The Statue of Liberty is Still Standing:

It was ugly.  It was horrific, and it was so sad.  And here we are, nine years later, waiting to see if the terrorists can "one up" their first major attack with their low technology techniques.

Ah, but the Statue of Liberty is still standing.

I usually try to not focus on the events of 9-11, even on the anniversary date, but this year I am very angry about the whole thing.  I have always felt sad, but today my anger is very present.  Sometimes it takes a long time for my feelings to catch up with me, I suppose. It probably has to do with the proposed building of the mosque at ground zero, or the Florida preacher (who DOES NOT represent most Americans) wanting to burn the copies of the Koran and all of the controversy surrounding those two events.  The "in your face" stuff is hurtful.  It opens up old wounds, keeping them fresh and oozing ... and I didn't even know anybody personally who was in any of the planes or buildings.  I am praying for their families today though.  I lit my candles at 8:30 and when I see their light I pray for the families to be comforted.  

I will always remember where I was when I heard the news, of course.  My sixth-grade boy and I had just moved to La Pine.  When I picked him up from school, he said, "I am so sad.  Now I will never be able to see the Twin Towers."  I didn't even know he knew about the Twin Towers.  Of course, by that time they were quite famous.  And he was right, they were gone.

We didn't even have cable hooked up yet at the cabin, and  I may be one of the few people in the United States who did not see all the images on t.v. until three days had passed.  I had dropped Nigel off at school, and I was heading to the laundromat in my mini-van when I heard the news on the car radio.  It was just unbelievable.  I met my first friend in Mayberry nine years ago, Debbie, who owns the laundromat that morning.  We bonded, trying to figure out the implications of the 9-11 tragedy.  So, when I think of what I was doing on 9-11 that is what I remember most: Debbie, Nigel not getting to visit the Twin Towers someday, and having no t.v.

I'll stop here.  I just want to say that I do not want to be forced to forget, forgive, accept, and let it all go.  Not when I know that the terrorists are still gloating about their big day.  Not when I believe that they would do it again in a minute.  Using our people (airline passengers/pilots/etc.), our equipment (airplanes), and our lacking in security in many different areas.  Even if that particular terrorist group is no longer powerful, there are certainly others waiting for their chance to strike again. 

I did not feel safe that day, and feel even less safe today.  And there is nothing that I can do to protect my family or myself.  It is all so much larger than me.   I don't feel safe, still I am not living in fear.   There are two things that I have been thinking about all day:


"Walking on eggshells does not appease bullies."  (Me) and,


"You cannot tame America."   (My Daughter)  Right on!

September 11th Link