Posted on 09/29/2003 11:03:49 PM PDT by carlo3b
Echoes of 9-11
Sorry, the echoes must have been canceled this year, and I and my family, must have missed the memo. You see, I thought we were a country at war against the terrorist and that as a nation, we were together in our outrage. Didn't I see that on TV?
There are no more echoes. The day that was to live in infamy died, I guess. On the eleventh of September, 2001, for the first time I stood back and asked, "What can I do to help my country?" I knew I was just a thirteen year old kid, but I sought to find a way that I could make a difference- a rare thought in the rush of today's youth.
Only 2 years past, and again we met the day that had been the most horrific since Pearl Harbor. A young man of fifteen now, I went to my upper middle class school and looked at the scene- this is what I saw...
Had the school flag not been flown at half staff (which nobody noticed or understood), you would not have known that it was different than any other day. On my trip to school, I noticed no flags on anyone's porch... no banners, signs, or ribbons of any kind. No overt signs of patriotism. I was only a Thursday.
I remember there being more emotion on Homecoming day than on the anniversary of 3000 innocent neighbors being incinerated. Although the administration suggested that the students wear red, white, and blue, few people did. Only in 2 out of my 7 classes was the day even briefly mentioned, and even then only in passing. And among the students at lunchtime, I consciously listened to the conversations around me.
Nothing. Not a word even remotely related the the day or it's meaning.
As for myself, I was frustrated that we didn't have the day off of school. I requested that my dad record the flashbacks, memorials, etc... It has been a constant source of conversation at our home (over dinner, the news) since July.
I can't help thinking that my peers and the public at large are waiting to be told that it is now time to feel something, almost as if we need a daily laugh-track, or in the case of 9/11, a cry-track.
What has happened to the outrage?
Matthew , American History, Sept 27, 2003
I'll tell him I posted his homework when I serve him his favorite dessert Cannoli's this weekend... thank you for you kind words and Matthew will be thrilled to read them.. LOL Blush
GRRRRrrrrrrrrr I cannot believe how these despots are acting in the face of WAR no less.. but what would they know of war, it's us and our kin that have faught to save their sorry butts from time and memorial anyway.. what should we expect? THERE NOW I FEEL BETTER..LOL
I wish we could Xerox a few thousand of you!! LOLOL
I'm ROFL!!!
Cannolis soothe the savage beast....((((((Carlo))))))
:-)
In memory of all those who perished this morning; the passengers and the pilots on the United Air and AA flights, the workers in the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, and all the innocent bystanders.. Our prayers go out to the friends and families of the deceased.
IF I KNEW
If I knew it would be the last time
That I'd see you fall asleep,
I would tuck you in more tightly
and pray the Lord, your soul to keep.
If I knew it would be the last time
that I see you walk out the door,
I would give you a hug and kiss
and call you back for one more.
If I knew it would be the last time
I'd hear your voice lifted up in praise,
I would video tape each action and word,
so I could play them back day after day.
If I knew it would be the last time,
I could spare an extra minute
to stop and say "I love you,"
instead of assuming you would KNOW I do.
If I knew it would be the last time
I would be there to share your day,
Well I'm sure you'll have so many more,
so I can let just this one slip away.
For surely there's always tomorrow
to make up for an oversight,
and we always get a second chance
to make everything just right.
There will always be another day
to say "I love you,"
And certainly there's another chance
to say our "Anything I can do?"
But just in case I might be wrong,
and today is all I get,
I'd like to say how much I love you
and I hope we never forget.
Tomorrow is not promised to anyone,
young or old alike,
And today may be the last chance
you get to hold your loved one tight.
So if you're waiting for tomorrow,
why not do it today?
For if tomorrow never comes,
you'll surely regret the day,
That you didn't take that extra time
for a smile, a hug, or a kiss
and you were too busy to grant someone,
what turned out to be their one last wish.
So hold your loved ones close today,
and whisper in their ear,
Tell them how much you love them
and that you'll always hold them dear
Take time to say "I'm sorry,"
"Please forgive me," "Thank you," or "It's okay."
And if tomorrow never! comes,
you'll have no regrets about today.
~Author unknown. This was sent to me by a dear New Yorker friend, I am sure with the hopes it would be disseminated to as many patriotic souls as humanly possible.
I post it with the prayer that it keeps the memory of all who lost, forever alive in our hearts ... Carlo
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