Flight 93 Blogburst-9/23/2011

Flt 93 mother on Crescent jury: "I don't want to reach out to those people! THEY MURDERED MY DAUGHTER!"



Alec Rawls, who has been working with Tom Burnett Sr. to stop the Crescent of Embrace memorial to Flight 93, explains the circumstances (related by Mr. Burnett in 2008, but not published until now).

Mr. Burnett had been telling his fellow design competition jurors that the crescent is a well known Islamic symbol. In addition to the giant central crescent (now called a broken circle) Tom also objected to the minaret-like Tower of Voices. "I made a point at that meeting," says Mr. Burnett, "to tell people that we have an Islamist design here that can't go forward, please, stay with me."

Thank You, Sir

I was able to join a friend who had tickets to a recent game in Chapel Hill, two Saturdays ago versus Rutgers.  My friend also had his 7-year-old in tow, and they did some of the 7yo stuff at Tar Heel Town, while I went off in search of some cool refreshments.

Walking around Tar Heel Town, I went right past the soon-to-be-former Athletic Director having his lunch sitting on the steps of one of the campus buildings.  I immediately wished I'd have stopped and said hello, but he was eating...and I try mind my manners to the point of not being a bother to someone mid-meal.

I did hustle my way back around THT and tell my friend about who I'd just seen.  Really?  No way.

Yeah, really...and way.

But, I regretted not slipping back by and manufacturing a way to shake his hand.

Later, though, I would get my wish when my friend had to take the youngun to the little fellers room.  I was standing in the shade just inside Kenan Stadium.  And, right by me walks Mr. Baddour.

"Mr. Baddour," I say, "thanks for all you've done for this University."

He actually thanked ME for asking him for the photo-op!  Remarkable.



Still A Slap in the Face

It's not a memorial to the passengers who overtook the hijackers of Flight 93...It's a giant Mihrab (or Mosque) on the 2200 acres of ground in Shanksville, PA.

It is a California architect's attempt to redeem the four hijackers, and symbolically complete their mission.  It is oriented to face vistors towards "Mecca".  It mockingly suspends the "souls" of the forty passengers and crew between heaven and earth, and glorifies the acts of the terrorists.

Any pretense to the contrary is a lie.

I refused to help build this thing, because I recognized the design for what it was, and knew enough of the story behind it.  I hoped that my stance would empower others to shun this as a disgrace, but it hasn't worked out that way.

But I still hold out hope that opposition to this farce can gain some traction, reverse course, and abort the project.

In the meantime, there's no reason to celebrate any kind of anniversary this week.  It was all bad ten years ago, and nothing good has come from it.  The best thing that happened that day was the handful of guys who did what I'd have done: storm the cockpit and kill the bad guys.  And their memory is being perverted for the benefit of the despicable.

A slap in the face.

For more, read Alec Rawls' recent blog.  Then, find a way to help fight it.