Nine Years Ago

Nine years ago our world changed.  As a nation we had been fairly happy-go-lucky and probably a bit overbearing.  The 600 pound gorilla in the room.  Then we were attacked.  As a nation we have not been attached on our own soil since the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor during World War II.  That was going to change in the early hours of September 11, 2001. 

In better times, the Twin Towers stood proudly
against the Manhattan skyline.

I remember that I had the financial channel on at the shop - my usual thing.  And they were talking about this fire at the World Trade Center in New York City.  But then the second plane hit and the world watched in horror.  At least most of the world watched in horror.  So many lucky things happened that morning.  It was early in the morning and the majority of people who worked at the Twin Towers had not arrived for work yet.  Also, the damage of the plane that hit the Pentagon was far less than had been planned, and the passengers on the plane that crashed in Pennsylvania refused to sit back and allow their plane to become a weapon of destruction.  They went down fighting.  We honor all of the dead. 

Many of the dead were firemen and police officers
who had rushed to the scene to help.  Honor these
people who put their lives on the line every day.

The world rallied behind the US after 9/11.  Friends came out of the woodwork.  And we struck out in anger, leading us to a two-front war that has been going on for more than eight years.  The ripples of 9/11 are still being felt.  But on this anniversary date of the initial strike, my thoughts turn to the very beginning and seeing the collapse of the Twin Towers in the streets of New York City.  In America we remember things - the Alamo, Pearl Harbor, and now 9/11.  We won't forget, we won't forgive - it's part of our national fabric now.