here is my 9-11 article for the paper from the university


It’s hard to believe its been two years. I think it’s important to get that sentiment conveyed early so that we can think about it and move on. Life often deals us strange cards, and the Lord helps us to cultivate good things through them. There has been a lot of growth during these last two years, and those good things are to His glory. However, there are a lot of things in this great land of ours, whether you are a citizen or not, that we can look to as not so good reminders of what has happened in the world since September 11th, 2001.

I, like many people can relate to I am sure, remember clearly waking up that morning to a very early phone call from home. My mom said, “Matthew there’s something going on in New York. Get out of bed and turn on your t.v. Call me back when you have the chance to let me know if L.A. is safe.”

I remember saying something to the effect to my mom that L.A. isn’t a safe place to begin with but by that time, against her customary manner, she had already hung up the phone. I crawled down out of my bed, and my world changed along with everyone else’s while i watched history unfold on the t.v. in my living room.

I spent the rest of that day, in defiance of Biola’s decision that students should attend all classes, sitting in front of my t.v. I have always been a news buff, and CNN or MSNBC were always on at my house. My apartment in Tropicana was no different. My roommates and I talked a lot that day about what might happen, and we watched the coverage with great attentiveness. A couple of hours later, while things were getting sorted out bit by bit, my roommates Will, Jared and I talked about what we could do, being so far away but a part of it nonetheless. So we did what we thought was right-- we climbed onto our roof and hung an American flag, Union leading, from the edge of our building. It billowed on there in the breeze for weeks afterward.

That night, to break the tension along with our neighbors, we watched a ridiculous movie. It was a takeoff of a Shakespeare play, starring none other than the lead singer from Dru Hill. Despite everything it had going against it, and I mean everything, that movie holds a special place in my heart. We all needed a break, and it was perfect. That night was back to all quite on the western front as Will and I sat in the silent courtyard watching the only two planes in the sky, Air Force fighters, flying defensive formation back and forth across the South Land. There was nothing else we could do but listen, fly the flag and wait for an enemy.

Now we know who our enemy is. We’ve fought two wars against terrorism, hundreds of more people have died and where are we? Have we caught the men who did this? We didn’t really have to, because the individuals took care of themselves. What we are left with is an idea, and it is hard to fight an idea with bombs. Slowly but surely, I think I am coming to the realization that our enemy is going to be a lot harder to beat than the Government is telling us. The thing is that we’re part of the problem too.

Let me say firmly, and without equivocation, that I fully support our military and I most certainly call myself a patriot. The men and women of our armed services have carried themselves with honor and many of them have laid down their lives for our freedom during their service. I can’t help wondering though whether or not these souls gave their lives in vain for something that our military isn’t going to be able to eradicate. Whether or not I agree doesn’t really matter. Wars will be fought and people will lose their lives. The thing I fear the most though, is what we will have to give up here at home before people sit up and take notice that things aren’t what they used to be.

We’re not being asked to help in this fight by rationing our foods, blacking out our windows, or buying war bonds like the American public did during W.W.II. Our sacrifices are going much deeper than that, and are taking place almost completely under the noses of the American public without the slightest bit of understanding.

The Patriot act has, with one fell swoop, eradicated American citizen's freedom search warrant by secret search warrant. Freedom from Government interference in your private life has been replaced by a firm sense that no matter what color the terrorist threat level is, you can rest assured your every move is being watched by big brother. Democratic people, searching for fairness, truth and representation in its purest Republic form are being targeted by the Government for their beliefs. Land of the free my kentucky fried chicken wing! Then there's Patriot act II. Look it up on google, but have a nice stiff drink of milk sitting around to calm your freedom loving nerves when you are done reading about what is at stake.

Racism, bigotry and anti-semitism are also creeping back into popular culture. In the wake of the attacks, hate crimes against muslims and people of middle-eatsern descent rose like ghosts of the anti-Italian and immigrant sentiments of post WW I America. Coupled with our government acting as a global policeman, instead of limiting itself to the western hemisphere, and it has not been a good time to be an American.

There have been positive things as well however. Increased consciousness of spiritual matters and people seeking truth have become common place in pop culture. People are spending more time with their families and, hopefully, talking about the things that really matter. And who knows, maybe singer songwriters will start producing more meaningful, Spirit-seaking music like that of the Vietnam War era.

So things have changed, that's not to be denied. The question is what to do about it. As Americans and people of Faith we have a double responsibility. We're called to be in this world, but not of it. Christianity has a long tradition, at least in America of walking away from cultural movements at the least opportune time. I pray that now would not be one of those times. We are being called to stand as guiding lights of faith, liberty and truth in this land of slowly fading moral, political and factual standing. We are to fight for liberty, the rights of States, local governments and the common citizen. We received a wake up call the sunny September morning, and its now our job to make the most of the longest day this country has seen in years. The beginning has been fairly bleak, but with determination to maintain private freedoms, truth and liberty for all, the setting of the sun on this great nation will be more colorful than smoke rising from the ground, tingeing the sky a mournful red.

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