9/11 - 10 Years Later

Over the last few days there have been plenty of programs about what happenned 10 years ago today. Some looked at the attacks themselves, others looked at what happenned since, including the rebuilding at Ground Zero in New York. There have been plenty of blog posts & there will be plenty more as this day goes on.

I had just gotten off work & got home in time to watch the events unfold on TV. Watching the plane crash into the South Tower was probably 1 of the most surreal things I will ever see. Watching the South Tower collapse followed by the North Tower seemed like something more out of a disaster movie than reality Even now, watching the stories & seeing the buildings being hit etc still seems a bit unreal to me. The end result was over 3000 lives lost, as well as a loss of some of our freedom. & as long as that freedom isn't restored, the damage will continue.*

Fr. Brian Jordan stands in front of the World Trade Center cross. Credit: Mario Tama. Getty Images/Getty Images News

10 years later & we are seeing a permanant memorial as well as a musem errected at the site of the World Trade Center. Thus we come to what I think is absolutely the most hatefilled part of the story since teh attack itself, the attempt by a group of atheists to get rid of the World Trade Center Cross claiming it violates the so called absolute seperation of church & state found in the 1st amendment. The reality is, & they know it, their claim is an absolute lie that cannot be held up by historical facts or taking a few select quotes from some of the Founding Fathers out of the context of what actually was going on at the time.

As I was reading the quote from American Atheists president,  Dave Silverman, I couldn't help but think that what he was saying was a prime example of real intolerance. & if what was said was aimed against Muslims the tolerance gang would be screaming their heads of. but they aren't because they are just as intolerant toward Christians as this atheist group is.

His statement goes on to show a complete lack of understanding of the teachings of Christianity when it comes to the mysteries of suffering & free will among others. The real "ridiculous assertion" is his claim that God "couldn't be bothered to stop the Muslim terrorists or prevent 3,000 people from being killed in his name," & instead "cared only enough to bestow upon us some rubble that resembles a cross."

No, what the World Trade Center Cross says is something completely different. It is a reminder that no matter how much evil seems to triumph, in the end God will triumph over evil. That triumph began with Jesus' death & resurrection & will see its fullfillment at the 2nd Coming. As Fr. Brian Jordan told the Catholic News Agency: “It’s a sign of consolation and comfort for those who lost loved ones. For the dead, the cross signifies the death of Jesus Christ. It also gave hope and support to the living, especially the rescue and recovery workers, the firefighters, polices officers, construction workers and many others.”
He went on to add that Jesus is “both the victim and the victor of the cross.” Despite the cruelty of his death, Jesus is also the victor of Resurrection, of life over death.

“The cross, (is) for us, we were all victims on 9/11. We’ll be victorious,” he added. “America and the rest of the free world will roll over terrorism and show the poignance of God’s overwhelming love for all people."
10 years ago the attacks on the World Trade Center & the Pentagon as well the failed attempt, apparently on the United States Capitol, using United Airlines Flight 93, were acts of pure evil. We are still seeing evil & hate rear its ugly head. Everything from the attacks on Christians in an attempt to silence them to the evils of abortion show that evil & Satan, who is behind it, haven't given up. But neither should we. In the end, God will triumph. In the meantime, we need to continue speaking up with the message of the Gospel. That message is a message of hope & comfort. It is also a message that calls us to repentance & changing our lives to turn away from sin.  & on this day, as we remember those victims of the 9/11 attacks it is a message that evil will not have the final say.

_________________
* This post is not the place to go into all the details. All I will say is that much of what is being done in the name of security isn't guarenteeing us any true security. It is just taking away essential liberty & undermining the Constitution. As Ben Franklin said: "They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety."
If we don't find a better way to fight terrorism then we have surrendered to evil, not beaten it. What the full answer is, I don't claim to have. But taking away our freedom isn't it.

1 other thing, I have noticed that some people are saying they won't forgive, no matter what. Congratulations, those of you who won't forgive are letting evil win as well. Unless we forgive those who have sinned against us, & that includes all our enemies, ALL, then we are telling God we don't want to be forgiven of our sins. Jesus made it clear we are to love our enemies. That doesn't mean we don't defend our families. But if we hold hatred & unforgiveness in our hearts then we will ensure that God will have no other choice than to not forgive us & condemn us to Hell. (Added @ 5:21 am) The Archdiocese of Washington has an excellent post about Forgiveness and 9/11.