I was trying to come up with a way of expressing my feelings for this anniversary of the day America awoke to the realities of the world…This post led to same thoughts…

Daily Kos: The lessons of 9-11: “The lessons of 9-11
by kos
Mon Sep 11, 2006 at 10:53:17 AM PDT

Aravosis learned a few things:

* The Constitution only applies when the going gets easy.
* War is the answer, even when you forget the question.
* The truth is for sissies.
* America has never faced an enemy as dangerous and as intent on killing us as King George, the Civil War, World War I, the Germans, the Japanese, a nuclear Soviet Union Al Qaeda.
* The real September 11 story was badly in need of editing.
* Just because they say it makes it so.
* We have always been at war with Oceania.
* A fool is born every election day.
* Due process is for the innocent.
* Patriotism means never having to say you’re sorry.
* It’s all Sandy Berger’s fault.

The point above that really hits home to me is:

* America has never faced an enemy as dangerous and as intent on killing us as King George, the Civil War, World War I, the Germans, the Japanese, a nuclear Soviet Union Al Qaeda.

And the circle continues…America has never faced an enemy as dangerous and as intent on killing us as King George…

Another post by someone I respect read:

“In a moment of worry I called my husband and asked him if he had heard the news. He had. I’ll never forget his resolute words that followed:
“Marie, if we stop what we are doing and panic, then They win. Keep doing what you’re supposed to be doing.”
It was in that spirit I began my day today. With reverence to those whose lives for lost and directly affected by the tragedy, I went down to the river this morning and took photos of the sun breaking through the fog.” Marie Freeman

David Weinberger said it thus:

We’re more than halfway through 9/11/06 and I’m feeling like we’ve fetishized it.

Thousands of innocent citizens were murdered, and they deserve remembrance. But listening to the public voices chattering without pause, today seems to have become about something else: Justifying the sacrifice of American ideals and values in the name of our fear.

On 9/10/01, if someone had told you that in response to a terrorist attack, a majority of Americans would back preemptive war and torture, would you have believed it?

For five minutes forget whether or not we’re safer now, five years after the attacks. The question I wish they’d talk about is: Are you proud of how our country has responded? I’m not. Our soldiers are brave and our fire fighters are heroes. We’ve done some things right. But, overall I’m not proud. And if the authorities weren’t out whipping up fear, I think most Americans would answer the same way.

I think this is what keeps bothering me also. Why have we lost that moral high ground? How come I can’t feel pride in the way we reacted?

Colleen at Loose Leaf Notes has her own story of the event…

What were you doing when it happened?

Death is a season rather than a single date. I hadn’’t been home from the last funeral for even a week when the terrorist attacks on the U.S. took place–September 11, 2001. Two towers came down, one right after the other like my brothers did, killing over 3,000 innocent people. Now the whole country was in grief. Maybe I wouldn’’t stick out so, like a sore thumb. From The Jim and Dan Stories.

Go read her thoughts…

I guess my main concern is for the future. Where is this “War on Terror” leading? Will it be like the war on drugs that we have been fighting for decades with no end in sight? Will we ever regain the moral high ground we had at the beginning of 2002? Will we learn thaabsolutelyly nothing requires America to react unilaterally and without regard for the customs of others?

The only thought I can leave you is…Go with God and live in peace.