In the Wake of 911 - America in Danger       

September, 2001 
 

In the wake of the horrific tragedy visited upon our country the nation is strong and our country is united. The president rightly said that we will conduct a years-long effort to root out terrorism. Our people are united in this common cause. Yet a few weeks after 911, and I am already hearing the pains of guilty conscious. Violence begets violence. The only way to peace is to lay down our arms. 

History disagrees. It is full of large, wealthy nations who were destroyed by poor, fanatical ones.  

The Babylonian Empire at one time was the most enlightened culture in the world. They created the first set of laws in the Coe of Hammurabi, and the Hanging Gardens of Babylon was one of the Wonders of the World. Yet it was conquered in one night – one night – by the upstart Persians (present day Iran).  

In time, the Persians became a mighty empire themselves, extending all the way from India to Turkey. Yet they were crushed by Alexander the Great - a man who came from the extremely poor shepherd region of Macedonia. In a few short years the enlightened Greek Empire was overrun by a little town on the Tiber, and the Roman Empire (probably the greatest in the world) was destroyed by a bunch of barbarians with names like Attila the Hun.  

The Chinese built the Great Wall of China to keep out the Mongols. They came anyway. Genghis Khan conquered the world’s largest empire, smashing the sophisticated and peaceful Chinese. Yet the Mongols were merely nomads – they were so primitive they literally lived on their horses. Then the Mongols destroyed India. The conquest was so savage that in Delhi they murdered over 100,000 women and children in three days – three days! 

In recent times, a defeated and humiliated Germany rose from the ashes of “The War to End All Wars” to conquer most of Europe. “Pax Britannica” was a term used in the early 20th century to describe the power, wealth and influence of the British Empire. Yet in WWII they were nearly exterminated by a nation they’d just defeated in WWI. 

It would be pleasant to think we can all just get along. We can talk just about it – come to some sort of understanding. The brotherhood of man – etcetera, etcetera… 

History proves otherwise.  

When the bombing stars, innocent people will surly die. Then the media will step in and pander to our emotions. Many now-resolute hearts will falter and question our war against terrorism. But the simple, ageless truth is that nations who do not destroy their enemies are themselves destroyed.  

A jackal enters your house and murders your daughter. He promises to do it again and rejoices at your loss. What man does not go out and kill that jackal before it murders his son? 

A thousand years ago, Constantinople was the most powerful, wealthiest, learned city in the world. It was the capital of the vestiges of the Roman Empire. It stood as a bulwark against Islamic invaders for centuries. It was the religious center of the first Christian nation. Yet many of you have probably never heard its name. That’s because the nomadic Ottoman Turks who destroyed and pillaged Constantinople renamed it Istanbul.  

Not many Christians live in Constantinople anymore. 

Freedom is not free.