IN HONOR OF THOSE WHO HAVE DIED PRESERVING FREEDOM

I have spoken here of the possible “mishandling” of the Koran by a few soldiers.  Meanwhile, I have observed the mishandling of something more important and meaningful.  I am referring to the mishandling of the memory of American service men and women.  

Each year that America is at war, around Memorial Day, various individuals, groups and organizations print the list of those soldiers who have died in service to their country.  There appear to be two reasons for doing so.  The first and only defensible reason for printing such lists is to honor the service of those who have died defending America against our enemies.

More and more frequently, however, those opposed to war print such lists in order to divide America and weaken its resolve.  Somehow, the antiwar left believes that by showing the human cost of war America will give up its fight against evil.  Gary Trudeau is the latest leftist to take this approach in his Sunday Doonesbury “comic” strip (Minneapolis StarTribune, May 29, 2005). 

Being opposed to the war on terror demonstrates either ignorance or a wish that America be destroyed by its enemies.  Everyone has a right to his or her beliefs, even if they are wrong.  But, the use of the names of dead American soldiers to make a leftist political statement is indefensible.  

On this Memorial Day, I hope that each of us will be cognizant of the purpose behind the printing of lists of the dead.  When lists are printed out of respect and honor, I hope that we all will bow our heads and send our love and caring to the families of those who have served with valor.  I hope that we will all remember that in order to preserve our nation and our lives we must be willing to fight. 

When the lists are printed by those trying to destroy America, I hope that we all will raise our heads in defiance and demand a stop to the “mishandling” of the memory of our American dead. 

ON THIS MEMORIAL DAY MAY WE HONOR THE SPIRIT OF THE AMERICAN SOLDIER AND COMMIT TO DEFEND AMERICA AGAINST EVIL

Apparently, members of a Muslim sect blew up a Muslim shrine in Islamabad, Pakistan.  Twenty people were killed and 150 injured (Minneapolis StarTribune, May 28, 2005).  In that country, extremists within the Shiite and Sunni Muslims has led to the killing hundreds over the years, most of them Muslims.  News of this most recent killing of Muslims by Muslims appeared on page A21 of the StarTribune.

The StarTribune also reported on May 28 that thousands rallied against the United States for alleged desecration of the Koran.  During this most recent mass tantrum, Muslims burned replicas of the U.S. Constitution.  One of the largest protests took place in Islamabad where only hours before the Muslim shrine mentioned above was blown up.  News of these anti-American rallies appeared on page A6 of the newspaper, filling most of the page.

Despite the fact that the number of incidents of “mishandling” of the Koran was set at five or less, the press continues to lead with its anti-military agenda.  Apologies are demanded.  Focus is on the belief that mishandling of the Koran would never have happened if President Bush had not been reelected to office.  Of course, the message from the press is that America is to blame. 

All of this over five incidents surrounding the Koran?  The incidents DO provide a good excuse for our internal and external enemies to bash America.  Of course there has been no significant mention in the elite media of the fact that it was Americans who gave Islamic prisoners copies of the Koran in the first place.  Nor has there been mention of the fact that the military has gone out of its way to ensure that Islamic prisoners can practice the rituals of their religion multiple times each day.  Rather than honor the military for being sensitive to the spiritual views of Muslims, the military is castigated for a few incidents of mishandling of the Koran.  And further, there is no mention of the fact that the people being incarcerated are really bad guys who, before being arrested, were trying to kill Americans.

Nor is there any significant mention in the press regarding the fact that America has liberated millions of Muslims around the world.  They seem to forget the war in Bosnia.  Despite the fact that the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq continue to rage there is no focus on the millions of people being freed from tyranny.  Feminists never speak about how many women are now able to work and attend and teach school in Afghanistan.  Muslim women themselves seem oblivious to the impact America has made on their lives.  This is apparent when it is seen that many of those protesting about the Koran incidents were women still wearing conservative dress. 

It is impossible to calculate how many Korans have been destroyed in the bombings by Muslims of mosques and other places of spiritual importance to Muslims.  I would expect that the figure would be considerably more than five.  The number of Muslims killed by Muslims must be phenomenal.  We don’t hear about that.  We hear about mishandling of a book.