What Reagan Said of Normandy

June 05, 2011 by J. E. Dyer

Continued from Page 1

We can be sure that not all Arabs or Muslims harbor these sentiments. But that may not be what matters to the course of events. Politically aggressive minorities, like this Egyptian delegation exhorted by Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to be "anti-Zionist" and unite against a common enemy, can and do seize the reins of national power when those reins are up for grabs.

The people of 1944 did not know as we do what it would be like to celebrate—decade after decade—a seminal victory that reordered the world. But they would recognize, perhaps more clearly than we do, the pattern of events emerging around us in 2011. Their response, in the hour of necessity, was to storm the beach at Pointe du Hoc. And we may face in our generation a Pointe du Hoc of our own. I am not convinced that we will have to face it in the same form; i.e., as a contest of arms, with the rule of territory at stake. It might be simpler if we did.

But I think a brief passage in Reagan's 40th anniversary speech is the key to discerning where our Pointe du Hoc lies, and what we must do about it. Speaking of those who planned, fought, and prayed for the D-Day invasion, Reagan said they knew "God was an ally in this great cause." That is a concept we have all but repudiated today—and it may well be that in our lifetimes, we will not confront a great battle of bombs, armor, and blood in which we call God our ally.

But if evils and strife multiply in our world, there will be a place where we have to stand and face them down, whatever the weapons of our warfare may be. And in the place where we know God is our ally—in the place where we know He has called us to take our stand—there is where we will find our Pointe du Hoc.

Page: 2 of 2

6/5/2011 4:00:00 AM

Evangelical

The Optimistic Christian

Anti-Semitism

China

D-Day

History

Middle East

Nazism

Reagan

World War II

Christianity

Evangelicalism

more at patheos

If This Is All That I Have for You (Proverbs 14:30)

Jeff McLain

Queer and Christian: Review of Brandan Robertson's New Book

James McGrath

Profiting on Promoting 250 Years of Christian Nationalism

Joey Cochran

Meet Fellowship & Fairydust Founder Avellina Balestri

Mark Wilson

About J. E. Dyer

J.E. Dyer is a retired Naval intelligence officer and evangelical Christian. She retired in 2004 and blogs from the Inland Empire of southern California. She writes for Commentary's CONTENTIONS blog, Hot Air's Green Room, and her own blog, The Optimistic Conservative. Follow her on Facebook and Twitter.

Patheos Logo Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Subscription Support Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In

Follow Patheos