September 11th Tribute
Dear Readers,
Today we mark the second anniversary of a national tragedy. Today we remember our fallen heroes who died in a battle they didn’t know they were fighting. Today we assert that we have not forgotten.
Let’s recall again why we are fighting terrorism all over the globe. On the morning on September 11, 2001, four airliners were hijacked by radical Islamic terrorists. Two of those jets were rammed into the twin towers of the world Trade Center. A third was slammed into the Pentagon in Washington DC. The fourth plane was aborted in Pennsylvania when passengers resisted the terrorists. The original target for the fourth plane was believed to be either the White House or the Capitol building.
America did not declare war on terrorism. The war was already set forth by radical Muslims who choose cowardice to a straight fight. The war was brought to us by Osama bin Laden and his network of terrorists known as al Qaeda.
Why are we fighting terrorism? We are fighting to preserve freedom and democracy; to protect liberty and justice; and to defend our nation from tyranny and oppression the likes of which the civilized world has never seen throughout history. We are fighting for our survival. We are fighting for our beliefs. We are fighting for our children, so that they may come to cherish our way of life. We are fighting evil.
And we are winning. But we must continue to be vigilant and brave. We must support each other, our families, and our troops defending our great nation. We must continue to reach for excellence and strive for lasting peace for all humankind. We must never grow weary for the good fight must continue until the foe is brought to justice.
What is at stake? If we lose faith and get distracted, we risk the slaughter of innocents and the death of all that we currently take for granted. Our great nation is a country founded in respect for the rights of the individual while maintaining the security of the common good of the populace. We are governed by those whom we have selected and are protected by the rule of law. Within every American, lies the potential for innovation and creativity that can propel us to new heights. Visitors from every nation in the world flock to our shores in hopes of joining us in prosperity and independence.
But we must not fear the forces arrayed against us. Instead, we must continue on and take strength in all that we are, in all the we have been, and in all that we will be. The lesson we must all have learned from the tragedy is that we must all be in this together. And we dare not lower our guard nor naively rely on isolationist policy.
We have a responsibility to protect, defend, and nurture democracy and freedom wherever and whenever a challenge to such is presented. We will overcome any adversity, any obstacle and any source of evil. We have been attacked. All that we hold hope for hangs in the balance.
God bless those who protect us, both at home and abroad. God bless our leaders and those who advise them. God bless our heroes no longer with us, but never forgotten. And God bless America.
MATT
