Jami, Beyond Remembering

Eight years, since we watched in uncomprehending horror as our world changed forever. We have moved on, lived, laughed, loved. We still remember, but we do not, cannot live in those moments. That day, those hours, are not what will define our lifetimes, no matter how they reshaped our thinking or our lives. I won't rehash with you where I was or what I did. I've done that and I will share it with my children and, God willing, their children as well. I will forever feel hot tears when I see the replay, either on a screen or in my mind. I must remember because I can't forget, nor should I. What we saw that day, that my friends was Evil. Regardless of religion or race, the acts of those men and those who had a hand in planning held no redeeming quality, no nobility, no room for forgiveness. The acts we saw afterward, those were Americans - risking their lives to save others, reaching out to the grieving, doing what had to be done. Carrying disabled coworkers down flights of steps. Sacrificing one's own life to stop flight 93. Donating blood, clothing, time, money. Public displays of mourning, of hope, of determination that this should not happen ever again. I am proud of America. I believe we can hold our heads up high and say that our country isn't perfect, but our people are damn good people. We survived this crisis with grace and dignity and we will continue to survive and thrive. You took some of our family and friends, and a few buildings, but you will not take our spirit. God has blessed America, and I pray he continues to do so.

Jami Suggests You Really Read This

Have you actually read this? The emphases are mine. When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation. We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security. (click here to read the middle of the document, mostly the list of abuses of power by King George III) We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these united Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States, that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. — And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor. I can't imagine what's left to add, except that I hope you enjoyed the day and remembered why we had fireworks and picnics. Check out EDW's post here, too.

Jami Salutes A Soldier with Courage

Check out this picture/article of a young American soldier fighting in his pink boxers. Now that takes courage my friends. On a more serious note, over this long weekend, take time to remember that we aren't just having an extra day off, we have that time to remember the sacrifice so many men and women have made to protect and serve our country, and even to protect people in other countries. You may not be happy with everything that goes on in this country, but we are all better off for the freedoms they fought and died for.