I'm glad yesterday happened. I hope you got to watch the service in the Cathedral in Washington, I think it marked a turning point in the history of our nation. Not since WWII have I felt that kind of "drawing together" and spirit of patriotism and pride in our country. I was young when FDR spoke to the American people after Pearl Harbor but I had a sense of what he was saying and could feel the positive emotional response of the people. We stood together, even the kids, and knew we could do it. It might take everything we had and it was going to be hard but we were willing to give all we had and suffer what we had to in order to remain a free people. Yesterday, that service and the words of our President, had the same kind of effect on the people. You could see and feel it happening. It was exactly what the country needed when we needed it most. When we were kids and young adults we had a pride and respect for our leaders that we lost in the days of Vietnam. It's kinda been an attitude of "everybody for themselves" since then---"damn the politicians and the country, I'm gonna take care of me!" Our kids and their kids never had the opportunity to feel the pride and respect for the country we had before that. I felt like it came back to life yesterday and it made me proud to be an American. I truly think it had the same effect on most of the people who watched it. I pray I'm right and that our country will be healed of its indifference to the plight of the terrorized and oppressed people of the world. We need to "fix it right" this time and get rid of the terrorists in whatever manner it takes and quit being so namby-pamby about individual rights. How can we tell kids they can't pray at their football games after they saw a whole nation praying yesterday and what was ever wrong with praying in the first place? I think we are going to live to see some big changes for the better made and very soon. It is a wonderful feeling to know that we are returning to the "real America", the one where you held your head high with the tears streaming down your face and had nothing to be ashamed of because you knew your neighbor loved you and understood because they felt the same way. This IS the land of the free and the home of the brave and I am proud to say I'm an American.
Last updated: 09/15/01