Opus 2017-313: Never Forget

I was listening to an old podcast from The Art of Manliness and the conversation came around to the topic of heroism.  The host mentioned the policemen and firemen who had gone into the Twin Towers to rescue people on 9/11.  In one sense they were just doing their jobs but in a more real sense they were deliberately risking their lives, and losing them, in order to try to rescue others.  I had to admit that is a good definition of a hero.  The heroes were not the people trapped in the building.  They were victims who had no choice.  The heroes were the ones who chose to go in harms way for the benefit of others.

Compare that view of manliness with the terrorists and the social justice warriors.  One risks his life to try to save others, with no guarantee of success.  The other risks others in order to make themselves feel important.  One is showing courage; the other, cowardice.  One quietly goes home if he survives, the other dances in the streets celebrating the carnage. 

Compare the cultures that elevate each behavior.  Western culture mourns with those who suffer.  From what we see the masses of Islam rejoice in the agony of their enemies.  I do not know the Koran well enough to pull up a verse explaining their joy but I do know why the West, which has been influenced by the Bible takes the high road.

Our Jewish heritage lays the groundwork.

(Proverbs 24:17-18 KJV)  Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth:  Lest the LORD see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him.

And in the next chapter,

(Proverbs 25:21 KJV)  If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink:

For those who don’t look that far back, accept the words of Jesus,

(Matthew 5:44 KJV)  But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

Different cultures.  Different religions.  Different ways of responding to the suffering of others.

Remember 911, but remember from the Christian perspective.  Yes, some people must be killed to protect our civilization, but it is to be done to save the innocent not for revenge.

Never forget.

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