Millstone resident: Don’t just criticize; do something to help

Since that fateful day of Sept. 11, I have heard of many a foreign national saying we brought this on ourselves. Most recently, Iranian heads of state have repeated this call, not to mention other self-appointed "leaders" in that region of the world.

How is it that men and women going to work deserve to die at the hands of animals for a policy known as democracy? I am the first to complain about my country and its related ills. I will never say that our country is not in need of improvement. And fortunately, I do live in a land where I can complain and criticize with relative impunity. How many citizens in these other countries can say the same?

Just over 200 years ago, we fought against one of the then-strongest powers on the planet, for freedom from the rule of others, from being dictated to. Instead of casting the finger of blame on our democracy, these foreign nationals should complain and rise up against that which is wrong in their own country. Perish the thought as well as complain and just plain perish. Then again, it is easier for them to blame others for one’s own faults.

But, even worse than these overseas pockets of polluted minds are those within our country who say we brought this on ourselves. How dare you. How dare you insult the memories held by the surviving spouses and families. There is a difference between exercising your right to free speech and damning the memories of the dead. If you feel that strongly about your views, work to construct and foster correction of the ills you see instead of trespassing on the graves of the fallen. Your words pierce like blaming the rape victim.

Tell me how you explain to a child that their parent is dead and their only crime was trying to put bread on the table. Or how their parent can no longer be their baseball coach or be home for dinner, forever. Give me the answer so I can understand. Until that time, step down from your soap box pulpits and walk the path of the righteous.

Marianne Disick

Millstone