Archive for Month: September 2014

Here we are at the 13th anniversary of a tragic, horrible, and most certainly evil event. It is so easy to fall into the rhetoric  and fill our hearts of hatred for obviously skewed and fanatical groups of terrorists that spread their twisted views and commit heinous, cruel acts, all in the name of Islam. Over the course of history there have been other atrocities committed in the name of different faiths. Not that it excuses our plague of current barbarism.  Frankly I am tired of the political correctness and ass kissing that cause our leaders to not directly confront this scourge that is upon us. If you proclaim yourself as a follower of Muhammad and profess your belief of the peaceful religion of Islam, then you have a dog in this fight. The radical factions are doing more than giving Islam a black eye amongst the people on this planet who believe in the popular version of peaceful existence.

There are those who do not believe in a “God” without consideration as to which version. Yet, they understand what peace is meant to be. We are human and without regard to belief or non belief, we have the same needs as to food, shelter, and desire to succeed and achieve peace and happiness.  As a christian, it is my solid belief, that whether you believe in the God that I do, or not, following the ten commandments will get you through life  pretty well. All the while treating others fairly as you would care to be treated yourself would make for better days. It is not so much utopia as it is practical. Most people respond well to a smile, a kind word, a helping hand. Do we really enjoy the constant conflict, the awful things we do to each other?  It may be too idealistic to think we’ll all set around the campfire enjoying simple songs and s’mores. Our latest foes currently in the news are busy with big threats, and cutting off the heads of our citizens. Not a very peaceful religion in my view. Believe as I do or you will die in a very painful grotesque way. It is this thinking I cannot come to grips with. I am not obsessed with controlling the very beliefs of others. Would I like to share some that we may have in common, absolutely, but if you should disagree with me or I with you, I do not reach for a very large knife or a gun. I would assert that more of us think alike in this regard. My comments here are from my brief experience on the planet, and what I speak against is thousand of years, hundreds of generations of twisted hatred and cruel intentions from those that have been at war too many centuries, too far back to accurately know.

Do we all hold our breathes some on 9/11, and hope to not get some horrible breaking news report? Do we rely on statistics and probability to comfort our fears? Has Homeland Security got this? As Americans, as a nation of peoples are we not thinking of these things in varying degrees? In all reasoning, what’s to stop them from picking a new date to have at it?

I choose to republish some from prior years as I find it important to repeat:

Thirteen years have passed marking the horrible events of 9/11. I have made it a point to comment each year as it passes. One would think that over time, the depth and impact of any event would soften, become more a matter of historical record, and less of an emotional response. I suspect like many of you, like myself felt the day coming on long before it got here. I woke this morning with some measure of sadness, and possibly another level of measure of anger

I freely admit, I don’t “get” the Middle East perspective. Our enemy’s there still hate us, our way of life, and the discussions about it go on forever. It is my hope that on one of these anniversaries that I can write about resolution, and healing. Given the thousands of years of conflict in the region, it may not occur in my lifetime.

Each anniversary of 9/11, my thoughts returned to two fellow NWTF members Cynthia Giugliano & Walter Weaver that we lost that day. A memorial webpage can be found at http://www.turkey-talk.com/9_11_01_memorial.htm.

As you toe up on the start line of your favorite road race or triathlon or enjoy another fall season hunting our nation’s forests, fishing the lakes and streams of our great land, I ask that each of you give thought to those that serve us. In your travels I ask that you take the time to thank those that serve us, and continue to support what they do for our country.

Along with counting your blessings, say a prayer for all innocent victims, and that you do something on your part to make the world just a little bit better for those around you. We can all benefit from a little emphasis on acts of kindness.

© 2014 Mike Joyner- Joyner Outdoor Media