Six years ago tomorrow I had turned on CNN just in time to catch them announcing that a plane had just crashed into one of New Yorks “Twin Towers”. I don't think I was alone in thinking right away that this was an intentional action. When the second plane hit, that thought, in my mind anyway was validated. Like many I sat riveted to the T.V. watching the same images over and over. Yes, I will admit it. I cried.I cried for the immediacy of the moment watching the horror that was occurring to the people who were there. But in a sense, somehow, someway, we were all there. I cried in anger at the insanity of persons that thought that this type of action could do any people any good. I cried in rage and frustration as I sat in front of the T.V. watching. Helpless to do anything else. And I cried because in my guts I knew the consequences of this insanity for our Country, America, would be far reaching and long lasting. And so they have been.
I could rage and rant as I am known to do at times in this venue. I won't. What I will do is point out, as someone on CNN did today, is that we can be attacked, we can be bombed, Americans can be killed. But “AMERICA” can not be harmed.
Approximately 25,000 persons were killed during the revolutionary war. 8000 to battle and 17,000 to disease and America was Born.
It is estimated that as many as 618,000 Americans died during the “Civil War.” This, America's bloodiest war, divided brother against brother, and when it was over we stood as One Nation.
117,000 (though the actual figure will never be known) soldiers died during World War I helping to defeat an “enemy” with an eye towards world wide domination. We Won.
World War II saw America fighting more than one enemy that would “crush us”. After the loss of approximately 418,500 Americans, it was those that would “crush us” who were defeated.
In 1956 Soviet premier Nikita Khrushchev famously used an expression generally translated into English as "We will bury you!" Today it is the old Soviet Union that no longer exists and America has yet to be buried.
There are now 58,256 names of Americans dead or missing in action on the Vietnam wall. A war that ended with Americans fighting Americans in the Streets of America. Yet here we stand, the strongest country in the world despite past differences among ourselves.
So should would we tremble in fear at the mad ravings of fanatical extremists. I think not.
You see my friends, America is not buildings, or property, or any one individual, soldier and civilian alike. America is an ideology, a belief system, a set of values admired and envied around the world.
It is a dream that was made a reality by our forefathers and can not be made a dream again.
Even our own government can not destroy America. Japan saw what happens when you “Wake a sleeping giant.” That giant was not Americas government. But America's people.
Ours and other governments would be wise to remember history. For the only thing that can harm America is FEAR. Against that my friends we should be “Eternally Vigilant” lest we cry never ending tears. rcAdd to Technorati Favorites
