The Rise of Freedom - A Story of Two Brothers

Have We Forgotten Our Heros of 9/11?

During the time of the 9/11 aftermath, I worked with a young woman who was very dedicated to charitable causes.  One of the causes she helped out with was The Red Cross.  If you remember, The Red Cross was one of the charitable organizations that collected money for 9/11.  A few months after the attack The Red Cross was in the news because they had said they wanted to use some of the money for additional disasters.  She and I totally disagreed on this.  I said at the time that money needed to be saved because we had no idea what was going to happen to the workers that were working at the site, or to the people who lived in that neighborhood.  They may have long term health problems and mental health problems and would need that money for their families and for the medical expenses. 

Like most things the media forgets about it and moves on to other things.  We should be looking into this again.

Bob Beckel Shows What an Idiot He Is

The below video is really long, but at almost 14:30 into it, Bob Beckel comes out with the statement that we have to get over 9/11.  While I will agree that many New Yorkers are reacting to the Ground Zero Mosque on an emotional level, that doesn't mean that they are wrong.  It has been less than ten years since it happened.  I live outside of Washington, DC, and we were also hit on 9/11.  The damage done to the Pentagon was nothing compared to what happened in New York.  The Pentagon's damage was only a small part of the building and the fire was put out in a matter of days.  The city got back to almost normal in a matter of weeks.  If you didn't drive by the Pentagon you wouldn't have really known about the additional security measures. 

I grew up in Southern CT, very close to New York City.  You can be in Manhatten in 40 minutes, so I have been there many times.  Shortly after 9/11 I had this draw to go to the city to see it.  I will never forget that smell.   The buildings burned for months after the attack.  The trade center is still nothing more than a hole in the ground.  It was actually many years later until I drove home to CT.  I will never forget when I was driving on the George Washington Bridge and looked over to see big gapping hole in the NYC skyline.  No, Bob, I am not yet over it.

Do you think the men who carried out this dead firmeman should get over it? 

How bad must it have been in that building that this was the better choice? 

Should these six children get over it, Bob? 

Do you think they are going to forget this moment? 

So yes, Bob, this is still raw.  For the people who lived through this day and people who lived in the city at the time, it may remain that way forever for them.  Apparently, you can blame for it, but personally, I don't have the heart to.

Then we have this idiot blaming President Bush for 9/11:

Remaining True to Our Constitution and To Myself

One of the things that I promised myself when I started this blog was that I would be true to my own voice.  I have watched, read and listened to all the talk about the Mosque and Cultural Center that will be built just blocks away from Ground Zero. Most of the right is against and most of the left is for.  Many of the arguments that I have heard against it don't hold true to our values as Americans. 

I have seen pictures of the protests with signs saying that when we can build a church in Mecca they can build a mosque at ground zero.  What exactly is that saying?  To me people are saying that because the Saudis are intolerant that is ok for us to be intolerant as well.  That is, at best, twisted logic.  Our constitution guarantees the freedom of religion.  There is no way around that. 

I remember right after 9/11 many around the country said that by changing who we are is giving the terrorists exactly what they wanted.  Where did that thought process go?  Isn't this the same thing?  Is it that we really want to change our beliefs to stave off a "Muslim invasion"? 

Today I was reading about Mayor Bloomberg's comments and watched the video on Another Black Conservative.  He actually made a very articulate argument against the mosque being built. I applaud his thoughtfulness in his post. 

I also came across another at Verum Serum that I really agree with.  The mosque is insensitive, the Imam is troubling, the location that they chose borders on the perverse, yet it is perfectly legal.  While I understand the misgivings that many have, we must remain true to our constitution and to our values.  If we allow the terrorists to take that away from us out of fear, than we may as well wave the white flag and declare them the winners.  I realize that this is not going to be a popular belief among conservatives, but adherence to our constitution must always come first.  So go ahead and let me have it, but think for just a second about what I am trying to say first.  Our freedoms must come first. 

The Comedian in Chief

The annual correspondence dinner was held over the weekend. All the talk is about Wanda Sykes saying she wanted to see Rush Limbaugh's kidneys fail. Personally, while I feel that this was in bad taste, I am more offended by the Presidents plane ride joke. I don't think a joke should have been made about a very scary incident for New Yorkers. Just imagine how terrifying it must have been to see planes flying that low over ground zero. There is nothing funny about it. Even the President's own spokesperson agreed that comedy and 9/11 don't mix.