The Struggle of Memory against Forgetting

In his 1978 novel, The Book of Laughter and Forgetting, Milan Kundera writes: "The struggle of man against power is the struggle of memory against forgetting."

We are doomed to repeat the history of failed republics if we do not remember why they failed.

If we choose to forget how much our enemies hate us and how determined they are to destroy us, we will expose ourselves to terrorism once more.

From the Heritage Foundation Morning Bell: "This past weekend the American public learned that not only was the Obama administration briefed about the bombing technique attempted on Flight 253, not only did the United States have information that a Nigerian was being prepared for a terrorist attack by al Qaeda in Yemen, but our government also knew that an “Umar Farouk” was involved."

Yet this Administration claims the system is working. But for the brave flying Dutchman who threw himself on the Pantie Bomber, the truth of the failed system would, sadly, have likely resulted in death. Continued claims that the system is working in the face of the facts which argue otherwise are reckless and irresponsible.

Heritage reports there have been 28 failed terrorist attacks against the US since 2001. Which is an average of about three per year. In 2009, there were six. Still, our President refuses to characterize a war on terror. Each attack is labeled an isolated incident. We are told: the system is working.

Let us take to heart the words of Kundera, a man who fled the communist regime that invaded Czechoslovakia after the Second World War. If we forget, we are likely to lose the struggle.