For This American, Patriotism Means Prayer

Patriotism can be a two-edged sword. To some it's love of country. To those on the outside looking in, it could be seen as arrogance.

I know that some don't care for George W. Bush's patriotism. They see it as arrogance. He promised to hunt down Al-Qaeda and to some, that seemed a bit harsh. Perhaps those patriotic Americans think it's understandable that Al-Qaeda members have a hatred toward the U.S.

Perhaps those patriots who love our country have a better idea. I haven't seen one yet.

I Wiki'd Al-Qaeda and here is what I found:

Al-Qaeda is an international alliance of militant Sunni jihadist organizations. Its roots can be traced back to Osama bin Laden and others around the time of the Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan in 1989. Al-Qaeda's objectives include the elimination of foreign influence in Muslim countries, elimination of Israel, and the creation of a new Islamic caliphate.

Seems like Al-Qaeda has a clear objective for their immigration policies - kill foreigners. They seem to have a handle on Israel as well - wipe it off the face of the earth.

Also seems like it's either their way (wanting an Islamic form of government representing the political unity and leadership of the Muslim world) or the highway.

So what are we to do about a group whose cause right now is conveniently parked on their front porch (Iraq) and who would love to venture out of their neighborhood into places like London and New York more often?

Nothing?

What is the patriotic thing to do? Or most importantly, the right thing to do?

My first thought because I, like so many, am still searching for answers, is to pray. My second thought is to respect Bush's patriotism. He loves this country and he does not want to see another Sept. 11 World Trade Center and Pentagon type attack on this country again. Not on his watch or anybody else's.

And what about the I-hate-Bush-and-his-policies patriots? Let me answer by posting FOX News analyst Neil Cavuto's opinion piece, "You Can't Ignore Terror":

There are those who think if we change our policies, terrorists will change their ways and that if we avoid agitating the tiger, the tiger will simply go away.

The problem is that the tiger doesn't go away.

Just ask Gordon Brown, a man who spoke of dialogue and a different path, realizing within days of taking over for Tony Blair that terrorists were following the same old path.

It's the same old story. Germany keeps its troops out of Iraq, ends up seeing two German contractors executed in Iraq. France opts out - French tankers get hit.

Countries, people looking for a better option better watch out.

Because terrorists don't care. They don't care who you are or what party you're with. You're useless simply because you breathe.

You're the West? You're a target.

You're civilized? You're a bigger target.

You're rational? You're a fool.

Sometimes we think if we shake things up, terrorists will ratchet things down - forgetting our senses and apparently, forgetting history.

Forgetting that terrorists hit Lebanon when Ronald Reagan was president.

Forgetting that terrorists hit the World Trade Center for the first time when Bill Clinton was president.

And hit the World Trade Center again when George Bush was president.

Something tells me they really don't care who is president, just that they'd prefer him dead. Actually, they'd prefer all of us dead.

Remember that.

And remember that those who try to avoid the tiger have a funny way of ending up inside the tiger.

I've often wondered, what about "Love thy enemy"? Well, in this case, in a case where killers are pursuing us, I would say pray first for the love only God could bring.

And when it seems too late to pray first, that prayer must come while fighting the enemy at the same time.

The fighting is already going on. It seems the patriotic thing to do right now is to pray.

It's the right thing to do as well.