On the evening of September 11, 2001, my wife, Peggy, and I went to the US Capitol where we heard an impromptu gathering of people was forming to solemnly mark the end of one of the most terrible days in our country's history. As a group of ordinary Americans, who were stunned by the terrorists' attacks that morning, people of all ages, races, ethnic groups and nationalities slowly and silently moved from the streets and arriving cars to climb the steps of the West side of the Capitol building. Capitol Police stood silently in watch. Voices that were heard were softly spoken, when heard at all.
As the sun was setting, we sat on the steps looking in the direction of the Pentagon (about 3 miles away across the Potomac River) where one of the jetliners commandeered by hijackers had hit its target. We were all in disbelief that such evil exists in the world and that so many innocent lives could be ended so suddenly without any provocation by the victims.
I agree with President Obama when he says that we are not at war with Islam. George W. Bush said the same thing several times. But it cannot be denied that there is a radical segment of the Muslim population that is at war with America and what our country represents as a financial, economic and military superpower which provides freedoms to its citizens unknown in much of the Muslim world.
In the nine years since the 9/11 attacks, our government has taken many needed steps to make the country safer, but no one can be sure that we are safe. We now face a new extremist threat as American Muslims, such as the Fort Hood shooter and the failed Times Square bomber, are responding to the jihadist calls from followers of Osama bin Laden.
I keep waiting for a recognized Muslim leader of PEACE to provide teachings and messages that dispute and counter the extremist views of Islam repeatedly sent around the world by al-Qaeda and its allies. Instead, we continue to see images of Muslims in protest burning American flags and chanting "Death to America" (and now "Death to Obama") whenever they are told of perceived insults to their religion, even if such reports are not true. For examples of such Muslim protests, see Michelle Malkin's article at http://michellemalkin.com/2010/09/10/the-eternal-flame-of-muslim-outrage/.
However perverted bin Laden's view of Islam may be, will this religiously driven hatred toward the West ever end?
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