allowing US to invade on grounds other than "we are trying to change the fanatical culture in the middle east".  Lofty goal, too be sure, but goal is to instill FREEDOM and therefore alternatives to fanatical culture in a region currently woefully short of alternatives.  

Bush said from the beginning this war would outlast his two terms.  It took, what 50+ years to win the "Cold War" against communism.  It was fought in many ways in many places.  I am not sure why people thing the "War on Terrorism" should have only been fought in Tora Bora.

You think they took their eye off the ball?  Then you don't understand which game is being played.

[Sandman]

Originally posted by StarOfAfrica2
Again, that isnt the point here.  It is true, I'm not disputing it.  It's just not what this is about.

Hmmm.. he wrote, "Be reminded of our very real enemy."

I think we should remember who flew those planes and remember that there was not a single Iraqi among them.

[Sandman]

Originally posted by E25280
*sigh*  Another one who says we can't walk and chew gum . . .

War on Terrorism.  Terrorism caused by a fanatical culture.  Defeating said culture is only way to win said war.  Said culture supported actively by many governments in the middle east.  Iraq one of said governments.  Iraq also "easy" target due to other international factors allowing US to invade on grounds other than "we are trying to change the fanatical culture in the middle east".  Lofty goal, too be sure, but goal is to instill FREEDOM and therefore alternatives to fanatical culture in a region currently woefully short of alternatives.  

Bush said from the beginning this war would outlast his two terms.  It took, what 50+ years to win the "Cold War" against communism.  It was fought in many ways in many places.  I am not sure why people thing the "War on Terrorism" should have only been fought in Tora Bora.

You think they took their eye off the ball?  Then you don't understand which game is being played.

Have some more koolaid. The billions of dollars squandered away in Iraq could have been spent right here in the U.S. Do the walk in the U.S. and chew the gum in Afghanistan. I guess Iraq counts as rubbing our bellies while we do the other two. Unfortunately, we're tripping up here at home.