“United 93″ has debuted. Todd Beamer’s father, David, has written a fine piece for OpinionJournal.com today.

I plan on seeing the film, but it won’t be this weekend. I know that the following has been said before, but I’ll reiterate it for my own sake: What occurred on United Flight number 93 on September 11th was not just the moment that Americans began fighting back against the jihadists. It was the moment that we won. They expected Americans — comfortable, life-loving, spoiled Americans — to cower and hope for the best in the face of their hijackings. In a real way, their whole war plan is based on those kinds of assumptions about the mettle of ordinary Americans. And you could hardly have a more genuinely random sample of Americans than occupied United 93. Yet, when these passengers realized what the score was, though their hurried telephone conversations with people on the ground who were themselves just beginning to realize what was really happening on that morning, they did not hesitate or seek excuses for inaction. Backs against the wall, they stepped forward and fought like the very bravest soldiers. This war has taken some twists and turns, and will take many more. But it’s clear that when Americans know the score, they will step up, and they will act and they will defeat this enemy with a righteous ferocity every bit equal to this enemy’s blind hatred. All that remains to be worked out is at what cost, to everyone, this war will be won. It would have been better had more aggressive steps been taken earlier against al-Qaeda, and the heroes of Flight 93 were still with us living their peaceful lives. It will be better likewise, I believe, if we continue to anticipate and prevent and preempt further aggression by the same enemies, rather than waiting for their own initiative to force our hand. Either way, though, they lose. That’s what we found out on September 11th itself, and it’s just one of the things we have to be eternally grateful for to the passengers and crew of United Flight number 93.

In the deep green grasses and the blood-stained wood
They never dreamed of surrendering, they fell where they stood

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