The sound of the fireworks going off send my heart beating faster and faster; soon, it feels like my heart is going to fly up into the air along with them...
I also feel an overpowering sense of pride as I watch the dazzling colors light up the night, star-filled sky. Our nation, The United States Of America, is celebrating her birthday; she became a nation over 200 years ago, on July 4, 1776. The day is marked with celebration and pageantry, family togetherness, picnics in the park or by the seashore, lots of live music, and, to top it all off, dazzling displays of pyrotechnic artistry that bring "ahhs" and "ohhhs" and "ooohhs" to people's lips as they watch the fireworks bursting in the sky. Yet, this year, July 2002, I feel a twinge of sadness, for there are thousands of Americans who AREN'T feeling so patriotic or so joyful: last fall, on a beautiful late summer day, we were attacked by terrorists who had evil in their hearts, and they killed a bunch of innocent men, women, and children by ramming planes into the World Trade Centers in New York City and the Pentagon in Washington DC; and in a Pennsylvania field. (Later we found out that the plane that had crashed in Pennsylvania was originally intended for the White House; but the pilot of that plane purposely brought the plane down and saved thousands more people in the process; he is now hailed as a hero, never to be forgotten.)
I am sure the terrorists behind these attacks are plotting more attacks; they hate us Americans because we are free, and our freedom goes against everything they believe in. They are also jealous of us, and they hate us because we support Israel and help her in her times of trouble (and Lord knows she's had more than HER share!!). (SOMEONE'S GOTTA' SUPPORT ISRAEL!!)
But we are also vigilent. We are making sure that our nation remains as safe as possible, and we are doing everything in our power to make sure that nothing like what happened last September 11 NEVER, EVER happens again, especially on our soil!! We are an ANGRY nation, and a nation ready to eradicate terrorists, no matter what the cost!! We will NOT TOLERATE such senseless violence or hatred in ANY form!! Those who are responsible are to BE PUNISHED with the SEVEREST form of the law!! THEY WILL PAY FOR WHAT THEY DID!!!!!
But for the moment, such thoughts are momentarily erased from my young mind. (I am 13.) My mind is more occupied with the fireworks now exploding in the sky, and the lilting, soul-stirring sound of patriotic music makes me want to get up and start dancing. I am completely at ease as I lie here in the grass along with my family, enjoying the feeling of being together, and just enjoying the meaning of being free and living here in the Greatest Nation in the World, THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA!!
"LONG MAY AMERICA REMAIN UNITED, and LONG MAY SHE RETAIN HER FREEDOM!!!!!"
This year, we should celebrate the real reason of the fourth of July...how blessed we are that we were born in America, the Land of the Free. We will not forget what happened last September, and will remember those that were taken from us. But...we are still free...the terrorists thought we'd bow down to their tyranny. Nope. We are FREE. Thank God. :) (((HUGS))) to you, Karen! Love, Karla. :)
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