Remembering not as Important as Learning and Doing.

Good Morning.  It is September the 11^th 2011, and a decade after the U.S tragedy that saw our citizens come together like never before.  Directly after the event, we saw politics, religion, and race take a backseat to what this country should really be; one nation indivisible, under God.  It’s strange how, the further we get away from an event that completely freaks us out and scares us bad enough to force our hand to make those phone calls to family members who live in other parts of the world just to say you love them amid tears and sorrow, that we as Americans tend to forget what was so beautiful after such a great loss to our country.  That we are despite our differences, Americans. 

Many people are going out of their way to publicly remember the events of 9/11 by tuning into the myriad of TV documentary’s, or going to a local memorial, but in my opinion, the single most important thing we can do, is to not only remember, but also act on what brought us together following those events; a sincere care for each other as Americans and a willingness to put aside our differences and selfishness long enough to help out our fellow man.  See to me, that is what I will remember.  How for just a moment, we stopped complaining long enough to hear the National Anthem playing on our radios, or hear the Pledge of Allegiance at all of our public events.  How for a split second you weren’t regarded as Republican, Democrat, right or left, liberal or conservative, but just an American wounded by what was done to this country. 

I am grateful that our country will never forget such an event that meant a great loss for  all us, whether directly or indirectly, but much more, I would like to send out a challenge to all of you out there, who in spite of your good intentions, will do nothing more than to just tune in and only remember.  My challenge is this.  Be something more than an American who commemorates tragedy.  Be an American catalyst for change.  Understand the importance and the privilege that we have everyday, to care for each other like we did following the 9/11 attacks.  We can do it if we choose.  We just need to choose. 

Remembering is great, but learning that we have value and becoming an American means to care for each other, whether we know them or not.  That is how we overcame a seemingly impossible task of rebuilding our lives, and that is how we will overcome the selfishness that is all too present in our country today.  I for one, will take up that challenge.  Will you?  Have an awesome day! God blessed America.

-Lou