In memory of those who died on September 11, 2001

On September 11, 2001 started as any other week day when thousands of innocent people were at their jobs in the Twin Towers of New York City. Others had taken a routine flight, flight 92, while still others had gone to their job at the pentagon as usual. For the most part they were not soldiers or were they at war with the terrorists; they were just ordinary people working to care for their families and earning their living. Thousands of them would never see their love ones again; they would be cut down and their lives destroyed by the cowardly act of terrorists who did their dastardly evil acts in the name of God.

All told 2,996 would die on September 11, 2001; this included those in the twin towers, flight 92 and the pentagon. The United States had experienced tragedies before, like when Pearl Harbor was bombed by the Japanese in 1941, but never had it experienced such a horrendous act against innocent people, just going about their every day jobs.

These cowardly acts on American soil left us sickened that any human being could commit such horrendous acts against innocent people. But it was done and now what could be done?

In the name of justice the murders had to be hunted down and pay the price for their crimes against humanity. It would take almost 10 years to finally track down the architect of the infamous scheme to kill the innocent. On May 2, 2011 Osama Ben Laden was found in his hideaway in Pakistan and brought down by Navy Seals.

Many others who served with him have also been brought to justice. It has taken a decade of war at the cost of $3-5 trillion dollars and the loss of thousands of lives to settle the score against evil. But even today the threat is just as real as ever. Al-Qaeda still functions as a terrorist group and is still determined to bring harm on innocent people around the world.

Billions of dollars have been spent to safe guard against further attacks but even now there is no 100% guarantee that another attack won’t happen. Without doubt the world will be at war with the terrorist as long as the world stands.

A lot of hatred and bitterness has resulted from the events of 911 and other innocent people have been targeted. The murders that planned 911, that hold the radical and perverted views of their religion, are but only a fraction of Muslin/Arabic people but as a result many have had to pay the price. An entire ethnic group of people are hated and punished for the acts of a few. This kind of attitude has only added additional tragedy.

I for one don’t agree with the tenants of Islam but I do agree with their right to practice their faith and to live in peace.

While I’m not an expert on Islam, what I have learned seems to defy the views of the radical Muslims. I don’t believe that Mohammed preached hatred against everyone who was not a Muslim and I further believe that he would be appalled at what this group of radicals is doing in his name. Muhammad asked his male followers to “Be good to women”. He was also active as a humanitarian and philanthropist which is a far cry from murdering nearly 3,000 innocent people in one day.

Terrorism today goes beyond just the Muslims. I remember when I was growing up that there was a segment under the guise of Christianity who put on white sheets and went out to punish blacks for no other reason than their ethnic background. In Ireland it has been between the Protestants and the Catholics or in Spain the Basques; It is not uncommon for one group who holds different views to persecute and murder those who hold a different view or who have a different color of skin or ethnic background.

These all have a similar thing in mind and that is they demand others to believe just as they believe or to be like them. Their purpose is to force their narrow views and practices on the rest of the world, giving them no freedom of choice or actions.

Stalin, Hitler, Pol Pot, Chairman Mao, Idi Amin are just a few from history who have tried to press their narrow views on the world and millions have died as a result of their hatred and wicked acts.

Yes without doubt we live in a world of oppression, conflict, suffering and uncertainty. 911 has had a lasting effect on the lives of most every American in one way of the other. And of course those who lost love ones in the attacks on 911 are the ones affected the most but each of us have had to reevaluate life and come to terms with how the present world is.

Today Sunday, September 11, I heard a sermon on remembering 911 and it was very good and I agreed with it. It was taken from Romans 12 and Mathew 5. In those chapters the Bible tells us that we will face affliction in the present world and also how we are to respond. It is very clear that we are to love our enemies and not wish them harm and to pray.

To that I agree but I also must say that a distinction must be made between enemies and enemies of the law. I pastor-ed a church for years and I had some who were my enemies and they were in the church. They would not do me physical harm nor were they murders and lawbreakers but nevertheless they meant me no good, nor my ministry. I had to deal with it and I wanted to do so in a Biblical way so I determined not to hate them or carry resentment and bitterness but rather treat them with respect and pray for them. I must confess that there were times when I failed and I never did as well as I would like to have but I did succeed in what I sat out to do, not to hate or harbor bitterness or wish them harm.

The enemies of 911 are also our enemies and we should waste no time in carrying around a lot of hatred or bitterness because that only hurts us. What we should do instead is what has been done for 10 years now and that is to bring them to justice. They are different from the enemies I mentioned above who were enemies but not enemies of the law. They are not only enemies but they are murders and lawbreakers who must be brought to justice and required to pay the penalty for their crimes.

Some have stated that the war against terrorism has been too costly both in dollars and in collateral loss of lives. War is always a terrible thing and innocent people always get hurt and displaced but criminals and murders make it necessary in order to protect freedom and justice. The fault of war never lies with those who try to bring justice and protect freedom but with the murders that make it necessary.

You don’t just turn a cheek to murders and give them way to harm and murder. You must deal with them in such a way that they will not be able to harm and to murder more. The Bible is clear on dealing with criminals and that is through swift action and justice.

I’m glad that the United States has acted swiftly and has pronounced judgment on the murders of 911. There is a lot more to do and I hope we will never lose sight of what is necessary in order to protect the lives of Americans as well as others around the world.

I have great confidence in the progress you are going to make.

Visit my company website if you are interested in learning more or would like to join my team in this exciting new adventure: http://otobefree.nerium.com/ : You may also contact me here.

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