I came across a list of all the victims of the 9/11 attacks. I read a few names and my heart immediately sank. Just to think, they were just ordinary men and women going about their typical work day.
If you haven’t already, please see former President George W. Bush’s speech during the commemoration of United 93. It’s a heartfelt and memorable one.
Tomorrow is 9/12/2011. Once again, never forget.
When the Twin Towers were hit, I was in my sophomore year of high school. I think the semester was just entering into the second week, so my mind was preoccupied with settling in with my new teachers, classes, and classmates.
I remember getting ready for school and my mom had on Good Morning America. Katie Couric and the cast of GMA were broadcasting live footage of one of the towers on fire, smoke billowing from the top of the structure. They were understandably dumbfounded about what was going on, because the likelihood of even one plane accidentally crashing into a tower, much less two, was highly improbable. As the cast speculated just what the heck what was going on, the video feed showed the second plane flying into the other tower.
At that point, no one thought these were accidents. I was 15-years-old back then, witnessing the most brutal evil perpetrated on American soil.
I wanted to know more about what was going on. I tuned my CD Walkman radio (remember those?) to the AM dial, listening in on local talk radio to capture as much news about the planes and the towers as possible. I listened on the bus, on breaks, and after school was out. Then I hear about the Pentagon being attacked and another plane forced down in a field somewhere. I was obsessed about knowing more about what was happening 3000 miles away.
The school day at Banning High School (in Wilmington, CA) was, for the most part, normal. It’s really hard to get emotional and panicky about something that’s going on the opposite side of the country, even with the enormity of the situation. The faculty and students were calm as far as I can tell. In a couple of my classes, there was no regular instruction. One teacher in my environmental science class spent the hour discussing with us about the attacks. In my world history class, we were told that Osama bin Laden was suspected to be behind the attacks. I’m thinking, “Osama bin-what?” This was the first time I’ve ever heard the bastard’s name – I’m sure it was the same for my classmates as well.
What I did the rest of the day after school was over is a blur to me. Being so young and far away from Ground Zero, I felt helpless. There was nothing I could do other than just watch and listen from afar and hope for the best.
I didn’t know it then, but 9/11 helped to shape the conservative worldview I have today. After 9/11, I began to listen to conservative talk radio. I became a big President Bush supporter and a young conservative Republican when everyone else around me were budding leftists and Democrats. Being a conservative meant acknowledging the existence of evil and the willingness to eradicate it. Being a liberal meant a willingness to weaken America for the sake of political correctness.
It’s astonishing how we haven’t had a major terrorist attack on our soil since the attacks. This is a testament to the great men and women who have kept us safe. I am thankful for the leadership of President Bush, who led us through one of the most trying times in American history. I am thankful the heroism of the firefighters, police officers, and clergymen, many of whom gave the ultimate sacrifice to save innocent lives and souls. I am thankful for the soldiers who fought and continue to fight terrorism abroad in Afghanistan and Iraq to preserve our security and freedom at home. I am thankful for the ordinary Americans who did the extraordinary to help his and her fellow countrymen and women in their greatest time of need. I am thankful for America, even when down, continues to be the beacon for those in search of liberty.
In 10 years, 9/11 changed me, changed all of us. Let us all never forget.
God bless America.
At long last, the Donald allowed Carrie Prejean, our Miss California, to keep her crown amidst waves of accusations and attempts to take away her title. Imagine, all of this after she made a stilted, awkward, yet honest answer on national television. Boy, if giving an honest answer in public meant vicious scrutiny from the Left and the Downstream media, there’s no wonder why many of us would choose to remain silent.
I’m forever indebted to my mom. She drives me nuts sometimes (and vice versa), but the love, respect, and appreciate I have for her will always be there. Thanks again mom, for birthing me, putting up with me, and loving a knucklhead like me. God bless you and I pray that you will come back to the Church in full Communion again.
I’m a news hound, a Twitter fiend, and a resource packrat. That’s a deadly, productivity-killing combination, especially when the potential for 70 Firefox tabs is almost always there to stifle my workflow and slow any of my computers to a crawl.
I think it’s safe to say that faithful Obama supporters revere him as their Messiah, their Savior, their Lord.
No wonder Jesus was banished from Georgetown.
I’m not a fan of beauty pageants. I don’t care about Miss USA, Miss America, Miss 51st State, or Miss Whatever. I appreciate the essence of female beauty like any red-blooded American male, but even that won’t pry eyes my away from the computer screen, a good book, or my attempts to locate South Africa on a map.
