September 11, 2001

Three years ago today, 19 men changed America forever. They used boxcutters to highjack four airliners. Two planes flew into the North and South Towers of the World Trade Center in New York. One plane flew into the Pentagon. The fourth, because of the actions of courageous passengers, went into the ground in a Pennsylvania field rather than into the Capitol Building, it's supposed target. Over three thousand people in the airplanes, the Twin Towers and environs, the Pentagon, and in that Pennsylvania field lost their lives that day. Countless others were directly effected due to the loss of life of a friend or loved one.

Policemen, firefighters, airline employees, and citizens of the US and other nations died that day. We tend to forget that foreign countries leased office space at the WTC. They also lost citizens that day.

America changed that day. I love the television ad that shows how America changed. We went from a country that just went about its day-to-day business to one which wears it's patriotism on its sleeve. On September 11 we were angry and confused. Who would do such a thing? How could anyone want to hurt so many innocent people?

There are people who are jealous and afraid of our way of life. We are a prosperous country and our citizens, our freedom to choose our religion and our freedom of speech. They are afraid that if their citizens are allowed the freedoms we enjoy, they will lose control of their countries. I liken these people to the class bully. I have something they want, so they take it from me, or my life miserable until I give it to them. Ever notice how the people around the bully, and there usually are some, always agree with the bully and do what they are told? They're afraid not to. They capitulate so that the bully will leave them alone. They are afraid to stand up for themselves so they appease the bully. It usually doesn't last. At some point, the bully will beat them up too.

The leaders of these countries know that if their citizens are allowed to speak out, they may not stop at speech, but also want all that goes with it. This is dangerous to the leaders of these countries. They may lose their positions, power and wealth. They live very well at expense of the citizens of their countries. Just look at the countries that are governed by despots and dictators. They have little contact with other countries, when they do, it's usually with like-minded countries. They don't want their citizens to be able to find out that with freedom comes a better lifestyle than they have. Why do Haitians and Cubans still make life-threatening attempts to come to the US? They are taking the biggest gamble of their lives so that they, and their children, can have a better life. They believe that death is preferable to what they leave behind.

On September 11th we were stunned. We were confused and we were angry. We can't forget anything about that day. What actions did our leaders take that day? Who reacted and how? And how did you yourself react? Did you give blood that day? Did you join the search for survivors? Did you mourn the loss of a child, sibling, parent, friend? Did you join the military? Did you begin wearing a flag on your lapel? We all show our feelings in many ways. We are patriotic in many ways.

Among all the things we must do to save the American way of life, there is one thing we must never do. We must never forget what happened on September 11, 2001. It changed our lives forever.