Reflections on 9/11 by a Christian patriot

In September of 2001, I was an engineer at the old Westinghouse building in Westminster, near I-25.

My job was good. Many mornings I would enjoy eating breakfast at work. It was novel. The food was good. It was also a time to talk with coworkers about issues other than work.

That morning, I watched the news out of the corner of my eye, while focusing on my meal. I enjoyed the omelet as the cheese and egg blended in my mouth. Then the omelet turned to ashes.

Continued here at examiner.com

What They Don't Tell Us About Iraq

[Yet again, I have received the infamous "you-gotta-forward-this" email. This time about the good news in Iraq (which I don't deny!), but what else is missing from the media--both liberal and conservative?...]

From: T. Rue History [Original Expose here on this blog or Wiki.]
Sent: October, 1917, 12:00 AM
To: Joe Public [mailto:headinthesand@american.net]
Subject: What They Don't Tell Us

I didn't know! You probably didn't know either!
(Here is the amended Iraqi Constitution accepted by the people in October of 2005.)

Did you know: “Work is a right for all Iraqis so as to guarantee them a decent living.” (Article 22)
Did you know: "Oil and gas is the property of all the Iraqi people," Article 109.

Did you know that Article 34 states: "free education is a right for all Iraqis in all its stages."

Did you know that the Iraqi State is cradle to grave? Consider:

Article 30: “First: The state guarantee [sic] to the individual and the family--especially children and women--social and health security and the basic requirements for leading a free and dignified life. The state also ensures the above a suitable income and appropriate housing.”

Article 25: “The State guarantees the reform of the Iraqi economy in accordance with modern economic principles to insure the full investment of its resources, diversification of its sources and the encouragement and the development of the private sector.”

Article 16: “Equal opportunities are guaranteed for all Iraqis. The state guarantees the taking of the necessary measures to achieve such equal opportunities.”

Article 29:
“A. The family is the foundation of society; the State preserves its entity and its religious, moral and patriotic values.”

“B. The State guarantees the protection of motherhood, childhood and old age and shall care for children and youth and provides them with the appropriate conditions to further their talents and abilities.”

Article 33: “First: Every individual has the right to live in a safe environment.”

Did you know that, "Public property is sacrosanct, and its protection is the duty of every citizen." (Article 27).

And there is no right to bare arms: Article 9: (b) "Forming military militias outside the framework of the armed forces is banned. "

And did you know at all that Iraq is officially Muslim?

Article 2: 1st - Islam is the official religion of the state and is a basic source of legislation:
(a) No law can be passed that contradicts the undisputed rules of Islam.
(b) No law can be passed that contradicts the principles of democracy.
(c) No law can be passed that contradicts the rights and basic freedoms outlined in this constitution."

Did you know that we are fighting for a Socialistic/Fascist Islamic State?

OF COURSE WE DIDN'T KNOW!
WHY DIDN'T WE KNOW?
YOUR NEWS MEDIA REFUSES TO TELL THIS SIDE OF THE STORY!
Instead of reflecting our love for truth, we get

Talk radio jingoism,
Interviews with experts lauding democracy,
Talk show hosts happy that people get to vote--regardless of the constitution they live under &

"Democracy" being the solution for everything in our great nation. President Bush stated:

"In many Middle Eastern countries, poverty is deep and it is spreading, women lack rights and are denied schooling. Whole societies remain stagnant while the world moves ahead. These are not the failures of a culture or a religion. These are the failures of political and economic doctrines." (2003 speech).

May the Almighty Trinity open the eyes of our nation, and revive the hearts of our churches.

SDG

A Better (Muslim) Trap

A few weeks back, I met with representatives of the second largest organized religion in the world. These Muslims gave a semi-professional visual & audio presentation. They were clear and succinct, answering questions before I brought them forth.

This was good for me and bad for them.

It was good for me because having these questions answered left more time for my brain to launch a counter-attack. It was bad for them because it left time for my brain to launch a counter-attack.

The primary thrust of their presentation was the claim that Islam means the "middle-way"--it is a system of moderation, neither communal or individualistic, communistic or capitalistic, realist or nominalist--they were right down the middle. And because of this (excessive?) moderation, they wished to meet the Christian audience upon a common ground of brotherhood, peace and love. Polemics were bypassed. Debate was eschewed in favor of a vanilla agreement upon these "universally human ideals".

Yeah, right.

Now, dear reader, you and I have both seen plenty of comedy shows and action thrillers wherein the hero verbally aces the protagonist. He sets up the question (which the audience sees as the obvious logical trap that it is), places the carrot and lures in the intended victim.

SNAP!
The victim is hopelessly caught.

Game. Set. Match.

It always looks easy on TV. I never could pull it off in real life. Or could I..?

I innocently queried the speaker: "In what way is 'brotherhood' a common concept between Muslims & Christians?"

"Well," sagely responded my victi...er the speaker. "we both agree that we are all human."

"Yes," I sagely responded, "but having differing concepts of God, we have differing concepts of man."

"True," the speaker cautiously responded, "but we both have prophets that we follow--in fact we accept Christ as a prophet."

"True," I boldly responded, "but our prophet is not merely a man, but God Himself. Thus, our brotherhood as believers is neither rooted in our common humanity, biology or mere men. It is rooted in the God-Man, Christ Jesus, He who unites those who believe in Him."

(Game.)

Another man jumped in to save the drowning speaker, "We both have 'brotherhood.' So, that is what we have in common."

"Communist believe in the 'brotherhood' of man as well," I calmly replied, "They use the word, but fill it with different content. Just because groups use the same word it does not follow that the same concept is employed."

(Set.)

Wearily, softly and feebly, the speaker finished the friendly debate: "You are correct. Our concepts of brotherhood are different..."

SNAP!
(Match!)

"....but we agree on other things."

"Oh, we can talk about love if you wish..." I smiled, patiently hanging the carrot high.

SDG