A day that will live in infamy

You probably can guess what I'm going to write about tonight. And you're right. Sort of. 9/11 was the first time my generation bore witness to history being made. 

I was in fourth grade, just nine years old. Someone came in and handed Mr. Cannon a piece of paper. He explained to us that an airplane had hit one tower of the World Trade Center, and another had hit the Pentagon. I knew what the WTC was, though I distinctly remember imagining a giant flea market or swap meet going on inside. I didn't understand that that trade could mean finance. Even more innocently, when people discussed the Pentagon, I pictured the Washington Monument instead. I remember hoping that few had been hurt, since not many people are ever inside the monument.

I think I was the only one in my class who was crying; but I was doing enough crying for everybody else. Don't misunderstand me, I had only the foggiest understanding of what was going on, but even in those days I was a history buff. I knew what had happened the last time America was attacked: we entered the Second World War and 418,000 Americans died. Even as a child, I had unconsciously discovered a painful truth about human nature. Violence begets violence. I was right. We went to war a month later, and ten years out, we are still at war. I don't remember what peace feels like. I pray that my children will not be so unfortunate. Then maybe they can explain it to their mother.

• There is nothing wrong with America that cannot be cured by what is right with America. -Pres. Clinton

• Where liberty dwells, there is my country. -Benjamin Franklin

 

• The character of our enemies testifies to the greatness of America. -James D. Miller

• Americanism means the virtues of courage, honor, justice, truth, sincerity, and hardihood- the virtues that made America. -Teddy Roosevelt

• Sure I wave an American flag. Do you know of a better flag to wave? Sure I love my country with all her faults. I'm not ashamed of that, never have been, never will be. -John Wayne

• I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands. One nation, under God, indivisible, with Liberty and Justice for all. 

• E Pluribus Unum. From many one.

• Thou, too, sail on, O Ship of State! Sail on, O Union, strong and great! Humanity with all its fears, with all the hopes of future years, is hanging breathless on Thy fate. -Henry W. Longfellow 

• Oh 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.

• It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us—that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion—that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain—that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom—and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth. -Abraham Lincoln