www.byzcath.org Forums General Discussions Town Hall A SON SPEAKS AGAIN!

Hi, it's James! First of all, I didn't want my Dad to come back to this forum, not after the last person he offended way back when! He did though and I worried every time he came here! Tonight after Dad got off of here, he looked up at me, I'm 6'3" tall now, taller than my Dad, he looked into my eyes and said, "Might of upset people again, Jamsey!" My Dad served in the military for a long time and he saw alot of sad and really bad things and I know he hasn't told me half of it yet. His body is scarred, remember "First Blood" John Rambo, my Dad's body makes Rambo's look like a drawing! I don't know where all Dad's been in the Corps, some of it is classified! Milica she doesn't talk about Kosovo anymore, but I know she thinks about it everyday. My Dad isn't rich, he hasn't ever had a nest egg, he never will, he is a 100% disabled veteran, we don't have fancy clothes, new cars every year, we don't "dine" out in style three nights a week, Dad isn't college educated. Like I said I didn't want Dad to come back on here, I didn't know what he was viewing on here and it took me awhile to find, "FLIGHT 93 VICTIMS etc." My Dad's always taught us simple things: do not judge, it's not your place, do not pick on the poor, don't make fun of the rich, vandalize those who have better things than we do. Stuff life that! 9/11 is hard for Dad, on Flight 93 that went down in Shanksville, PA, there was a friend of ours on that plane. Dad lost friends in the Pentagon and the World Trade Center. I'm on here now, not because I think my ole Dad is weak, but two weeks before 9/11 every year, two local businesses always receive threats, why? They are owned and operated by Muslims. My Dad's right, not everyone who is a Muslim and whose faith is Islam is out to kill us. And every year, it isn't the Police that protects these two businesses, it's VETERANS! Veterans of World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Peace Time and the First Gulf War. You can see them, you can't miss them! They have on their red hats or headwraps to identify what military service they were in, they don't carry weapons, they don't need to, just by being there nobody is going to hurt these family run businesses and if you go there, these same Veterans who fought in wars are mopping the floors, taking out the trash, helping out however they can, because in thier HEARTS these VETERANS know these MUSLIMS aren't out to kill us, that's why they fled Egypt, Pakistan, Jordan, Lebanon etc. Dad always tells all of us, we are Christians first, and being a Christian means your faith is coming from your heart! He goes on to say, "If you are wearing a label of "Christian" what good is that?" Dad wears a bracelet with the words, "IF YOU JUDGE PEOPLE YOU HAVE NO TIME TO LOVE THEM." Mother Teresa. My Dad isn't perfect and I don't think he would ever want to be. Today when I walked down from the highschool with my best friend, Yasmeen, a Muslim, we walked to her parents cafe, and sure enough my Dad and other veterans were there on guard duty, not as lean, but still as mean as my Dad would tell all of you. There was a man in front of me dressed in a real fancy suit, he ordered coffee and told my Dad he was going to "spit in it, because Muslims should die!" My Dad looked at him and my Dad took his cup of coffee and told this suit to spit in his because he would still drink it! The suit looked at my Dad and some of the other VETERANS and he said, "All you veterans are f----- up!" and left. I ordered mine and Yasmeens latte's and Dad smiled and told me, "Son, perhaps one day we will have to leave America in search of peace ourselves!" I just smiled and said, "Maybe!" but I know what Dad meant. When Yasmeen's mom comes to our home, we often find her in front of an statue of the Virgin Mary or an icon of the Virgin, I never knew why, I decided to be brave and ask, Yasmeen's mom told me, "The Virgin Mary is the Mother of all of us!" The Muslims we know and we know about 40-55, they don't have a problem with icons, statues, they want to learn! Learn! Half have apologized for the past history of Muslims persecuting Christians and these Muslims mean it, it's one thing to hear someone on TV say it, it is another thing when you look into a Muslims eyes and they have tears falling. In our little corner of America and the World, we have friends that are Jews, Muslims, Catholics, Lutherans and we all get along. Or I guess that would make us herectics or apostates! How many people have friends who are Jews and Muslims and they have lunch or dinner together or a picnic at the park? We do here! This evening Fr. Basil arrived, he's a Greek Orthodox Priest, and he arrived after my Dad left, so some of the women of these Veterans are staying at Yasmeens home in case something happens, never has, but you neve know anymore what goes through a persons mind. Fr. Basil is at the Cafe, he's friends with Yasmeens family and he told her father that "we must not forget the past between our faiths, we must however work together for a better future for our families." Milica wondered if Fr. Basil gets a blessing from his bishop to "hang out overnight in a Muslim's cafe!" That's where my Dad is tonight and will be tomorrow night. I've seen bumper stickers on veterans cars that read: "ALL GAVE SOME, SOME GAVE ALL!" It has a new meaning for me as a DUMB 14 YEAR OLD TEENAGER WHO IS GLAD HE HAS THE DAD HE DOES. I see today VETERANS who no longer wear the uniform, but hats of the military branch they served in STILL GIVING ALL! Our friend who died on Fligt 93, she was the fiance of our friend, she came in the cafe and Dad told her about the "Crescent Crisis" she said it wouldn't upset her, she would hope a cross and a Star of David were also placed there. And today we saw something else too, that should have been on every TV station and Internet News Page, three Marines just back from Iraq and three Army from Afghanistan came into the cafe, not to belittle the Muslims, but to have coffee and talk to the Veterans that were there. Yasmeen's mom dropped a pretty heavy looking box of spoons, cups etc. one of the Marines jumped up and helped her pick up the stuff, he even took in the back for her. Well, one of the Marines and two of the Army are staying in the cafe tonight also, weird isn't it? You would think these military men on leave would want to go home and get some rest! They wanted to stay when they found out why all these veterans were there. One of the Marines came over to mine and Yasmeen's table and he told us outside of Baghdad during a firefight, he saw a little girl about 10-12 get shot by the insurgents and he went out and grabbed her, after the firefight, the girls Father and Mother came out to get their daughter, the Father thanked the Marine and he gave him "The Holy Quaran" for getting their daughter so she could have a Muslim funeral. That Marine, Dad told me he is a Lance Corporal, he took out The Quaran and told Yasmeen that "this Holy book of your faith has travelled many miles, I didn't know what to do with it, I'm a Baptist myself, I just think the little girl who died would want me to give this to a girl of her faith." Since I am probably following in my Dad's typewritten words and upsetting people on here, if we are herectics or apostates and we need to shot by people who are Christians or call themselves Christians, please send a "PM" so my Dad and I can be the first ones at the wall for the firing squad. And I'm sure there will be 60-70 other veterans and local Christians that will join us and quite a few Muslims also. I'm 14, I hope to live a long time, I see what war has done to my own Dad. I don't want to serve in the military, but I'm wondering why does my Dad come here, if "Christians" will blast him for pointing out some simple and plain truths about other faiths? I'm going to do my best to talk him out of coming on here, I just don't think this is good for my Dad. And if alot of people reading this haven't worn the military uniform, as I've heard the veterans say, "It don't mean nothing!" My Dad if I can't keep him off of you will come to this point first, "I, James, ask forgiveness for all those I have offended and all those who hate me and my family because of our openness to other faiths." I will recite the rosary tonight for peace among Christians and for our military and veterans like my Dad and his friends who still pull "Guard Duty" so the innocent can continue to make a living. God bless everyone!

Once again, James, your words are welcome. It is truly a blessing to have you and your father on ByzCath, and we hope both of you remain for many, many years.

Gaudior, who suggests that you consider becoming a writer, as your words are most eloquent.

Hi Gaudior, it's James, I've been thinking about my Dad's posts and how I don't want him on here, last night I woke up at 0330 and I read from a prayerbook and I began wondering if Christ Himself meant for Christianity to be this much of a problem and exposive when an uneducated person like my Dad speaks the truth? I'm pretty sure Jesus spoke the truth and was crucified and I guess one day my Dad will get cruicified if he doesn't quit coming here, and I hope the people who crucify me and my dad are the ones that blast my Dad on his posts. I'm hoping Dad will not come back on here, but this is his computer, so he will have to delete this "forum." Well off to school where Muslims and Jews and Christians get along and don't hurl insults and rocks at each other. Thanks for your post thought. James

James,

Christ's most eloquent witnesses to His ministry were his disciples, whom you will note were just regular, ordinary guys, who believed, and who followed Christ, as their hearts could understand His Truth.

Gaudior, who does not recall any of the day's "cultural elite" among the first called.

Hi James.

Christians are never called to violence or hatred.

Sometimes Christians have to respond to violence with force, to stop the violence, but not to continue or augment it.

Respecting Islam and, in fact, all the other faith traditions, is not against the Christian faith.

As a Catholic, I cannot but recall the great signs of respect and fraternity our late holy father John Paul II (the Great) offered to Islam, Judaism, Budhism and many other non-Christian groups.

And also the recent interreligious events around World Youth Day, when Pope Benedict showed his determination to continue on the path walked by his predecesor.

"Those who live by the sword, die by the sword". That is true on their camp, it is also true on our camp.

"Blessed are the peace-makers, they shall be called children of God". That is true on their camp, it is also true on our camp, with people like you and your father, who are willing to see beyond the fear that government and the media wants us to feel towards each other.

May God bless you abundantly, you and your family.

Shalom,
Memo

I see that my son has again come to my aid. I just arrived home from the cafe and coffee shop where I was spit on by an American who called me and my fellow veterans "traitors" I looked at him this person and I pointed to the Eagle, Globe and Anchor on my hat-for non-military this is the symbol of the Marine Corps. I told this "spitter" that I wore the uniform for a long time and that he should remember that "Freedom Isn't Free!" it's always bought at a price and over 2000 years ago, a 33 year old "rebel" so to speak was crucified for all of us! At this point my friend's wife, who is a Muslim wiped the spit from my face. So for all those who are upset by my posts, I invite you all to take your hatred out on me! I should have died so many times in two conflicts and I am alive today.

Dear Seraphim,

May God visit you with His peace that the world cannot give!

You work with politicians too?

Alex

Dearest Orthodox Catholic, Alex, I'm Milica, my husband and his son, James, are the cause of all this ANGER and on a "CHRISTIAN" site no less! Yes, my husband should have died in two wars, he has wanted to go to Iraq to be with brother Marines! He and other veterans are doing thier "guard duty" now by not carrying guns, just being at friends who are Muslims and own businesses to keep those who hate Muslims from disrupting business. I have found my husband and three other veterans have been spit on and it is only 11:00 AM here, I found out from a girlfriend of mine, that one man has hit my husband, I have cried over this, this is America, I should have died in Kosovo, we thought America would be a better place, my husband has now lost a tooth from this man hitting him! Did my husband, who is well trained in the art of war and self defense hit the man back? I was told my husband said, "You can't stop now!" and turned so the man could hit him in the right jaw. And he did! Two other passesby who knew this man took him away, our friend, Kieth called and told me about the second hitting to my husband today. He said as soon as the place where my husbands' tooth was stopped bleeding, my husband smiled and said he should get a small hole drilled in his tooth and wear it around his neck so that others may know "Feedom isn't Free and Freedom always is bought with a Price!" I am very happy to know that just now coming into town are Orthodox Chrsitians of the Antiochian Church who have come to also show the love of Christ by helping a business stay open and keeping those who think they are doing God's work from not working their evil deeds in the name of God. Alex, no, my husband doesn't work with Politicians, he doesn't trust them at all! When America bombed Serbia on Pascha, a Congressman came here and my husband and us went to the place where this Congressman would speak to us people. My husband had our Serbian Flag, we were only there for 15 minutes and security took the Serbian flag and moved my husband to the "agitators" roped off area, my husband's only questions was going to be: "Why did our country bomb Serbia on the Feasts of Feasts-Pascha! The last time this was done was when Hitler's army came in!" He never got to say that question and my mama and I noticed all the "agitators" were Veterans and their families, and we went and stood beside them as "agitators" ourselves! It proved to me that yes, America is FREE, but only FREE if the CORRECT questions are asked and the CORRECT answers are given in return. My husbands post said something: "Take you anger and hatred out on me!" I also invite people to do the same with me with their anger and hatred, I have forgiven the KLA for what they did to me, I thought this is what Christ taught, maybe I'm no good at reading the Bible in English and should not speak as a woman!

A nervous woman comes again probably to irritate many on here. Last night before my husband left for his "guard duty" he asked me, "Milica, the Evil that men do lives on and on, but where is the love that Christ speaks about so much in the Gospel? Or is being a "CHRISTIAN" a label and not by doing that which Christ asked of us and that is to help! Maybe all I am meant to be is a product of war, but I'm so tired sweetheart of war, and the forum is almost warlike, for our sins the AntiChrist will be next, but people have forgot the love of God! All I seem to bring to this forum is anger and condemnation, I'm an uneducated fool!"

It has been said that many think that Christianity would rule the world, only if Christians actually practiced it.

Yes there is a lot of anger over September 11th, but remember not every muslim wishes to fly planes into buildings.

There is a lot of anger over the crusades, yet not every Christian wishes to go and kill the infidel.

I admit that my walk hasn't been very Christlike in my sort time of my life. I often confess this to my Priest, that my life doesn't reflect the light of Christ. I pray that he will enable me, with his grace, to be a light to this darkened world.

Remember in Acts, Paul would preach and there would be people who would get mad at him and stone him, whip him, and try to kill him? This is human nature. We get angry at beliefs that are not in accordance with ours.

Your going to the cafe is being a true Christian. Just like Paul went into the Jewish Synagogs, Like Peter and Paul into Rome, when you live your life as a Christian the example of your life becomes the Gospel. While you may not actively preach the Gospel, by living it out among those who don't know it they will notice that you are different, and may wonder why you are different, and then ask.

Dear Orthodox Catholic, Alex, I hope your comment "You work with politicians too?" is merely a joke? I have no use for politicians! I haven't heard one that actually kept any campaign promises! So I will accept your comment as a light hearted joke!

Milicia, James, and Scott...

You do not anger any here. If what you say pricks atrophied conscience into irritation, that is a good thing. But I think not one here will criticize you for your words, which are truly Christian, and from the heart.

Gaudior, who would appreciate it if the moderators would lock this thread, and that of the Flight 93 memorial, before someone is needlessly hurt.

I am Milica, I'm a worried wife, ignorant of American ways, my husband and son offend, I have gone against my mama's desire and post again. An American hit my husband and my husband turned for this American to hit the other side and he did and my husband losses a tooth because he is friends with Muslims, this man was foolish as my husband and veterans are trained to feend off attacks, my husband did what Jesus said to do, "offer the other cheek" my husband is both God loving and God fearing, I now see many Americans are not this way! I'm very sad today and wnat to leave America, but where do we go? All I can do is pray and I will beg my husband to delete this forum forever!

Dear Milicia,

Please know that we are praying for you, for your husband, and your children.

Gaudior, who feels it an honor to have read your husband's posts.

Everyone,

I know that my opinion on this section counts only as a regular poster, but I think all need to take step back and take a deep breath. In reviewing the posts from this and the other thread, some get concerned when words are not taken the way they may be intended. When an issue or thread is emotional, we think with our hearts, and our fingers sometimes do not put it down the way we really wanted.

I do not see anyone deliberately trying to offend anyone, and if it has been taken that way, they need to step back and reread the posts. If someone is offended, we should be praying for them, instead of responding to them and possibly be causing harm spiritually for not only both parties, but for those that do not write or post but read these posts.

Please everyone, let us step back from these threads. Instead let us offer our prayers and encouragement for one another, as Saint Paul tells us in his first epistle to the Thessalonians. Let us grow together in love and prayer.

All have very strong emotions and feelings concerning 9/11. It has effected us all. Arguing or bantering among each other concerning this issue and what is not on this thread, does not help us to heal, but is slowly causing more pain. With pain, we sometimes say things that were never meant to be. Let us turn away from the pain, and work on heling each other that we will be stronger as soldiers of Christ in which wee have been called to be. I close by paraphrasing our Savior, "let us love one another".

In IC XC,
Father Anthony+