Today is 9/11. What’re you gonna’ do about it?

“American 11: We have some planes. Just stay quiet, and you’ll be okay. We are returning to the airport.”

The controller only heard something unintelligible; he did not hear the specific words “we have some planes.” The next transmission came seconds later:

“American 11: Nobody move. Everything will be okay. If you try to make any moves, you’ll endanger yourself and the airplane. Just stay quiet.”

–– excerpt from The 9/11 Commission Report

Nineteen years ago today, the United States and the world was devastated when 19 al Qaeda-backed male terrorists, at the behest and guidance of their leader Osama bin Ladin (who was later killed during the Obama administration May 2, 2011 in a raid upon his compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan shortly after 0100 local time), in a coordinated effort, hijacked and deliberately flew 4 passenger jet airliners into the World Trade Center’s towers 1 and 2, the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., while a fourth crashed in a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania.

Over 3000 people were directly killed that day in those events, over 25,000 were injured, with scores of others suffering long-term health injuries, many of which have been fatal.

The weather that Tuesday morning couldn’t have been more perfect. Skies were clear up and down the entire Eastern United States and seaboard, from Maine to Mississippi – visibility was unlimited, as pilots would say – not a cloud in the sky. And then, at 0845 Eastern Time

Hard Prayers

The highest commandments for those who follow Jesus tell us to love God and one another. To love others with a Christian love means to seek their good, even when we do not feel like it or “others” are behaving in a way that makes it very difficult to wish anything good for them. Even more shocking, Jesus calls us to

Huntsville, AL 9-1-1 Operators “a bunch of retards”

My recent conversation with a Huntsville Police Officer and a HEMSI EMT gave me some pause for thought.

They both shared some fascinating experiences, and opined about the same.

We three – the HPD officer, the HEMSI EMT, and I – are friends.

In context, our HEMSI EMT friend was relating a story about how, when sometime ago, he called 9-1-1 and informed them in detail of a particular off-duty scenario upon which he arrived and began rendering aid, the operator seemed to be mindlessly reading from, or following a script. In other words, the 9-1-1 operator didn’t listen.

My HPD friend shared an equally disappointing story, which he prefaced saying that

Christmastime Blackmail & Terrorism

“We wish you a Merry Christmas… and a Happy New Year!”

So ends the traditional holiday song heard by most this time of year.

However, do you know the other lyrics?

“Oh bring us some figgy pudding, Oh bring us some figgy pudding, Oh bring us some figgy pudding, and bring it out now!

“We won’t go until we get some, We won’t go until we get some, We won’t go until we get some, and get some right here!”

“Bring it out now,” and “We won’t go until we get some?”

Sounds to me like a blackmail threat.

Please!

Call 9-1-1 ! NOW!