This weekend, we’re coming together, as one nation, to mark the 10th anniversary of the September 11th attacks. We’re remembering the lives we lost—nearly 3,000 innocent men, women and children. We’re reaffirming our commitment to always keep faith with their families.

We’re honoring the heroism of first responders who risked their lives—and gave their lives—to save others. And we’re giving thanks to all who serve on our behalf, especially our troops and military families—our extraordinary 9/11 Generation.

At the same time, even as we reflect on a difficult decade, we must look forward, to the future we will build together. That includes staying strong and confident in the face of any threat. And thanks to the tireless efforts of our military personnel and our intelligence, law enforcement and homeland security professionals—there should be no doubt. Today, America is stronger and al Qaeda is on the path to defeat.

We’ve taken the fight to al Qaeda like never before. Over the past two and a half years, more senior al Qaeda leaders have been eliminated than at any time since 9/11. And thanks to the remarkable courage and precision of our forces, we finally delivered justice to Osama bin Laden.

We’ve strengthened the partnerships and tools we need to prevail in this war against al Qaeda—working closer with allies and partners; reforming intelligence to better detect and disrupt plots; investing in our Special Forces so terrorists have no safe haven.

We’re constantly working to improve the security of our homeland as well—at our airports, ports and borders; enhancing aviation security and screening; increasing support for our first responders; and working closer than ever with states, cities and communities.

A decade after 9/11, it’s clear for all the world to see—the terrorists who attacked us that September morning are no match for the character of our people, the resilience of our nation, or the endurance of our values.

They wanted to terrorize us, but, as Americans, we refuse to live in fear. Yes we face a determined foe, and make no mistake—they will keep trying to hit us again. But as we are showing again this weekend, we remain vigilant. We’re doing everything in our power to protect our people. And no matter what comes our way, as a resilient nation, we will carry on.

They wanted to draw us in to endless wars, sapping our strength and confidence as a nation. But even as we put relentless pressure on al Qaeda, we’re ending the war in Iraq and beginning to bring our troops home from Afghanistan. Because after a hard decade of war, it is time for nation building here at home.

They wanted to deprive us of the unity that defines us as a people. But we will not succumb to division or suspicion. We are Americans, and we are stronger and safer when we stay true to the values, freedoms and diversity that make us unique among nations.

And they wanted to undermine our place in the world. But a decade later, we’ve shown that America doesn’t hunker down and hide behind walls of mistrust. We’ve forged new partnerships with nations around the world to meet the global challenges that no nation can face alone. And across the Middle East and North Africa a new generation of citizens is showing that the future belongs to those that want to build, not destroy.

Ten years ago, ordinary Americans showed us the true meaning of courage when they rushed up those stairwells, into those flames, into that cockpit. In the decade since, a new generation has stepped forward to serve and keep us safe. In their memory, in their name, we will never waver. We will protect the country we love and pass it safer, stronger and more prosperous to the next generation.

Well said, Mr. President, well said.

On the tenth anniversary of 9/11, we mourn our losses. We mourn the loss of fellow Americans who died at the hands of a sworn enemy and we mourn the loss of those in the ranks of our military who have since fought a righteous fight to protect us from that enemy.

In a weekly radio address, President Barack Obama called for unity as the 10th anniversary of September 11, 2001 draws near: “We were united,” said the President, “and the outpouring of generosity and compassion reminded us that in times of challenge, we Americans move forward together, as one people.” Obama’s words are a brazen reminder of how far apart on ideas and ideals most Americans are from the current government. Americans recognize that it is the Obama government itself that has created “times of great challenge” that threaten our nation’s safety and sovereignty.

On 9/11, terrorists attacked our people and our nation. Knowing who the enemy was, and still is, is itself a uniting force in the battle to protect this great nation. Once in office and well-knowing that extremist Muslim terrorists were behind the attacks, overt efforts were made to diffuse public awareness. The Obama administration attempted to rename terror attacks as “man-caused disasters” and classify the global war on terror as “Overseas Contingency Operations.” Failure to identify one’s enemy unifies no one. 9/11 survivors well know who their attackers were. Osama Bin Laden proclaimed on video tape that his terrorist group Al Qaeda carried out the 9/11 attacks.

The Obama White House has issued guidelines for the 9/11 ceremonies. Al Qaeda’s threat is to be downplayed and the impact of America’s 9/11 tragedy is to be diminished by equating it with all other terrorists’ attacks globally. What will go unmentioned by Obama is that the Muslim Brotherhood, that is making power gains in Egypt and the Middle East, is allied with Al Qaeda, Hamas, Hezbollah and the jihadists. An earlier affront to and “de-unification” of the American people came when Obama tried to transport accused terrorists, housed at Guantanamo Bay, into our American cities and courts to grant them the same Constitutional rights allowed for U.S. citizens. Americans stood “united” and stopped the outrageous proceedings by Obama and his Justice Department. The first step in Obama’s reunification should be to call the enemy what it is — terrorists.

What cannot be overstated in the healing and reunification of America, after the 9/11 attacks, was the importance of prayer. Prayer and the call to God to protect and guide the nation were at the heart, the core, of bringing Americans together with compassion and determination. This nation was founded on Judeo-Christian faith and principles. Today, a reported 95% of Americans are people of faith in various religions. Yet, prayer and clergy have been banished from the 9/11 state run day of remembrance by New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg. By eliminating God, the state steps into the role of God with its ceremonies devoid of prayer. Politicos will direct attention to themselves as the guiding lights of national healing, looking to reflect a god-like glow as benevolent caretakers of the masses.

Historically, Socialist/Fascist regimes that diminished God and circumvented clergy began in seemingly benign ways. Today, faith is under siege in America. (See: Christian Purge – The Obama Factor: http://darwinsracists.com/book/?p=155). Politicians supplanting prayer with their own verbiage and public spectrum, lessens us as a nation. A major factor in America’s exceptionalism is that America is the preeminent nation in the world that turns to God and prayer for healing and guidance. America may elect an Obama or a Bloomberg, but it does not worship them. The current American President and Mayor of New York will ceremoniously memorialize “sacred” ground and memories of our lost as long as God is excluded despite the fact that “sacred” by its very definition means “connected with God.” To misconstrue an ambiguous moment of silence as “sacred” is itself a sacrilegious dodge. Public office is transient and any glory derived from it is short-lived. These politicians may learn that what really “unites” Americans is political leaders going against the people’s will by imposing state censure on religious expression. The ban on clergy should immediately be reversed.

Presidents nor mayors can separate God from His people. So, there will be prayer, there will be open tribute to their Creator by the faithful across the nation for the healing and “unifying” of this great nation on this important day of remembrance. May God bless the survivors, the families, our first responders and our military warriors. May God bless America as long as its people know that those blessings come from the Creator God and not from transitory politicians.

If you needed yet another example of why government employees should never be allowed to join unions, this is it. In Racine, Wisconsin the local fireman’s union got into an imbroglio over a July 4th parade float honoring the fallen first responders of the Sept. 11 attacks, a parade entry that the union supported previously. This time, though, union bosses decided not to support the 9/11 memorial float because one of the firemen on the float opted out of the fireman’s union this year.

That’s right, the fireman’s union decided that their union agenda was more important than supporting a memorial to their brethren that died on Sept. 11, 2001. Their union agenda was even more important than patriotism and an Independence Day parade.

Imagine that. These union thugs despoiled the memory of the Sept. 11 fallen and used them in order to make points for their union ideals and political policies.

What could be more disgusting?

The man in the middle is Matt Gorniak, a Milwaukee-area fire lieutenant, who was the driving force behind the 2011 float idea. Naturally, he assumed that his fireman brothers would love to join him to honor those police and firemen that died at the hands of our enemies on Sept. 11. Boy was he wrong. The union took a stand against his float because Gorniak happened to have left the union this year.

Gorniak took advantage of a little used clause in Wisconsin state law that allowed him to opt out of the fireman’s union because he sided against the union’s political agenda. He wasn’t the only one, either. Several firemen joined him in his protest.

But because of Gorniak’s action the union bosses decided to prevent other firemen from joining him on his parade float honoring the 911 fallen.

Gorniak even told the union that he’d step back and allow the union to decide whom to allow on the float but the union turned its back on him anyway. “I was shocked at the response,” Gorniak told reporters.

Gorniak has vowed to carry on with the parade float and has offered an open invitation to any fireman that wants to join him.

Another firefighter that opted out of the union told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that he felt a backlash would occur once word got out about what the union was doing.

Mike Gabby told the paper, “I’ve got to think most of the guys would agree with me: This has nothing to do with politics.”

Ah, but when it comes to union thugs there is no memorial, no patriotism, no coming together unless the union agenda is satisfied first, foremost, and above everything else.

Like I said, when a union finds its own petty hatreds getting in the way of patriotism, civic duty, and a memorial to the fallen, then that union has lost its legitimacy. But this is just the thing. It is always thus, if you will. Unions don’t care about God, Country, and Community. They care only about unions. And this why it is detrimental to the public safety to allow people whose job it is to save lives to join unions.

You see, as far as union bosses are concerned, union rules, union needs, union desires, toeing the union line all come before public safety and what is best for the people.

Simply put, government employees should never, ever be allowed to have a union. Government unions are antithetical to good government and actually dangerous to public safety. This little tale is just one more example of that.

Atheists making themselves obnoxious again:

A group of New York City atheists is demanding that the city remove a street sign honoring seven firefighters killed in the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks because they say the sign violates the separation of church and state.

The street, “Seven in Heaven Way,” was officially dedicated last weekend in Brooklyn outside the firehouse where the firefighters once served. The ceremony was attended by dozens of firefighters, city leaders and widows of the fallen men.

“There should be no signage or displays of religious nature in the public domain,” said Ken Bronstein, president of New York City Atheists. “It’s really insulting to us.” Bronstein told Fox News Radio that his organization was especially concerned with the use of the word “heaven.” “We’ve concluded as atheists there is no heaven and there’s no hell,” he said.

Source

Posted by John J. Ray (M.A.; Ph.D.). For a daily critique of Leftist activities, see DISSECTING LEFTISM. To keep up with attacks on free speech see TONGUE-TIED. Also, don’t forget your daily roundup of pro-environment but anti-Greenie news and commentary at GREENIE WATCH . Email me here

Memorial Day signifies and celebrates America’s valiant warriors of today and yesterday. Our nation’s pride is mixed with pain as we pay tribute to America’s finest. Honoring our lost and wounded, that fought for our freedoms in all wars, is every citizen’s duty. Chance meetings with members of our military, followed by a firm handshake and heartfelt gratitude, fall shy of our deepest appreciation for their sacrifice. So, again I share a passing encounter with a young Marine who was faceless in an airport crowd, but now remains imbedded in both mind and heart.

During a long layover at an airport, dozens of Marines flowed through the crowds. One settled into a seat directly across from me. We struck up a conversation. Strong and sturdy, with an even gaze, this Marine told me how he became a man. The product of the grand mixture that is the proud heritage of America’s melting pot, he spoke of his Anglo dad and Hispanic mother. Sitting before me, he was that day an all-American of our finest caliber. His story revealed, however, that had not always been the case. He spoke of how his teen years were filled with truancy and drugs and being kicked out of the house by a strong and loving Mom and what he called an “old school” Dad whose discipline he now understands. Facing nothing but dead ends for months, he soon turned eighteen. After three days with no food, he had had enough. He sought out a Marine recruitment office and signed the dotted line. His sketchy background fell short of Marine Corps standards, yet the recruiter saw something in him and made an exception. Like a snake shedding its useless skin, his old life was soon to be left behind.

What happened next still astonishes him. Within four months after enlisting, he said, “I became a man.” Both wonder and frankness filled his voice at how the Corps transformed his life, his purpose, his duty, and his manhood. Four months, he said in disbelief at how quickly his attitude and life had changed for the better. In order to deploy, the Corps required him to get a GED. He said he was humbled to wear the uniform. I was honored to hear his story. Sitting there, he embodied our valiant sons and daughters, cousins, grandchildren and brothers and sisters. As he sat there ready to return to battle, I promised him that we would do our job to provide support for our valiant military and to sustain America and the Constitution as we know it so that they will have something to come home to. He nodded and said he’d appreciate that. He then said, “You know, when I made my first visit home, Dad came up to me, shook my hand and told me he loved me. He had never done that before.” He spoke of friends who are his age of 21 and still prowling the streets and living the life he left behind. Today, he reaches out to them while on leave. He offers them gas money to drive to interviews for a job or to an enlistment office. Some comment that he thinks he is better that they are and he answers them -”Yes, I am.” I nodded in agreement, “Yes, you are.” You were once them,” I tell him. “Now, they can step-up and be a man like you.”

It is young men and women, such as these from all walks of life, that take on the duty, burden, and honor to defend our freedoms and way of life. It is American blood that flows through their veins and it is the loss of American blood and their lives that we honor. We salute all branches of our military that stand between us and the enemy that seeks America’s destruction. They deserve and must have the best support of America’s citizens and its government.

Those in Congress or the White House, who withhold funding of our military as a bargaining tool to gain political advantage, must be exposed and expunged. It is every American’s duty to clean house of politicians who treat the U.S. military as a political pawn. Recall the valiant young Marine in the airport. We speak of expending our nation’s blood and treasure in war, but let us never forget that in regard to all who serve – their blood is our treasure.

GENERALLY I HAVE A PHOTO WITH MY ARTICLES. THIS TIME I LEAVE THIS LINK SO THAT YOU CAN SEE WHAT WESTBORO IS ALL ABOUT.

First, I’m not mentioning the name of the Marine who died on the same page with Jonathan Phelps’ name. Second I have thought about whether giving Phelps a forum here is a good idea, but he seems to be callingFox News and The Hayride News and Commentary, the source for the Fox story, liars. And then there’s this, The Hayride apparently got their story from “an Ole Miss sports message board,” so…. Finally, since this is the Internet, I must acknowledge that it’s possible this comment was left by someone other than Jonathan Phelps of Westboro Baptist Church – a joke or a prank, perhaps?

The story was that some unnamed members of Westboro Baptist went to Brandon for the Marine’s funeral service. The town of Brandon, Mississippi was ready for them. If true, what Rankin County Mississippi did is the stuff of legends, especially considering the heartbreak Westboro has brought to the families of our Warriors. Phelps says the story is “fiction,” they were not in Brandon. At least now Rankin County won’t have to worry about a First Amendment lawsuit from this bunch of haters.

Jonathan Phelps left the following comment at STACLU:

Dear Friends:

Just when we thought there was no completely new and original way to get the whole nation talking about the faithful ministry of WBC, you found one. You are AWESOME!

Never mind that the story was complete fiction (since we never have and never would waste time driving that far when a plane and rental car is far more efficient), you got people to get an accurate picture of the face of a doomed nation that will no longer endure sound Bible doctrine and therefore God sends them a spirit of lawlessness as divine judgment.

You saved us funds to attend funerals for soldiers and others in Nebraska, Iowa, and Oklahoma, while still guaranteeing that our core message (God is bringing this evil nation into judgment in an open and notorious manner,  chiefly by slaughtering their young and their soldiers, because you have turned the country over to the sodomites) has reached a huge audience AGAIN!

Thank you for your faithlessness and your rage against God (that He turns as a testimony for us). If we weren’t busy planning funeral pickets for the latest GodSmack victims, we would send a representative to come and give you a BIG hug!

These words we preach are going to be heard in the ears of 310 million american brutes, by hook or crook, and you are powerless to stop them.  That’s how God rolls.

Jonathan Phelps on behalf of Westboro Baptist Church

Mr. Phelps has been busy tonight. He’s left the same comment on several other posts around the InterTubes.  My friend Lobo, an administrator here at Stop the ACLU, left the following comment for Jonathan Phelps:

Jonathan,

The US Supreme Court in Lawrence vs Texas turned this country over to the sodomites. Did you picket them?

Several of the states’ Federal, Supreme and Appellate courts have turned their states over to sodomites. Are you picketing them?

State legislatures? No? US Congress? No?

Are you picketing any schools?

How about the many ‘gay pride parades’ from NY to Chicago to San Fransicko?

It’s not about sodomites or even a country turned over to sodomites…it’s about money. It’s about a family of scammers playing the ‘taxpayer lotto.’

You’re not going after the target rich environment because there isn’t enough money in it. The money is in the government awards for failing to protect and serve.

You and your family are not against sodomites, Jonathan. You, and your “church” depend on them to make your living.

You and yours won’t go after that which you rail against when you can go after the dead and poke people’s emotion, hoping to turn it into cash.

Dry bones, Jonathan, dry bones!

Posted by Maggie @ Maggie’s Notebook

USMC Staff Sgt. Jason Rogers

American boys hate to lose

You never plan for the bombs in the sand

or sleeping in your dress Blues

USMC Staff Sgt. Jason Rogers Laid to Rest (video)

A couple of days before, one of them (Westboro protestors) ran his mouth at a Brandon gas station and got his arse waxed. Police were called and the beaten man could not give much of a description of who beat him. When they canvassed the station and spoke to the large crowd that had gathered around, no one seemed to remember anything about what had happened.

Rankin County handled this thing perfectly. There were many things that were put into place that most will never know about and at great expense to the county.

Most of the morons never made it out of their hotel parking lot. It seems that certain Rankin county pickup trucks were parked directly behind any car that had Kansas plates in the hotel parking lot and the drivers mysteriously disappeared until after the funeral was over. Police were called but their wrecker service was running behind and it was going to be a few hours before they could tow the trucks so the Kansas plated cars could get out.

A few made it to the funeral but were ushered away to be questioned about a crime they might have possibly been involved in. Turns out, after a few hours of questioning, that they were not involved and they were allowed to go on about their business.

I found this story at Fox Nation which links to the original source The Hayride. When I first posted this, readers had  apparently crashed the site. In the meantime Thanks also to Fox News. Heartfelt thanks to the people of Rankin County, Mississippi for your inspiration and patriotism.

UPDATE 4-28-11: If you have looked at the comments on this article, you know that Jonathan Phelps from Westboro Baptist Church left a message for us. Both Stop the ACLU and I have answered. Read it here.

Posted by Maggie @ Maggie’s Notebook

Last week two Massachusetts High School teachers took it upon themselves to protest against the U.S. Military as students that had announced plans to join our armed forces were receiving recognition from their school. Incensed students and parents called for the teachers to be fired.

History teacher Marybeth Verani and English teacher Adeline Koscher raised signs protesting the military during the June 11 ceremony at Dennis-Yarmouth Regional High School interrupting the proceedings and angering the parents and their students that were being recognized.

Students were upset that these teachers decided to impose their anti-American, anti-Military view on the room full of attendees during a time meant to celebrate the student’s efforts to serve their country.

Andrew Bowles Jr., a junior at the school, told reporters afterward, “They not only imposed their political will, they imposed it at the wrong time.”

A parent, Joanne Schuman of Yarmouth, thought that the teachers would have been removed from the event.

With this attempt to get their 15 minutes of fame these two selfish teachers decided to put the spotlight upon themselves detracting from the students’ moment of recognition.

To make matters worse, in the audience was the parent of a soldier killed in action in Afghanistan. In attendance was Yarmouth police Lt. Steven Xiarhos, whose son, U.S. Marine Cpl. Nicholas Xiarhos, was lost in action in 2009. This man who lost his son in service to our country was forced to sit through these teacher’s outrageous intrusion as his own son was celebrated for his service.

These left-wing activists should be fired for their disruption of the ceremony meant to recognize the selfless students that had elected to join our military. There are certainly times to discuss current events, but an award ceremony is not one of those times.

It is plain that these two fools were only trying to get into the news. With that they succeeded. Let us hope that their efforts get them fired, never to teach again.

It is very, very easy to forget that the members of our American military even exist. Unlike other peoples we don’t live in a nation where the members of our military are skulking around our streets, automatic weapons in hand, glaring menacingly at each citizen as they pass by during their daily activities. We don’t have soldiers extorting travelers, forcing themselves on politicians, or threatening autonomous action at home. We are lucky like that.

So, since they aren’t always under foot and as highly visible to the average citizen as the military of other nations, it is easy to forget the U.S. military is out there fighting hard for our safety. But that is how our founders meant it to be. You see, unlike other nations whose military is part of the ruling class, whose soldiers are the cynical arm of tinpot dictators, our soldiers serve us… it’s not the ‘tother way’ round.

That’s right, the soldiers that make up America’s armed forces really are serving their country, not being served by her. And that little-remembered aspect of our military’s everyday charge is something we really need to celebrate even as it is something we often over look.

Certainly it is good and right to honor those troops that have given their last full measure fighting for our safety and liberties. It is also right that we honor those that are serving or have served. But let’s honor them not just for their service but also for their forbearance from becoming the same sort of menacing, dangerous, oppressive force that the military in other countries so often are.

Let us thank each member of our armed forces for keeping the charge that our founders entrusted to them, a charge that makes our military the scourge of evil in the world but lambs at home. They face the bullets and bombs of our enemies on foreign soil but at home they help us through disasters and make us feel safer. This is a civilized state of affairs that doesn’t exist in most other nations and our soldiers were some of the first in man’s history to ever serve their fellows in such an honorable way.

As we thank our solders for their service, let’s remember that as some of the most heavily armed soldiers in the world, they are still honorable enough to really serve us instead of attempting to rule us as so many other nation’s soldiers do.

This truly selfless service makes of our soldiers citizens that are a step above those armed oppressors of other nations and it is just one more aspect of their service to we the people that we must never forget.

Happy Memorial Day 2010

As Memorial Day signifies and celebrates our valiant warriors of today and yesterday, the news reports of the loss of American lives in the Afghanistan war has reached a marker of 1000. One life lost or the countless more in this and former wars, America’s pain is mixed with honoring America’s finest who are at the forefront of every battle whether against terrorism or any enemy of the United States. It is the citizens duty to support these men and women, even if for just a brief encounter to shake a hand and offer our deeply felt gratitude. Again, allow me to share a passing encounter with a young Marine who was faceless in an airport crowd, but now remains imbedded in both mind and heart.

Recently, during a long layover at an airport, dozens of Marines flowed through the crowds. One settled into a seat directly across from me. We struck up a conversation. Strong and sturdy, with an even gaze, this Marine told me how he became a man. The product of the grand mixture that is the proud heritage of America’s melting pot, he was an all-American of our finest caliber sitting before me. He spoke of how his teen years were filled with truancy and drugs and being kicked out of the house by a strong and loving Mom and what he called an “old school” Dad whose discipline he now understands. Facing nothing but dead ends for months, he soon turned eighteen. After three days with no food, he had had enough. He sought out a Marine recruitment office, signed the dotted line and shipped out shortly thereafter. Like a snake shedding its useless skin, his old life was soon to be left behind.

He disclosed that what happened next still astonishes him, as he sat before me sharing his thoughts. Within four months after enlisting, he said, “I became a man.” Both wonder and frankness filled his voice at how the Corps transformed his life, his purpose, his duty and his manhood. Four months, he said – still in disbelief at how quickly his attitude and life had changed for the better. I was honored to hear his story. Sitting there, he embodied our valiant sons and daughters, cousins, grandchildren and brothers and sisters. As he sat there with his orders for deployment, I promised him that we would do our job to help provide the support necessary for our valiant military and to sustain America and the Constitution as we know it so that they will have something to come home to. He nodded and said he’d appreciate that. He then said, “You know, when I made my first visit home, Dad came up to me, shook my hand and told me he loved me. He had never done that before.” He spoke of friends who are his age of 21 and still prowling the streets and living the life he left behind. Today, he reaches out to them while on leave to improve their lives. He offers them gas money to drive to interviews for a job or to an enlistment office. Some comment that he thinks he is better that they are and he answers them -”Yes, I am.” I nodded in agreement, “Yes, you are.” You were once them,” I tell him. “Now they can step-up and be a man like you.”

As has always been the case, it is young men and women, such as these, that take on the duty, burden and honor to defend our freedoms and way of life. It is American blood that flows through their veins and it is the loss of American blood and their lives that we honor. It is those like him, in all branches of our military, who stand between us and the enemy that seeks America’s destruction. They deserve and must have the best support of America’s citizens and its government.

In a Congress that has seemingly lost its way and uses the funding of our military as a political tool or for political gain, shame should be on their heads. If the American voter does not clean house of those in government who treat the U.S. military as a political tool, then the shame lies with us as well. Recall the valiant young Marine in the airport. We speak of expending our nation’s blood and treasure in war, but let all of us never forget that in regard to all who serve – their blood is our treasure.

Sharon Sebastian (DarwinsRacists.com) is an author, writer and contributor for various forms of media including broadcast, print and online websites. Her second book, Darwin’s Racists – Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow, addresses the global “evolution vs. creation” debate highlighting both the impact of Social Darwinism on America’s culture today and its influence on current policy coming out of Washington. Website: DarwinsRacists.com)