American Hat

As is expected on this day, I find time to reflect back 10 years.  I thought about avoiding the typical topic of 9/11 but then I thought, why?  It was a monumentally horrifying event that still effects many Americans' lives in big and little ways.  It shocks me sometimes when we discuss 9/11 in school and I look around to the faces of the kids and I realize, they don't remember it. 

They were 2 or 3 years old and for them, this is how life has always been.  There has never been a time when they didn't have people in their families or communities over seas in danger.  They have never gone though and airport without having to take off their shoes.  They have never seen the twin towers before they were destroyed.  They have never gone a week without seeing a flag at half mast for someone we have lost.  They have never known their nation to be at peace.

I spent some time on Friday talking to a couple of students who had to interview someone about 9/11 and what they remembered about that day.  I think many of us reflected on that horrible day and the shock, the utter disbelief, the complete numbness we felt as we watched the day spill horror after horror after horror.  News casters who couldn't speak, people in the streets running, to or from the towers, or just running, not knowing why or where.  For days afterward it was impossible to function without thinking about it and the all the consequences that came later.  The loss of lives both that day and during the rescue operations, the thousands of volunteers who gave their time, their money and sometimes their lives trying to bring some relief, some humanity back out of the wreckage.  Finding out more and more about the heroes from that day, like the people on Flight 93 who chose to take a stand and say, "NO MORE!".  From realizing that someone could hate us so much that they would plan out this kind of total devastation, and be proud of what they had done to people they didn't even know. 

I thought about how far we have some from that day, that horrible, horrible day.  And about how much we have changed as well.  We have grown closer as a nation.  We have become more humane to our neighbors here and across the country.  We have recognized that we all have faults but together we are stronger than when we are apart and tearing at each other.  The Pledge of Allegiance has taken on new meaning for us and we say it proudly.  It is not just a bunch of words, it has meaning and it has value.  We are a family, arguing with each other but strong in our loyalty to each other at the same time.

I have always been proud to be an American.  I know our nation has its problems but I will stand with my brethren and defend her with my dying breath if necessary.  For all the horror and inhumanity of 9/11, what these pathetic excuses for human beings really did to us was make us stronger, more resolved and more dedicated to upholding the principles that this nations was founded upon.  Congratulations terrorists, you managed to awaken the sleep dragon.  How do you like me now?