September 4, 2011 – today’s tribute on this first day of the new week, one week away from 9/11/2011, is dedicated to first responders. Through Wikipedia, I found out that there are two categories of first responders, a certified first responder, and generic first responder.

As the name clearly indicates, the first responders were the first to respond to the chaos on 9/11. Some of them died trying to help others. Fast forward to the approaching tenth anniversary of 9/11, and the first responders are handed a “Cinderella and the Ball,” notice. They are not invited to the 10th anniversary ceremony at Ground Zero. To mix metaphors – there is no room at the inn. There was plenty of room at the WTC on the morning of September 11, 2001, but there will not be on September 11, 2011.
 
I understand the dilemma of the organizers. Space has to be made for the really important officials, the ones who show up for the photo ops. Space has to be made for the families of 9/11 – the most important guests, in my humble opinion. The first responders number in the thousands, so there is the question of “space constraints.” I get it.

Here is my suggestion. Similarly to how broad sections of certain streets are taken over on Friday afternoons to accommodate adherents of the Islamic faith, without any repercussions, then take over sections of streets in the immediate vicinity of Ground Zero/Hero, make it a BYOC (bring your own chair) event. The first responders can become the “last seaters” and have them set up their chairs on the last tier of the ceremonial grounds. Great strides have been made in communicating to great crowds of people. Use the available technology. Set up loudspeakers, if the city is too broke to afford video cameras. Get ‘er done. Unless – the real message is – we will put out a call for you when we really need you to rescue and resuscitate us. Until then, stay at home or on the job.

I guess that first responders should be accustomed to having to battle over the last ten years. They were first to respond. Subsequently, they were given the message that they will be the last to be responded to? They have been especially plagued with cancer and asthma, and the response to their situation has been a slow response. Is this a case of first to respond and last to get treatment? Only bureaucracy and officialdom can answer the question, why it took ten years for these first responders to receive federal assistance. According to this Fox News report, over eight hundred first responders have died since 9/11. Chalk up close to another thousand to the three thousand or so other persons who were killed on that day.

The first responders may be shut out from the Ground Zero/Hero service, but they are, or at least their stories, are going into the Library of Congress. Yes! One first responder, former fireman, Kevin McCullagh, finally shared film from his camcorder, of that day when he and Jerry Walsh went to help their brothers, active duty firefighters. They kicked into first responder mode, although as retirees, they could have checked the action on their television sets, safe at home. This is the second time that “OK” was used to describe firefighters and their equipment, to show the sense of safety we all feel in the presence of these first responders:

 “You see them as indestructible. When the big red fire truck shows up, everything is going to be OK. And seeing them tossed around like little toys, and smashed and burned, it was pretty amazing to see them like that.”

Mr. Walsh is paying a high price for being one of the first to respond, although not required to. He has a “rare form of blood cancer.” His case is a good example of what my pastor frequently states: “No good deed goes unpunished.”  I have found that out many times, though not in such a dramatic fashion. I am sure that Mr. Walsh, if asked, would share my position – the good deed may not go unpunished, but you do it anyway. That is the difference between the murderous thugs (those dead, and those still living), who are responsible for the death, destruction, and punishment of 9/11, and folks such as Mr. Walsh, Mr. McCullagh, and all of the other heroes who first responded. The murderers did a horrific deed for a reward of eternal sex. The heroes did a good deed because it was their job – or no longer their job, and because they care enough to. And – that is why we will win this struggle of civilization versus savagery.  

Here is more evidence of civilization cleaning up after the beast, in the form of a slideshow from Yahoo News. This is a nice article about keeping the story of 9/11 in the consciousness of the generation, that will have to continue the fight against this scourge of terrorism. Thank God that Dr. Joe Holley, a first responder is going to share his firsthand experiences.  This petition has been started to try to get the powers-that-be to change their minds, about letting the first responders attend this milestone anniversary. 

9/11: An American Requiem is another avenue for learning the story of the World Trade Center first responders. It is becoming almost chic these days to rewrite history and omit the full story of the Founding Fathers of this country, from certain textbooks. I pray to God that we are not entirely stupid, and gradually relegate the story of 9/11 to a footnote. We will pay a price for any lack of vigilance.

The hymn, Rescue The Perishing, is about salvation offered by Jesus. On September 11, 2001, and subsequently, the first responders were magnificent substitutes in their invaluable role in rescuing the perishing and caring for the dying. These rescuers are now dying from the horrible conditions under which they labored. We should not squander their sacrifice. I cannot stress enough that, we must be eternally vigilant and know the enemy we face.

We, and that includes those at the highest levels of our government, must not allow ourselves to be seduced into stances of political correctness. We, actually this seduction is almost primarily for the politicians, must also not be seduced by “contributions” from nefarious sources, into betraying our country.  This country is still at great risk from Islamic terrorism, in all its manifestations, be they outright murdering and maiming, or forms of taqiyya (tell you what you want to hear, smile to your face, and insert knife or sword in your back?). May God continue to preserve what is left of the US.

God bless America.