NEVER FORGET
Written in conjunction with guest writer LRM.
“NEVER FORGET” were the words echoed across this country during the aftermath of the horrific attack on the World Trade Towers on September 11, 2001. I, for one, will never forget the image of people jumping 107 stories to their death rather than being burned alive. That image will always stick with me. Apparently, Representative Ilhan Omar (D-MN,) seems to have missed it. Although, at the age of 20 when it happened, you would think she might have caught it on the news. Recently she elicited considerable opprobrium by referring to the attacks of 9/11 as “some people did some things” and now, as a consequence, she feels Muslims aren’t getting a fair shake.
The New York Post responded with a picture of the burning towers and the headline “Here’s your something, 2977 people dead by terrorism”. Many members of the Yemeni community were outraged, calling this front page “hate speech” and refusing to sell the Post at their bodegas and news stands. They have “demanded” an apology and/or firing of the New York Post editor-in-chief, Stephen Lynch.
What ever happened to “never forget”? It seems to have morphed into “never mention it” (except, perhaps, during a yearly memorial service). How can we “never forget” if our history is being rewritten to fit the liberal agenda right before our very eyes. How can we “never forget” if we pretend it never happened? In my opinion, America has been extremely sensitive to Muslim feelings and has gone out of its way to avoid stoking anti Muslim sentiments. The facts are simple, though: The towers were attacked. They burned to the ground. Nearly 3000 people died, most of them horribly. And let’s not forget the attack on the Pentagon and the thwarted attack on what was probably the US Capitol. These pictures are undoubtably painful to see but we must not erase them from our history. These pictures must serve to remind us and to educate those citizens who weren’t alive or grown up at the time of the attack, so that they will truly understand what happened. Our country was attacked. This was not just an act of terrorism, it was an act of war! It was, for us, what FDR said about Pearl Harbor, “a day that will live in infamy.” But, apparently, for many “progressives” 9/11 has become a day to avoid mentioning because it doesn’t fit the picture of Islam as a “religion of peace”. Sometimes it seems like the only ones who truly remember the horror of that day are the friends and families of the victims.
What the New York Post printed was factual:
It was what ACTUALLY happened. The Post didn’t make it up. They didn’t print misleading copy. They didn’t incite people to take action or commit violence. The facts are that 19 young men, mostly from Saudi Arabia, flew those planes at the behest and planning of Osama bin Ladin, head of Al-Qaeda. They were not just “some people”. I suggest that representative Omar pay a visit to the 9/11 Museum in lower Manhattan to refresh her memory.
Now, the reader may ask how is it possible that representative Omar refers to the attackers as “some people”? It is likely that Omar subscribes to the fantastical theory, held by some Muslims, that 9/11 was really carried by Jews(!) Although, this theory has absolutely no credence, anti-semitism, apparently, is alive and well among America’s leftists even today. In fact “progressive” advocates have gone so far as to label the Post’s journalism as “hate speech”. The “Hate speech” label is now used by liberals to denigrate anything and everything they don’t want to discuss, debate or even hear. But, just because you disagree with something doesn’t make it hate speech. And, just because someone has a different point of view, doesn’t make them racist, fascist, or homophobic. It’s time for the left to stop the name calling, stop the whining “demands” and behave like adults.
If Ilhan Omar can use her right to free speech to babble about “some people did some things”, then the New York Post can use its right to free speech to print a picture of the truth.