I remember writing in my journal that night and unleashing the anger and frustration directed at the those who carried out the cowardly orders given by Osama bin Laden - a child of hell now feeding fish in Poseidon's abyss. (There is still some anger.) The images of that day are burned in our minds. We saw the worst of humanity on display by instruments of evil and destruction; but what transpired after that day represented the best of humanity. Kindness, support, brotherhood, charity, unity, and unbridled patriotism abounded. The country was profoundly UNITED in every sense of the word.
In the third verse of the patriotic Hymn, "America The Beautiful" I thought of the heroes on Flight 93, who fought the terrorists and gave their own lives to keep the plane from reaching its target and hurting more of their fellow countrymen. They are proven heroes, who loved their country and protected their fellow countrymen in an ultimate act of courage and mercy.
Much has transpired in the ten years since the towers fell and we lost so many of our compatriots there and in the field in Pennsylvania and at the Pentagon. We have not been as united as we were immediately following the attacks. Politics are polarized, and there are many flaws that need mending, but they can be mended. This anniversary helped us to not only remember those we lost, but to reflect on how were then, how we are now, and make a new commitment to be united again.
Some call September 11th one of America's darkest days. Any American who experienced it would definitely agree. And many would also agree that September 12th and the many months that followed was some of America's brightest. We would do well to return to the mindset of 9/12/2011.
Despite what is shown sometimes on the nightly news, I remain optimistic that the country will be united and continue to be a leader and example of good for the world. The world is a better place with a benevolent superpower united in the cause of freedom, liberty, and human rights.
The picture below reminded me of the 4th verse of that same patriotic hymn. Despite the tears shed and destruction caused on that day, America's largest city still gleams like a beacon of hope for a better life and bright future for its own citizens and to those of the world abroad who also cherish freedom.
America, The Beautiful
- O beautiful for spacious skies,
- For amber waves of grain,
- For purple mountain majesties
- Above the fruited plain!
- America! America!
- God shed His grace on thee,
- And crown thy good with brotherhood
- From sea to shining sea!
- O beautiful for pilgrim feet
- Whose stern impassion'd stress
- A thoroughfare for freedom beat
- Across the wilderness.
- America! America!
- God mend thine ev'ry flaw,
- Confirm thy soul in self-control,
- Thy liberty in law.
- O beautiful for heroes prov'd
- In liberating strife,
- Who more than self their country lov'd,
- And mercy more than life.
- America! America!
- May God thy gold refine
- Till all success be nobleness,
- And ev'ry gain divine.
- O beautiful for patriot dream
- That sees beyond the years
- Thine alabaster cities gleam
- Undimmed by human tears.
- America! America!
- God shed His grace on thee,
- And crown thy good with brotherhood
- From sea to shining sea.
