Posted on 09/22/2004 5:51:55 PM PDT by panther33
Three years after we watched the tallest New York City skyscrapers tumble, it seems that the images have been lost in our head. Most of us cannot even imagine a 1300-foot tall skyscraper, let alone imagine dozens of office workers jumping out of their windows for an agonizing five, six, seven seconds of falling to their death.
We forget the pictures of the rubble, a pile of, literally, ashes and melted steel. We forget the streets of downtown New York, covered in a thick layer of debris ranging from dirt, to office paperwork, to human flesh. We forget the construction workers from all over Manhattan, the surviving firefighters and police officers who spent day after day sifting through Ground Zero, picking up so many small pieces. A piece of steel, a piece of glass, a human hand.
We forget the thousands upon thousands of families of the victims, who walked through candlelight vigils holding a single picture of their loved one, hoping that he or she wasn’t dead, but was just lost, hiding somewhere else in the confusion.
We forget the gaping hole in the Pentagon, the headquarters of our armed forces and national defense.
We even forget the anger we felt on that day, the willingness to do “whatever it takes” to crush terrorism, in Afghanistan, in Iraq, in Russia, and, yes, in sleeper cells in the United States.
Two days ago, newspaper headlines announced that out of some 150,000 troops stationed in Iraq, the death toll for American troops in Iraq has topped one thousand. But we forget, too often we forget, that the death toll already topped one thousand. It topped one thousand three years ago, on September 11th, 2001.
We have forgotten that the 2,752 souls lost on that day were husbands, wives, fathers and mothers, and yes, some were sons and daughters as well. Their crime was living in the United States and trying to be a loving family member, to be a hard worker, to be a proud American.
Let us not forget their legacy. Let us dedicate ourselves to being honorable throughout our daily lives, in their memory, in the spirit of knowing that life is a gift from God. Thank you.
Surprisingly, I've been getting a lot of really good feedback on it. I do believe it's a good speech, but I didn't think it was THAT great.
Long story short, I want YOUR feedback. The intelligence of FReepers, y' know? Throw everything at me. Grammatical corrections, thought flow, constructive criticism and compliments alike. What you liked about the speech, what you didn't like, etc. Just leave a post, please.
I'll be listening. :)
P.S. Somebody really needs to forward this to Senator Kerry. haha (half-kidding)
Keep it as it is, p33. It came from the heart on that terrible day, The Massacre of September 11th, 2001, and is correct, as is. No corrections are necessary or warranted.
I don't know what you mean - I'd bet that every last one of them was a son or daughter.
Keep it, as it is, p33. It came from the heart on that terrible day, The Massacre of September 11, 2001. No corrections or changes are necessary, or warranted. It is perfect, as is.
Perfect.
You're only 17?..I am encouraged to know that there are young people like yourself out there.
Your writing suggests a maturity beyond your years...Excellent piece. Thank you.
Oh, I almost forgot the most important part.
I have not forgotten either.
We here on Free Republic have not forgotten, dear young man.
My heart is thankful there are bright minds out there that are like lights in the darkness of liberalism.
May you speak with such a clarity that others are as moved as you.
Truth is what is forgotten in life today.
That truth has to be spread by men as yourself!
God Bless you and keep you strong!
I live in California. I have to explain these things.
Haha no seriously, I was just pointing out that there were parents, too, who had to grieve over the loss of their child(ren). To be honest, I never really thought about it until now. (Shh! Don't tell anyone!) ;)
We (conservatives) have not forgotten that we were attacked.
However, most of us (conservatives and liberals alike) forget the imagery of that day. Too many of us forget the pain, anger, sadness, patriotism, the vivid emotions of that day.
That's all my speech was really about. Trying to verbally bring that picture back, vividly, into our minds, and to encourage those emotions to return; it was those emotions that brought out the best in America.
It's tough to find motivation to campaign here in California... I'm resigned to the fact that Kerry will take the state. (I thought it was a given)
On top of that, I live in a conservative town, so the people here actually agree with me.
However, I do participate in the California YMCA Youth & Government program (90% liberal, 15% gay... no joke), and I am proud to say that in running for office twice (and running for Lt. Gov. this fall) I'm boldly asserting the conservative position. I've actually (shock) showed liberals that conservatives have logic and reason behind their positions. It is always fun to watch that moment of revelation. :)
God bless you all.
However, with your beautiful article you have made a monumental contribution. Thank you.
How old are you? I'm sorry, but the teenager who wrote this speech has more courage, respect and compassion than you'll probably ever retain in your lifetime. I feel sorry for you. You want people to think that your reply was either serious or funny? You have to be related to Kerry, it has a small similarity to his speech re: vietnam. He also wanted people to take him serious. You never thought about it until you read a childs speech? You are correct on one topic, they were sons & daughters. Do you know anyone who perished that horrible day or anyone fighting in the war on terror to give misinformed people like you the right to voice your opinion? Let me guess--you are either late 20's/early 30's, enjoy the lifestyle you lead, the freedom to come and go without being shot at or watching your best friend die a horrific death? Correct or all wrong? If I am wrong then you painted a horrible picture of yourself and your level of intelligence to accept that others have died for you. Hopefully you have grown up since writing your response, at least we can hope. It's not republican vs. democrat, it's who will stand up and say never forget the tragedy this country has endured, and don't forget why we are putting young people in the line of fire. By the way, before you ask, yes- I do know people who would die for your rights-my brothers and I am damn proud of them. Shame on you
We haven't forgotten, and to keep the memory alive we must occasionally share it, both the pain and the resolve. Let's roll.
How old are you?
17.
I'm sorry, but the teenager who wrote this speech has more courage, respect and compassion than you'll probably ever retain in your lifetime.
I wrote the speech.
You want people to think that your reply was either serious or funny?
I began the reply with a joke that Californians would not realize that every human being is a son or daughter. (You know, like Rush and his "for those of you in Rio Linda and Palm Beach County" line) I went on to tell the reader that in writing the speech, I was not thinking about the redundancy of saying that the victims were sons and daughters, but rather trying to emphasize that some of the victims' relatives were parents who had to cope with the awful loss of their child's death.
You have to be related to Kerry...
I am not...
...it has a small similarity to his speech re: vietnam. He also wanted people to take him serious.
Which specific speech regarding Vietnam? (He's had quite a few)
You never thought about it until you read a childs speech? You are correct on one topic, they were sons & daughters.
Again, it's my speech. (I'm the "child".) I never thought of the redundancy of that one phrase until it was pointed out to me on this forum today.
Do you know anyone who perished that horrible day or anyone fighting in the war on terror to give misinformed people like you the right to voice your opinion?
Do I know names? Yes.
Have I read stories about them? Yes.
Do I personally know a War on Terror soldier who died? No. But please don't hold that against me. 1,308 coalition soldiers have died in Afghanistan and Iraq combined. In a country of 293,027,571 people, the odds of me knowing one of them are slim.
Let me guess--you are either late 20's/early 30's, enjoy the lifestyle you lead, the freedom to come and go without being shot at or watching your best friend die a horrific death? Correct or all wrong?
I am 17, enjoy the lifestyle I lead, the freedom to come and go without being shot at or watching my best friend die a horrific death. (Wouldn't all of us enjoy that?)
It's not republican vs. democrat, it's who will stand up and say never forget the tragedy this country has endured, and don't forget why we are putting young people in the line of fire.
I entirely agree.
By the way, before you ask, yes- I do know people who would die for your rights-my brothers and I am damn proud of them. Shame on you
I am genuinely sorry that your brothers had to die for our rights. I have a deep, solemn respect for both your brothers, yourself, and your friends and family, for each of their sacrifices.
In no way did I intend to offend or upset you. I believe you misunderstood what I was trying to say/emphasize, that we too often forget that many of those victims had parents who had to suffer, too.
Well............you did good!
Those that have loved ones in the Military, and those that love our Country and Military have not forgotten!
I know you aren't talking to us here on FR, because you've been here for a while.
But cold hearts and daff people need to have themselves awakened every once in a while.
The news media has taken the "imagery" of 9/11 off the air, for the most part. On the web, is where we see it.
After all................that's why the videos of the beheadings are made.
To stir the emotions and cause terror.
We don't see this on TV, but on the web.
The news media doesn't want us to "feel" the emotions of that day! Our "pc-ness" is sickening!
So........ no imagery of that terror filled day.
That's why the liberal dems "act forgetful" about 9/11.
Your parents must be very proud of you!
I know I would be!
God bless you!
Yes, the Internet is often a bad forum for humor, especially of the more subtle variety.
I apologize for not thinking before my comment. I have a tendency to write-post write-post write-post and this has, often, landed me in trouble. haha
God bless you and yours,
Josh
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