Remembering

                               

"All that is necessary for the forces of evil to win the world is for enough good men to do nothing." - Edmond Burke 1729-1797

 

Many, many "good men" did all they could, all they knew, more than we could imagine on Sept. 11th.  Many were rescued by heroic, ordinary actions.  (I say it that way, because as we view their actions as heroic, most of them would probably say they were just doing what anyone would have.)  Many, many more perished despite all that was done. 

 

I am not calling for any to live in fear.  Fear paralyzes.  But I am calling for all to remember that 9/11 was not a one day attack.  It was an act in a war.  The war still rages.  And there are still good men out there watching, guarding, fighting, protecting in the hopes there will be no more casualties on these shores again.

 

So, pause, reflect, remember and pray for those who perished on 9/11.  Then pause, reflect, remember, support and pray for those who are still in harm's way, in hopes that we may never be.

 

You and the American GI


 You and The American G.I...........
 Your alarm goes off, you hit the snooze and sleep for another 10 
minutes.
 He stays up for days on end.
 _________________________
You take a warm shower to help you wake up.
 He goes days or weeks without running water.
 __________________________
You complain of a "headache," and call in sick.
 He gets shot at as others are hit, and keeps moving forward.
 __________________________
 You put on your anti war/don't support the troops shirt, and go meet up
 with your friends.
 He still fights for your right to wear that shirt.
 __________________________
 You make sure you're cell phone is in your pocket.
 He clutches the cross hanging on his chain next to his dog tags.
 __________________________
 You talk trash about your "buddies" that aren't with you.
 He knows he may not see some of his buddies again.
 __________________________
 You walk down the beach, staring at all the pretty girls.
 He walks the streets, searching for insurgents and terrorists.
 __________________________
 You complain about how hot it is.
 He wears his heavy gear in 100+ heat, not daring to take off his helmet 
to
 wipe his brow.
 __________________________
 You go out to lunch, and complain because the restaurant got your order
 wrong.
 He doesn't get to eat today.
 __________________________
 Your maid makes your bed and washes your clothes.
 He wears the same things for weeks, but makes sure his weapons are 
clean.
 __________________________
 You go to the mall and get your hair redone.
 He doesn't have time to brush his teeth today.
 __________________________
 You're angry because your class ran 5 minutes over.
 He's told he will be held over an extra 2 months.
 __________________________
 You call your girlfriend and set a date for tonight.
 He waits for the mail to see if there is a letter from home.
 __________________________
 You hug and kiss your girlfriend, like you do everyday.
 He holds his letter close and smells his love's perfume.
 __________________________
 You roll your eyes as a baby cries.
 He gets a letter with pictures of his new child, and wonders if they'll
 ever meet
 __________________________
 You criticize your government, and say that war never solves anything.
 He sees the innocent tortured and killed by their own people and 
remembers
why he is fighting.
 __________________________
 You hear the jokes about the war, and make fun of men like him.
 He hears the gunfire, bombs and screams of the wounded.
 __________________________
 You see only what the media wants you to see.
 He sees the broken bodies lying around him.
 __________________________
 You are asked to go to the store by your parents. You don't.
 He does exactly what he is told.
 __________________________
 You stay at home and watch TV.
 He takes whatever time he is given to call, write home, sleep, and eat.
 __________________________
 You crawl into your soft bed, with down pillows, and get comfortable.
 He crawls under a tank for shade and a 5 minute nap, only to be woken 
by
 gunfire.
 __________________________
 You sit there and judge him, saying the world is probably a worse place
 because of men like him.
 If only there were more men like him!
 ____________________________

 Only two defining forces have ever offered to die for you,
 Jesus Christ and the American G. I.
 One died for your soul, the other for your freedom.