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Respected Contributor
Posts: 2,367
Registered: ‎06-15-2016

That after 9-11 feeling...

[ Edited ]

The terrorists may be upset to learn this, but contrary to keeping Americans down, in the days following the attacks on that horrific day, we all stepped up and showed what we are really made of! I remember that all I heard about were the continual good deeds and kindness shown to complete strangers! It was a side of Americans that made me proud! My dd was crossing the Hudson River over one of the bridges and when she tried to pay her toll she was told the car ahead of her had paid her toll! She did not know that driver at all! She then paid for the next car. She heard stories like that all day. At traffic signs people were waving others through ahead of them. People said please and thank you, and for at least two weeks our country was a living model of our ideals. Why does it take a national tragedy of that magnitude in order for us to behave like this? Every time we commit these acts of kindness we turn the knife a little deeper in the backs of those terrorists. 

 

I'm not saying the military isn't essential or doing a superb job. We could not exist a few seconds in a country as we know it without the brave men and women who serve selflessly in our military, it's just one of the goals of terrorists is to change the way we think and act, but not for the better. But, for those two golden weeks, give or take, we truly became one nation, indivisible, with continued liberty. Those who believe in God also believe that we are also that nation under the loving eye of God. Whatever else happened, because of that day, we found our "true grit", our ability to stare horrendous injustice in the eye and never once blink. We, the citizens of These United States of America, showed the world who we really are. We didn't bomb the terrorists (right away, anyway!), we didn't run away with our tails between our legs, and we didn't make threats and rant about things we knew we'd never do in retaliation. No. We won immediately that day by doing what true Americans do. We cared. We cared about one another. Nearly all of us did without exception. No one had to tell us to do it or even what we should do. That day everyone stepped up and did whatever it is we do best. Firemen ran into the damaged buildings . Civilians in those buildings spang into action saving more lives than we will ever know! Police officers also ran toward the danger, paying as dear a price as the firemen and other heroes that day! Heroes and angels multiplied exponentially. Some people found God again, and those who had never left Him prayed , listening intently for answers. Love began to have faces and names. Goodness abounded. People who never showed emotion, became exemplars of caring. For some reason, whatever it was that those terrorists wanted to do to us, the one thing they didn't do was break our spirit. That awful day, that sad, deathful day, Americans did something few could have imagined. We kept our humanity in the face of evil. That day, we became Americans in the truest sense of the word. I have been, will always be, but was especially proud to be an American that day and the weeks that followed.

Never underestimate the power of kindness.
Honored Contributor
Posts: 13,913
Registered: ‎03-10-2010

Re: That after 9-11 feeling...

[ Edited ]

@Imadickens wrote:

My apologies to the terrorists, but contrary to keeping Americans down, in the days following the attacks on that horrific day, we all stepped up and showed what we are really made of! I remember that all I heard about were the continual good deeds and kindness shown to complete strangers!

 

It was a side of Americans that made me proud! My dd was crossing the Hudson River over one of the bridges and when she tried to pay her toll she was told the car ahead of her had paid her toll! She did not know that driver at all! She then paid for the next car. She heard stories like that all day.

 

At traffic signs people were waving others through ahead of them. People said please and thank you, and for at least two weeks our country was a living model of our ideals. Why does it take a national tragedy of that magnitude in order for us to behave like this? Every time we commit these acts of kindness we turn the knife a little deeper in the backs of those terrorists. 

 

I'm not saying the military isn't essential or doing a superb job. We could not exist a few seconds in a country as we know it without the brave men and women who serve selflessly in our military, it's just one of the goals of terrorists is to change the way we think and act, but not for the better.

 

But, for those two golden weeks, give or take, we truly became one nation, indivisible, with continued liberty. Those who believe in God also believe that we are also that nation under the loving eye of God. Whatever else happened, because of that day, we found our "true grit", our ability to stare horrendous injustice in the eye and never once blink.

 

We, the citizens of These United States of America, showed the world who we really are. We didn't bomb the terrorists (right away, anyway!), we didn't run away with our tails between our legs, and we didn't make threats and rant about things we knew we'd never do in retaliation.

 

No. We won immediately that day by doing what true Americans do. We cared. We cared about one another. Nearly all of us did without exception. No one had to tell us to do it or even what we should do. That day everyone stepped up and did whatever it is we do best. Firemen ran into the damaged buildings .

 

Civilians in those buildings spang into action saving more lives than we will ever know! Police officers also ran toward the danger, paying as dear a price as the firemen and other heroes that day! Heroes and angels multiplied exponentially. Some people found God again, and those who had never left Him prayed , listening intently for answers.

 

Love began to have faces and names. Goodness abounded. People who never showed emotion, became exemplars of caring. For some reason, whatever it was that those terrorists wanted to do to us, the one thing they didn't do was break our spirit.

 

That awful day, that sad, deathful day, Americans did something few could have imagined. We kept our humanity in the face of evil. That day, we became Americans in the truest sense of the word. I have been, will always be, but was especially proud to be an American that day and the weeks that followed.

 

 

 

My pleasure.

 

 

 

hckynut(john)


 

hckynut(john)
Honored Contributor
Posts: 12,377
Registered: ‎08-03-2013

Re: That after 9-11 feeling...

@Imadickens that was wonderful and apparently from the heart because my heart felt it. 

 

The only thing I take issue and disagree with is "My apologies to the terrorists". 

 

"And suddenly you just know it's time to start something new
And trust the magic of Beginnings..."
Respected Contributor
Posts: 2,367
Registered: ‎06-15-2016

Re: That after 9-11 feeling...


@Tique wrote:

@Imadickens that was wonderful and apparently from the heart because my heart felt it. 

 

The only thing I take issue and disagree with is "My apologies to the terrorists". 

 


Sorry! That was meant to be tongue in cheek! I'll try to fix it! Thanks!

Never underestimate the power of kindness.
Respected Contributor
Posts: 2,367
Registered: ‎06-15-2016

Re: That after 9-11 feeling...


@Tique wrote:

@Imadickens that was wonderful and apparently from the heart because my heart felt it. 

 

The only thing I take issue and disagree with is "My apologies to the terrorists". 

 


Please check my new opening and tell me if it is better! Thanks!

Never underestimate the power of kindness.
Honored Contributor
Posts: 12,377
Registered: ‎08-03-2013

Re: That after 9-11 feeling...


@Imadickens wrote:

@Tique wrote:

@Imadickens that was wonderful and apparently from the heart because my heart felt it. 

 

The only thing I take issue and disagree with is "My apologies to the terrorists". 

 


Please check my new opening and tell me if it is better! Thanks!

 


@Imadickens I was not suggesting that you change it. I was stating what I thought. My opinion only but since you changed it - yes, I do prefer the revised version.

 

"And suddenly you just know it's time to start something new
And trust the magic of Beginnings..."
Highlighted
Respected Contributor
Posts: 2,367
Registered: ‎06-15-2016

Re: That after 9-11 feeling...


@Tique wrote:

@Imadickens wrote:

@Tique wrote:

@Imadickens that was wonderful and apparently from the heart because my heart felt it. 

 

The only thing I take issue and disagree with is "My apologies to the terrorists". 

 


Please check my new opening and tell me if it is better! Thanks!

 


@Imadickens I was not suggesting that you change it. I was stating what I thought. My opinion only but since you changed it - yes, I do prefer the revised version.

 


Thank you! I know it wasn't your intention. Often my sense of "humor" is lost on others so I am grateful you pointed it out to me! I'd rather have my meaning understood! Thanks!

Never underestimate the power of kindness.