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Irresponsible Voices
By Doug Patton
September 19, 2001

"I have frequently been driven to my knees by the overwhelming realization that I had nowhere else to go." - Abraham Lincoln

The recent events that have so deeply scarred us all present a poignant opportunity for our clergy to lovingly offer a message of healing, comfort and salvation to a wounded nation. Rev. Franklin Graham has done so, as has his father, Dr. Billy Graham, the nation's pastor.

President Bush has called for us to pray as a nation, even setting aside last Friday as a day of prayer and remembrance. I believe he himself is on his knees in the Oval Office, and I believe we could not be in better hands than we are with this humble and godly president.

It has never been truer that America needs to turn her face back to God. As those of us who believe with all our hearts in the Gospel of Jesus Christ reach out to those around us shattered by this unspeakable tragedy, I have to confess to shame at the demeaning words of condemnation coming from Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson.

I cringed as I heard Falwell's comments on Robertson's "700 Club" TV show. In case you haven't heard, Rev. Falwell told Rev. Robertson, "God continues to lift the curtain and allow the enemies of America to give us probably what we deserve."

"Jerry, that's my feeling," Robertson agreed.

Falwell went on to blame the ACLU, homosexuals, feminists, People for the American Way and, of course, abortionists, for Tuesday's attack on America.

I have been a conservative activist in the pro-life, pro-family struggle against the radical agenda of all of the above for many years. I spent nearly three years of my life as a state leader in Pat Robertson's Christian Coalition. I've paid my dues and earned my stripes and I'm here to tell you that at this fragile time in our nation's history, these two men demean us all with such remarks.

Both men have said that the remarks were taken out of context. Sorry. I don't buy it. There is no context wherein those comments were appropriate during these last several agonizing days.

Isn't it enough that the news media showers us with insipid remarks questioning our president's intelligence, organization and ability to communicate, as ABC's primetime primadonna Peter Jennings and left-wing Washington Post columnist Mary McGrory did last week? Or that Dan Rather referred to the attack as "an accident?"

Try to imagine the outrage we conservatives would feel if Rev. Al Sharpton and Rev. Jesse Jackson were to say, on television, that because of the injustices done to people of color at the hands of white America, we got just what we deserved on September 11.

Now ask yourself why you would be angry. Is it because people of color have never been mistreated in America? We all know they have. Or is it something else?

There were Christian believers and unbelievers alike who died horrible, fiery deaths in the World Trade Center and in the Pentagon. There are hurting families, not just in New York and Washington, D.C., and not just in the United States, but all over the world. Those towers in Manhattan truly were the "World Trade Center," housing thousands of souls from all over this earth.

The priest who lost his life serving as a chaplain for New York City firefighters showed Christ in his daily service to others. When disaster struck, he was at ground zero ministering to the hurting.

There's a popular acronym, "WWJD?" It appears on t-shirts and bumper stickers, and it means, "What would Jesus do?" I believe He would be working in the rain in lower Manhattan, helping those brave firefighters dig their fellow countrymen out from under the rubble. He would be ministering to the injured innocents who lie in hospitals all over the New York area. He would be comforting the aching mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, husbands, wives and little children, thousands whom have been injured beyond their comprehension. And He would be beseeching His Father for tender mercies upon all those who are so utterly devastated.

I do not believe He would be sitting in a television studio pointing a finger of blame. Not now.

Doug Patton is a freelance columnist who has served as a speechwriter and policy advisor to federal, state and local candidates and elected officials. His work can be viewed weekly on GOPUSA.

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