Eleven months ago today, we were viciously attacked by extremist Muslim terrorists; they attacked our buildings and killed thousands of innocent people, be they men, women, or even children.
As a result, our country was changed in an instant, and we are now no longer the same. We are at war, and we no longer feel so safe or secure as we once did.
The ones who attacked us hate us because we support Israel, and we also are free; and they are not. They only want to hurt us and try to bring us to our knees because we stand for everything they don't believe in, plus, in their eyes, we are "infadels" (or however it is spelled): we are not, in other words, like them.
As a result of the terrorist attacks on America, the Twin Towers that once graced the New York City skyline no longer stand; there is a terrible void each time we look at the city skyline. Also, the Pentagon was damaged, and planes crashed. But at the same time, many lives were spared, thanks to that courageous pilot who purposely crashed that plane in a Pennsylvania field. (The plane was intended for Washington D.C., and the target was probably the White House and The President of the United States.)
But instead of cowering in fear from the attacks, the terrorists' plans backfired because instead of feeling scared and helpless, we, as a nation, have bonded closer together, and we are standing up prouder and more determined than ever to return to our lives, and because of the tragedy, we are flying our flags in support of our great nation; yet, despite our attempts at returning to normalcy, our lives have forever been changed, and we will NEVER FORGET what took place that horrible day.
Now it is nearly a year later, and our nation will have special ceremonies honoring the fallen who died; and we will probably use that day to reflect and remember. I know I will, and I know countless others will, too. We were ALL affected by this tragedy, and we, as a family, are especially saddened by the tragedy because we have a friend (actually, several friends) who were directly affected. M'buti Sormiento lost her friend Stephanie Green (we had met her when M'buti and Roberto got married at our house), and M'Kaya Mnjama lost 11 of her 14 co-workers--and she had nearly been involved in the tragedy herself; the ONLY reason she had been spared was because she had been on break at the time the planes first hit. She was across the street with a disabled co-worker; both had gone across the street to get a bite to eat before returning to work--which they never did, thanks to that plane. (As you might have guessed, M'Kaya had WORKED at the World Trade Centers.)
My little brothers and sisters are still trying to understand the magnitude of the tragedy; and they still suffer nightmares; but the nightmares are becoming less frequent. Ronee' is still uneasy whenever we have the news on because she is still afraid we will be attacked again, and she doesn't like hearing about Al Quaeda. We hold her tight, and we reassure her that we are safe, and there are people who are watching diligently over our borders; and that if anything SHOULD happen (GOD FORBID), we WILL be ready and we WILL win this fight against terrorism. Johnny is also scared and doesn't like it when we watch the news; he, too, has nightmares, and he is often afraid about what is going to happen next. Like Ronee', we reassure Johnny that things are going to be okay, and that God is in control of the situation.
That usually satisfies them both. For the time being.
But a year has nearly gone by, and we are still in this fight, to rid the world of this evil known as terrorism. We will NOT rest until those who perpetrated the crimes of September 11 are found, caught, and severely punished. We are more determined than ever to remain free and to defend it, our great nation, the United States of America.
"GOD BLESS AMERICA! MAY SHE REMAIN FREE, AND GOD BLESS HER PEOPLE!!!!"
