As I'm sure most of you remember, Tuesday is the sixth anniversary of the terrorist attacks that happened on September 11, 2001, in New York, Pennsylvania, and Washington, D.C.
It was a remarkable day just as it is remarkable that six years have already zoomed by since then. When we are young, the days can't pass fast enough, but once we become adults, days seem like minutes and years feel like months. I don't know if that is a good or bad thing, but it certainly makes you stop and think.
Obviously, this anniversary provokes a lot of different emotions and thoughts. Additionally, our nation's focus has changed a lot because of these attacks. We have since fought wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, and regardless of how a person feels about those efforts, we should never take for granted the sacrifices many have made serving our country in those conflicts.
If there is one thing that is surprising in the last six years, it is that another large-scale terrorist attack has not happened in the United States. There have been plots uncovered, and terrorists have committed crimes in places like Spain and Scotland, but we have largely been spared.
Given how much liberty we have to move around in our country, it is surprising that our enemies have not been able to exploit that freedom. They certainly were able to do that in 2001, and it would be naïve to believe that they won't be able to do that again. Our enemies are relentless and are committed to their cause with a fervor that we do not have. That is not meant as a criticism of America but is a statement about how committed the radical Islamic movement is.
At some point, another attack will happen. It is not a matter of 'if,' but a matter of 'when.'
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The Discovery Times channel is currently airing a program entitled The Falling Man. The Falling Man documents a photo taken of a young gentleman who leapt to his death rather than be burned alive in the inferno that was the top few floors of each WTC tower following the 9/11 terrorist attack.
A lot of people feel the "Falling Man" photo is too disturbing to be shown regularly; thus, you rarely - if ever - see said photo in print or on television.
I'm of the opinion that any and all photos of "falling" men and women should not only be distributed on the 9/11 anniversary, they should be shown whenever 9/11/2001 is a topic of conversation in the media. Not to make people mad, mind you; but to remind us all that America is in a struggle against individuals who espouse an ideology that has no respect for life, liberty, or common decency whatsoever.
The war against Islamic terrorism is not a "bumper sticker" charade, as presidential wannabe John Edwards stated; the war against Islamic terrorism is not a conspiracy initiated by George Bush in order to establish a monarchy in the United States. The War on Terror is a very real struggle that began with the 1993 bombing of the World Trade Center -- and it was finally joined when innocent folks were forced to leap 90 floors to their deaths.
Americans need to be continually reminded that another day could very well come during which folks are again forced to jump from windows in order to spare themselves from burning alive. Sacrifice - sometimes uncomfortable sacrifice - may be necessary to make sure such a day never happens again. Those who doubt that such sacrifice is necessary should be shown "The Falling Man" photo, over and over again. That should do it ...
Another attack is coming. The first World Trade Center attack happened in 1993 and it took eight years before the next attack.
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