It’s hard to believe it’s twenty-five years later since our country experience the worst terrorist attack on our own soil (and yes, it was a terrorist attack to the Canadian news agency who sent a memo to their employees a couple of weeks ago, that they were not report it as a terrorist attack as they cover the 25th Anniversary of the 911 Attacks). Who would has believed that any human could have practiced and got by with such an attack? So much has changed since then and yet for those of us who are old enough of us to remember, we can recall EXACTLY WHAT WE WERE DOING THAT MORNING and the unity we all felt in those days, weeks and months followed. Also, there were other countries and communities around the world that hurt for us and felt our pain…
Scenes from that day and the days that followed. From Andy Card telling his friend and boss, President George Bush that we were under attack, to the scene at the Pentagon to Governor of NY, George Pataki with NYC Mayor, Rudy Giulianai with other NYC leaders at ground zero. Bottom right photo is the actor, James Woods, who observed the would be hijackers.
Last week, I read an article about actor, James Wood, who was on a cross country flight sitting in first class from Boston to LA, in early August of 2001, the summer prior to the 911 attacks. Woods was the only other person in first class, along with four other men of Middle Eastern origin. He noted that their behavior was highly unusual and unsettling throughout the six hour flight. He observed them to not eat, sleep or read during the flight. They sat upright, spoke only to each other in quiet whispers, closely watching the flight crew and made frequent trips to the bathroom. The actor notified one of the flight attendants and a case was filed, but it got lost in the bureaucracy and nothing became of the information. But who could have guessed what would have happened in just a few weeks. Later it was found out that these were some of the 911 hijackers who carried out the attacks. They were making the flight as a learning experience.
President George W. Bush with retired firefighter, bob Beckwith, at Ground Zero. Beckwith came out of retirement to help with the rescue and recovery. The sign for Shanksville, PA. Stephen Stiller, who lost his life on September 11, 2001 and his older brother, Frank, the founder of Tunnel to Towers.
Mohamed Atta, and Egyptian al-Qaeda operative who is believed to have been the ringleader and lead hijacker pilot of the 911 attacks, attended flight school in Venice, Florida, rented a home in Nokomis, just a few miles north and and he and others were frequent visitors to a home in an upscale golf course community a few more miles north at Prestanzia in Sarasota owned by a wealthy Saudi family, who all interestingly left the home in the weeks leading up to the September 11, attacks in 2001. It is sort of a coincidence that President George, on the day of September 11 was reading to children at a Emma Booker Elementary School, just 27 minutes further away north. There are so many interesting facts from the time leading up to the attacks and how it all played out. We all have our certain memories and recollections based on where we were, where we lived or what part of the attacks we may have had links to…
Todd Beamer who led a group of passengers to take on the hijackers, “Let’s Roll!” The passengers actions could have saved the plane from hitting Washington DC targets.
Thousands killed, suffered health issues, left parentless or childless after the attacks in New York City, Washington DC and in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Most every year, I watch the tributes, think of the Tuesday morning back in 2001that I got two elementary school aged children out the door to the bus and then the three year old preschooler on his way after we hear Charlie Gibson on Good Morning America, say that “a plane had hit one of two World Trade Center Towers. We’ll keep you up to date on that” or something like that he said as we were walking out the door to get into our minivan and off to the Perry Center. Of course, so much changed after that attack, even if you didn’t have family directly affected, TSA changed, you had to show up to the airport earlier, on and on. Lives changed forever. I recognize some of the same photos each year and have seen the spouses, children and parents get older. We feel like we know some of them. We have heard stories of how those left have made good out of bad, Howard Lutnick of Cantor Fitzgerald who lost hundreds of employees including his brother and best friend who has hired and support the kids and family members. Frank Stiller lost his brother and went on to found the Tunnel to Towers organization that pays off mortgages for the families’ of fallen first responders. All these years later, it is still hard to believe that such and event could be thought up or executed upon so many innocent souls…
“We were all New Yorkers that day and we were all Americans.”
Words spoken by so many who recall that day. Don’t forget that.
One year ago yesterday, as I did chores around the house, with the tv on, I heard breaking news that Charlie Kirk had been gunned down while speaking at Utah Valley University to kick off his 2025 college tour.
I felt as if I knew Charlie as he was on social media and television so frequently. Raised in Chicago, as a younger man, he reminded me of Alex P. Keaton, the conservative teenager, played by Michael J. Fox, in a role that kicked off his career on, Family Ties. Charlie dropped out of college to start what would eventually be Turning Point USA, his company/foundation that promoted educating teenagers and young adults on conservatism and tradition Christian values. If you watch some of his videos you can see why he appealed to so many young people. Charlie inspired those who he spoke in front of, or who saw him in online, to educate themselves on the issues, check your sources, be who God intended you to, prepare yourselves to be a spouse and parent, be the provider and leader of the family. His wife of four years, Erika, was part of his ministry, as well for young women. She inspired young women to be the creator of a home life that nurtured their families and to be a refuge for her husband and children from the outside world. Charlie knew the risk that came with his role in a volatile world. Charlie welcomed critics to engage in respectful debate with him. He politely and confidently spoke his point and listened to those in opposition. He encouraged kids to also engage in mutually respectful conversations. A clip I heard played yesterday was something like, “When we stop talking is when civil unrest and wars begin. Conversations are what solves the problems” (paraphrasing here). In light of what is going on in our country right now, it’s easy to see why Charlie was killed, but on the other hand, having heard him speak over the years and sensing his light and kindhearted attitude, I don’t understand…
And what have we learned twenty-five years later? Our country was founded on principals that were thought-out and designed by men with common values and our citizens had in common, those same values as well. All were God fearing people. That’s why it worked. They realized that, respect for God Almighty, hard work and common sense were principals that resulted in goodness and success. American became a place that nurtured creativity and innovation and protected one’s individual rights to purse life liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Others around the world yearned to come here, they saved, they arrived and they took part in the American Dream. America saw the Industrial Revolution, a Civil War, the abolition of slavery, which we did not invent, but put an end to and our share of ups and downs, two World Wars, a financial depression, but we weathered the storms of what life and society came our way…
We could do that because we had common values and principles. Immigrants came here, proud to become part of American society, yet not ashamed of where they came from. The wanted to be willing participants in the American Dream, they didn’t want to tear it down or ruin what our country’s founders intended. They loved what we had to offer and they were willing to work for it…
Many speak now of division, across society. We see less value of life and the rights of children to be children, parents to be parents and girls/women to be free to play sports exclusive to girls and women. “Rich White Men” are considered ‘Bad People”, More immigrants want to come here and change this place that so many would have done and did anything to get here to experience what America has to offer. We see some immigrants who come here to take what they can and even some participating in fraud to send money back to third world countries…
Maybe when the third world starts flowing through our borders and are many of those who are allowed to tear down the rules and laws of this country, that’s the kind of country we can start to see popping up here in little pockets here and there. The immigrants of past, worshipped in their churches and synagogues, observed their own customs, but they FIT IN to American society. They observed our laws and respected our way of life. They worked hard in their own communities to make a better life for their families and in turn they contributed to the greatness of THIS country. They didn’t try to change our culture, they dressed like everyone else, their Sabbath/Sunday worships didn’t disturb their communities. Their way of life didn’t disrespect the idea of the American family.
Consider why we let people in here who hate our way of life and want to change it. How does that benefit this country or any of us? When influencers report that we deserved what happened on September 11 back in 2001, maybe they should go back to the countries they came from. Freedom of speech, yes. Attempt to destroy what we have here, ABSOLUTELY NOT. When people don’t respect the same values and principles, it’s hard to live in harmony. Consider the little neighborhood across the country that were little melting pots with Pols, Jews, Russians, Greeks, Italians, Macedonians among others whose kids played in the streets and went to school together and grew up to be life long friends and acquaintances. You may remember those places where you grew up. I know that there was a community like this in Flint, Michigan and the descendants of that community still recall the stories their parents and grandparents told them from growing up near St. John Street.
I guess we need to ask ourselves what kind of a place do we want to leave for our children, grandchildren and great grandchildren? We need to be mindful of the laws about immigration that are made and who makes them. We need to be careful about the people who teach our children and what they are teaching them. These things matter. If we want our country to be a safe and prosperous place for all those who live here, regardless of their faith, where they come from or who they choose to love, we need to do the things necessary to make it that way. Lack of respect for God, law, order, human life, others or country is the beginning of the downfall of a society. Just look back at history. Be careful what you will allow, approve of or vote for. We all need to keep careful watch. When we take our eyes off what is going on, that’s when the enemy takes over. It would be nice to just go about our lives and let other worry about this. WE need to be paying attention as we are all citizens of this country.
It’s hard to imagine the pain and hole in the hearts of those loved ones who lost family members on September 11 twenty-five years ago, an act of planned terror of hatred for the United States and what our country stands for.
We will not find perfect people to lead this country or our communities, as we all flawed individual on the journey of life. But to seek and vote for individuals who try each day to be good human beings, love this country, respect others and want the best for its people, THAT what I hope for. Also, I hope for Americans NOT to forget what happened to our country and do what we can, each in our own way, to protect it and our way of life. A hug to you all this very sad day for Americans ❤️
