WHY I WON'T GO SEE UNITED 93

United 93, the film about the heroism of ordinary Americans who thwarted part of Al Qaeda's monstrous plans for 9/11, is set to debut on April 29. It has already been shown to some preview audiences and critics. Thus far, the reviews that I have seen are all positive. It helps that the film was written, produced and directed with the input of the families of the heroes on that flight. In fact, one of the FAA controllers who was on duty that day actually plays himself in the movie. Some folks are urging Americans to see the movie, including the father of the most famous of the passengers, Todd Beamer, who announced their counter-attack with 'Let's roll'.

Paul Greengrass and Universal set out to tell the story of United Flight 93 on that terrible day in our nation's history. They set about the task of telling this story with a genuine intent to get it right--the actions of those on board and honor their memory. Their extensive research included reaching out to all the families who had lost loved ones on United Flight 93 as the first casualties of this war. And Paul and his team got it right.

You can't get a much better recommendation than that, can you? Still, I won't go to see United 93. Not because I can't stand the thought of Hollywood depicting this moment of extraordinary heroism by ordinary Americans. I take Mr. Beamer at his word. If he thinks the filmmakers got it right, then who am I to argue with him. Rather, the reason I won't see United 93 is that I already share Mr. Beamer's view of the war we are in.

In this case and at this time, it is appropriate to get a dose of reality about this war and the real enemy we face. It is not too soon for this story to be told, seen and heard. But it is too soon for us to become complacent. It is too soon for us to think of this war in only national terms. We need to be mindful that this enemy, who made those holes in our landscape and caused the deaths of some 3,000 of our fellow free people, has a vision to personally kill or convert each and every one of us. This film reminds us that this war is personal. This enemy is on a fanatical mission to take away our lives and liberty--the liberty that has been secured for us by those whose names are on those walls in Battery Park and so many other walls and stones throughout this nation. This enemy seeks to take away the free will that our Creator has endowed in us. Patrick Henry got it right some 231 years ago. Living without liberty is not living at all.

The passengers and crew of United 93 had the blessed opportunity to understand the nature of the attack and to launch a counterattack against the enemy. This was our first successful counterattack in our homeland in this new global war--World War III.

This film further reminds us of the nature of the enemy we face. An enemy who will stop at nothing to achieve world domination and force a life devoid of freedom upon all. Their methods are inhumane and their targets are the innocent and unsuspecting. We call this conflict the "War on Terror." This film is a wake-up call. And although we abhor terrorism as a tactic, we are at war with a real enemy and it is personal.

Well said, and oh so true. Which is why I can't see the film. On that day, sitting in a radio studio in Manchester, NH, I reported the events to my listeners, struggling all the while to contain my emotions. I knew we were under attack, and that we were at war. When it became known that one of the hijacked planes had crashed into a field in Pennsylvania, I knew that the passengers or crew had done something to cause it to happen. When that was confirmed during the days that followed, it became even harder to contain my emotions.

Today, seeing that film would not just be a matter of containing my emotions as I watched the cinematic depiction of the events of that terrible day. I could probably endure an hour or two of weeping. What I could not endure is the unvarnished anger that would fill my soul. Anger that our leaders have failed us. Anger that our media elites have failed us. Anger that too many ordinary Americans, following the lead of their leaders and the press, have fallen back into their pre-9/11 slumber.

We are at war, but the President didn't ask Congress to declare it, nor did he ask the American people as a whole to enlist in the fight. Thus, it is no surprise that so many Americans now do not believe we are at war, and so many in Congress and the press can act as if they have no duty to help in the war effort.

I will not see United 93, because I do not wish to subject myself to the white-hot realization that our enemies have the fanatical will to do whatever it takes to win, and that ordinary Americans have the extraordinary courage to fight back with whatever they have, but that our leaders in politics, the media, academia and business lack the imagination and the conviction to lead us in this fight to the death.