CAN WE PLEASE TALK ABOUT THE ELEPHANT?

Over the past 10 years much has been written about the disposal of Human Remains as a result of the tragedy of September 11^th, 2001.  The deplorable practice of unceremoniously dumping and then leaving human remains and cremains in a garbage dump has largely been glossed over.  The issue however again made it to the forefront of our consciousness when Dover Air Force Base staff subjected our returned deceased soldiers to the same indignity and fate as the WTC victims suffer in Fresh Kills landfill.  Now the media has suggested that the remains of Pentagon September 11, 2001 victims may also have been dumped.  This claim regarding Shanksville victims proved untrue and there are conflicting positions regarding what may or may not have been cremated of Pentagon victims.  Regardless of the specifics, the question remains. When does this behavior so shock the conscience of society that we do something about it?  When do we hold the politicians who have made these decisions to the detriment not just of the families of those who live with this realization daily, but to the reputations of us all, accountable?

And then there is the larger issue; the elephant in the room.  Where is the clergy from every religion in all of this?  Why aren’t they outraged and screaming?  Isn’t the greatest religious honor bestowed on those who ceremoniously dress and care for the dead? Osama bin Laden received a burial in accordance with the dictates of his religion. Those who were murdered as a result of his actions, and the brave men and women of our military who have fought against his ideology are denied that basic human right? And our clergy isn’t screaming?  Has the role of religion in our lives declined so dramatically that those we look to as our moral compass refuse to stand and fight for our societal morality? 

Show me the manner in which a nation cares for its dead, and I will measure with mathematical exactness the tender mercies of its people, their respect for the laws of the land and their loyalty to high deeds." -- William E. Gladstone, former British prime minister.


I can only hope not.

If this painful political and local municipal disrespect of 911 victims' and military persons remains was not itself an unparalleled outrage, the public is now learning what the 9/11 community has long known - the suspected complicity of the Saudi Arabian government in funding the Saudi terrorists who participated in the 9/11 attack.

What has out Justice Department’s response been to 9/11 families who have sued the Saudi Arabian government for civil damages relief for the murder of their loved ones? An Amicus Curai("friend of the Court") in support of the plaintiff 9/11 families as American victims’ families and citizens would expect from their Government? No.

Our Justice Department has intervened on the side of the Saudi Government to have the suit by the 9/11 families dismissed!

How much more pain and suffering must our 9/11 families be expected to endure? Do any public officials or religious leaders have the political integrity and morality to confront the "elephant in the room?"