On September 11, former U.S. Marine Corps Combat Correspondent Cliff McKenzie was at Ground Zero in New York City. He witnessed the death and destruction resulting from the Terrorist Attack on the World Trade Center. He survived the holocaust with a passionate mission--to fight Terrorism on all fronts.
A veteran of battling the "Beast Of Terror" during his 100 combat missions in Vietnam, McKenzie sat dazed in the rubble of Nine Eleven and vowed to write daily diaries on how to fight off the effects of modern Terrorism on both Emotional as well as Physical fronts. His goal is to "expose the core of Terrorism" by eviscerating its cancers-- Fear, Intimidation and Complacency. He calls these three emotional viruses the "nuclear fallout" of Terrorism--the Triad of Terrorism.
His daily writings explore how Terrorism's "insidious cancer" wreaks havoc upon American society's emotional and physical security--especially upon the children and the Children's Children's Children.
Tools he provides to battle Terrorism include The Pledge Of Vigilance, Sword of Vigilance, Shield of Vigilance and Principles of Vigilance. The Pledge is designed as a commitment for every Citizen of Vigilance or CEO of Vigilance to take to remind him or her of the duty we all have to protect the innocent from Terrorism's dangers both of a physical and emotional nature.
Employing historic references that reach back to the Spartans of Greece, he has elevated the "victims" of 9-11 to the legendary status of "Sentinels of Vigilance." They stand watch over America and the world. Their charge is to protect the children, parents and citizens from the bile of "Fear," "Intimidation" and "Complacency" upon which, he claims, Terrorism feeds and breeds.
Upon entering the site, readers will enjoy a variety of messages to help them understand and deal with the daily booby-traps Terrorism throws in one's path. To help children understand Terrorism better, and to aid adults in knowing what children think, Cliff's wife, Lori, writes stories under the heading, "Sophia's Wisdom." She takes the role of grandmother with her three grandchildren, Matt age 6, Sarah age 3 and Angus, the newest addition who was conceived on September 11, 2001 and is called the "Vigilance Child."
The "Sophia's Wisdom" section presents the candid innocence of children's questions and provides Vigilant answers. Sophia's Wisdom's mission is to help parents better cope with and explain Terrorism of all sizes and shapes that affect the young--including whether Santa will come this year, or how to deal with the bully up the street who uses Fear, Intimidation and Complacency to rule the neighborhood.
Various additional pages in the website speak directly to the National News Media about their responsibility to maintain vigilance. Other sections include poignant "Conversations with God" and still others probe issues dealing with Terrorism's deeply ethical issues.
There is something for everyone in the site.
Cliff has included a feedback email for all who wish to make comments or suggestions--inviting all readers to agree or disagree with his points-of-view. He also seeks donations and funding from those who believe in his message, and wish to support it.
He and his wife have constructed, written, edited and managed and written the web pages with no outside assistance. Because he is one man, working with the help of his wife, he apologizes if everything isn't "perfect." However, he knows you'll enjoy the ability to become more Vigilant in all aspects of your life. On September 11, former U.S. Marine Corps Combat Correspondent Cliff McKenzie was at Ground Zero in New York City. He witnessed the death and destruction resulting from the Terrorist Attack on the World Trade Center. He survived the holocaust with a passionate mission--to fight Terrorism on all fronts.