I would say for them it's neither cowardly nor courageous, just plain evil. They did apparently believe in the 72 virgins in paradise so I'm sure that made the operation easier, though they still must have been very nervous, especially those on the flight that crashed in the field. But had they valued their own life like atheists do, it would have taken a lot more balls to do it.

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2004 VW Jetta TDI (manual)

Past MB's: '96 E300D, '83 240D, '82 300D, '87 300D, '87 420SEL

x3. Thoroughly disgusting and shameful.

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2004 VW Jetta TDI (manual)

Past MB's: '96 E300D, '83 240D, '82 300D, '87 300D, '87 420SEL

19 people (and those behind it) are cowards...taking a life (let alone, more) while knowing you are taking your own is the action of a coward...

It would have been more "brave" (and I'm using the term very loosely here) to do what the Buddhist monk, Thich Quang Duc, did in Vietnam back in June of '63. All by himself...he brought a problem to the forefront of his nation, and the world, and within 6-7 months, the government fell...and his protest wasn't about the government itself, it was about the TREATMENT/PERSECUTION that the buddhists were receiving at the hands of the catholic-dominated authorities in that region. But he did it without physically harming anyone else...

If 19 arab-like individuals had burned themselves to death (or committed suicide and only "off'd" themselves and no one else), at the same time, in various locations throughout the US, there might have been a completely different outcome during these past 8 years...but we'll never know...will we?

Thich's action spoke on the level that said, "I'm not putting up with the injustice anymore...however, I'm not going to lower myself to their level and retaliate...I'm going to take a simple, albeit, grafic way out of this world. I'll die by my own hand and not by that of an oppressor."

9-11 is about remembering what was TAKEN by force from us, the people of the United States, that had nothing to do with the ME.

Those 3,000+ individuals that died that day weren't part of any Jihad or Crusade or anything of that nature.

And to say that any Jihadist is "ballsy" or "brave" to do what he did...is nothing more than condoning cowardness...that's all...nothing more.

__________________

M. G. Burg
'10 - Dakota SXT - Daily Ride / ≈ 172.5K
.'76 - 450SLC - 107.024.12 / < .89.20 K
..'77 - 280E - 123.033.12 / > 128.20 K
...'67 - El Camino - 283ci / > 207.00 K
....'75 - Yamaha - 650XS / < 21.00 K
.....'87 - G20 Sportvan / > 206.00 K
......'85 - 4WINNS 160 I.O. / 140hp
.......'74 - Honda CT70 / Real 125
.
“I didn’t really say everything I said.”
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ~ Yogi Berra ~

Sometimes it's useful to think about why we got attacked. Sure, those terrorists were evil, brainwashed, religious lunatics. But there's more to it than that. What if we had been guzzling less oil and not having to import ME oil? What if we had been more even-handed in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict? What if we hadn't abandoned Afghanistan after the Soviets pulled out? What if we had pulled out of Saudi Arabia after kicking Saddam out of Kuwait or not even bother to kick him out if we didn't have to import ME oil anyway? There's a very good chance 9/11 would never have happened. Face it, 9/11 is the result of our foreign policy. You don't see Islamic terrorists attacking Canada or Iceland.

__________________
2004 VW Jetta TDI (manual)

Past MB's: '96 E300D, '83 240D, '82 300D, '87 300D, '87 420SEL

That attitude that we are responsible for the attacks is just silly.
The men that planned and hijacked the airliners are responsible.

Your attitude is like blaming the rape victim saying, " Well she was asking for it."

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1982 300SD " Wotan" ..On the road as of Jan 8, 2007 with Historic Tags

It's not silly at all. It's called analytical thinking that a lot of people are not willing or able to do. What's silly is the notion that we are just innocent lambs minding our own businesses and the evil wolves attacked us for no reason other than that they were evil and we were good. Please take off the blinders and think. I'm not in any way saying the 9/11 attacks were justified. However we certainly contributed to them indirectly through our foreign policy.

__________________
2004 VW Jetta TDI (manual)

Past MB's: '96 E300D, '83 240D, '82 300D, '87 300D, '87 420SEL

Too bad that Ron Paul, who was marginalized by the right and the MSM, also understands that. And his track record for predicting past financial disasters has been a lot better than the so-called "pundits".

I like this analogy better.

It's more like poking a bear with a stick, then blaming him for mauling you.

After which, you attack the tigers.

The purpose of the thread was to remember, in reverence, the folks that LOST their lives, not those that committed homicide.

Not analytical thinking. AAMOF, this "little exercise in analytical thinking" is proving itself to be nothing more than "Bush-Bashing" or "USA-Bashing" or even better yet..."We're-Too-Big-For-Ourselves-And-We're-Bullies-So-We-Deserved-It-Bashing."

What's silly is coming into a funeral home, signing the "Condolences/Visitor's Book" - then pulling out the booze and whippin' on the deceased about how he owed you money or he did you wrong in some car deal twenty-some-odd years ago.

No analytical thinking involved there...just plain greed and arrogance towards everyone there.

__________________

M. G. Burg
'10 - Dakota SXT - Daily Ride / ≈ 172.5K
.'76 - 450SLC - 107.024.12 / < .89.20 K
..'77 - 280E - 123.033.12 / > 128.20 K
...'67 - El Camino - 283ci / > 207.00 K
....'75 - Yamaha - 650XS / < 21.00 K
.....'87 - G20 Sportvan / > 206.00 K
......'85 - 4WINNS 160 I.O. / 140hp
.......'74 - Honda CT70 / Real 125
.
“I didn’t really say everything I said.”
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ~ Yogi Berra ~

There are always reasons ( or excuses, if you prefer).
Analytical thinking, you say; I'll try that sometime.

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1982 300SD " Wotan" ..On the road as of Jan 8, 2007 with Historic Tags

To say the terrorists were in any way justified to do this is just plain B.S.!!!! If you want to say "well U.S. foriegn policy was the cause" then hey if your neighbor doesn't like the way you act is it okay if they shoot you in the head? Well you did indirectly contribute by your actions so isn't it your fault? Wow that sounds pretty stupid huh? Anyone who would blame anyone but the terrorists is wrong! And you can try and justify it anyway you want to but you will still be wrong! Those who did this were the ultimate in low life scum below even the rapist/childmolester.........

Please point out who in this thread said the terrorists were justified in what they did. Your emotions are blinding you from the truth.

__________________
2004 VW Jetta TDI (manual)

Past MB's: '96 E300D, '83 240D, '82 300D, '87 300D, '87 420SEL

I just re-read the first post of this thread. It's about remembering the attacks, not exclusively the victims. So your funeral home analogy is a bit off.

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2004 VW Jetta TDI (manual)

Past MB's: '96 E300D, '83 240D, '82 300D, '87 300D, '87 420SEL

I would if you didn't. There were attacks during that frame of time. Sirhan Sirhan assisination of Bobby Kennedy over the giving Isreal jet fighters. Also, the Twin Towers were attached during Clintons time in office. Also, there was Ruby Ridge and Waco witch lead to the bombing of the Federal Building in Oklahoma City OK.
Tom