September 11, 2011.
Today marks the 10th anniversary of when our Country was viciously and senselessly attacked. I want to say that things have gotten better, we’ve become and stayed a unified Nation, we are more tolerant of one another, and people are nicer. Sadly, that’s not completely true.
I remember I was cleaning one of my houses (Andrea Bickford….she was my "every other Tuesday house”). As usual, I had the radio tuned to WVOM to listen to Dr. Laura. The hourly news had just come on at 9AM. They were saying something about a plane that had crashed into one of the World Trade Center towers. I don’t normally have my peoples’ TV on, but for some reason, I decided to turn the TV on; there seemed to be much more urgency in their voices than normal when breaking news is happening. So, I turned on the TV, watched the news people talk about how awful it was that a plane “accidentally” flew into the Tower, then we all—as a Nation—watched while the second plane flew into the second tower. I was stunned. I was speechless. I was devastated. I was in shock. As gentle pandemonium erupted on the tv news, questions were raised but not immediately answered, and we as a Nation were cut to our very core, it became apparent that America had turned a corner and taken a route no one would have predicted….much less wanted.
I finished cleaning Andrea’s house in shock. I turned the tv off, turned the radio back on so I could have the news with me as I travelled through the house, and kept a steady stream of questions in my mind. I knew Bangor was too far from NYC to be hurt immediately, but I needed to know Katie and Alex were ok. As news came in that the Pentagon had been hit, it became more real as our airport has one of the longest runways in the nation to handle military planes, the SST (now retired), etc. I knew then that Bangor could be a possible target. It didn’t take me long to finish her house, get home, and make sure all was well with the schools. When word came in that a plane headed for the White House had been diverted by heroes on there, but had still fatefully crashed in Shanksville, PA, it became frighteningly real that a plane could be diverted and crashed in Bangor, too, as we are so close to the airport. When all air traffic was stopped for those few days, it was strange not to hear any airplanes around Bangor. Strange and surreal.
As more information came over the news, and we found out it was Islamic Terrorists, I was disgusted that “people” would do something so horrendous in the name of “allah”/jihad. Katie had a very close friend who was a Muslim…..I told Katie that when she goes to school the next day, stand next to her friend and don’t let anyone pick on her or say anything nasty to her; it wasn’t someone nice like her or her family that did this. It was pure evil disguised as a religion.
I think some good lessons were learned that day….we as a Nation learned a lot. In the ensuing weeks and months, we stood together as a Nation, prayed together as a Nation, held hands in solidarity as a Nation, mourned together as a Nation. The beautiful American Flag was everywhere. We talked about our Faith and God openly, without fear of ridicule. Political parties didn’t seem to matter as much as “just” being an American did. Months later, we as a Nation applauded and cheered when President George Bush sent troops over to Iraq.
Fast forward to ten years later. The war is still being fought….not as many support it. Flags are here and there….not as prevalent as they were. Talking about our Faith or God openly is now cause for ridicule from many….we are made to feel it’s “not important”. Political parties are back….and even more divided than ever. The steel Crosses found at Ground Zero after that heart-wrenching day, and put on public display near the Site, are now topics of heated debate as the “atheists” want them gone. Those steel Crosses have been a source of comfort and hope for thousands, if not millions, of people. Now the atheists are crying foul…saying it’s crossing the line between church and state to have them there. I don’t understand my Country anymore. If God is not in control, then this Country is lost.
Political Correctness has gone way over the line in the opposite direction, afraid to offend anyone of the Muslim faith. There are good Muslims and bad ones, just as there are in any religion. However, as a whole, the terrorists who are out to “get us” are of the same ilk….they are not white Christians. They are Middle-Eastern-skinned Muslims. I say racial profiling makes sense. If I’m a true American, then I don’t care if I’m singled out or not…..as long as my Country and my people are safe.
I love my Country. I love my Flag. I love my Constitution and all it stands for. We still have some work to do to get back to the unity of 9-12. I absolutely don’t like (can’t stand) the president we have now. I honestly feel he’s a communist who does not have the best interest of this wonderful Country. He has gone around the world apologizing for our greatness, instead of being proud to have one of the few democracies on earth. He doesn’t stand up for/with Israel, which is scary. I feel he is a divider, not a uniter. I’m scared of where this Country is headed. After 9-11, we should still be bigger and stronger than ever. However, human nature always seems to take over so we are not “there” yet. President Bush was an excellent leader after The Day. He was not weak on defense, he truly and deeply loved this Country, and he was a Christian. He always showed the sincerity of loving this Country and leading it as a Christian. I was proud to call him my President. This current sham of a leader….not so much.
In church at Bangor Baptist today we had an incredible, moving Remembrance Service. Two songs were sung to open the service, each with an accompanying video of real footage from That Day (first video), and pictures of our brave Military Service men/women, either in action in Iraq&Afghanistan or their coffins and burials (second video). So so so so so moving. After that, there was a short documentary of interviews of the first responders, families of fallen police or fire department members and fallen pilots, and chaplains who were there that day and the ensuing months. It was one of the most powerful videos I’ve seen for a long time. There were two young men on either side of me who were wiping away tears as much as I was.
We can NEVER forget what happened That Day. America IS the greatest Nation on earth so we will always be a target. We NEED to stand strong, not apologize, and lift other nations up to our standards. We HAVE to pray for our Country. It’s imperative that GOD stays in our hearts, our schools, and our politics. Our excellent military MUST be prayed for daily.
Ten years. So much has changed, yet so little. I remember it like it was yesterday. It still touches me down to my soul when I think about what happened, the loss, anxiety, and confusion. Yet, it still fills me with pride when I think about the men and women who wouldn’t leave Ground Zero as they searched for loved ones and strangers; every house had a flag; good deeds were done in the name of righteousness; churches were filled to capacity; blood banks were full; people pitched in wherever they could without complaining and without pay.
Ten years. The name of God needs to be back on everyone’s thankful lips, and in everyone’s hearts. He needs to hear us as a Nation again.
Ten years. Too many fallen hero soldiers for us not to win the war.
Ten years. Too many tears fallen for us not to have pride in our Country again.
Ten years. Many prayers. Many lives touched and changed.
Ten years. Ten years of still loving God. Ten years of praying for our Troops and our Country. Ten years of becoming numb to what change was really brought about by those selfish acts of cowardice on the part of those non-God-fearing pieces of trash.
May God bless America now and always. May we become once again what God wanted us to be. May God continue to love us in spite of our faults as a Nation. May we turn as one back to Him Who brought this Nation up.
I love my Country. I’m proud to be a Christian American.
Ten years.
