As I’ve remembered this day five years ago, images are so clear in my mind. I wore a black dress to work, not intentionally, but that’s just what I pulled out of my closet that morning. I remember waking up and not being fully aware of what was going on. I remember staring at the TV watching the first tower fall and having to convince my Dad that it had really fallen down.

As I remember these images I have forgotten how I felt that day, until this morning, when I woke up and turned on the TV. Joseph had left the station on CNN, and they were replaying the tapes of five years ago in real time. I felt the same sick pit in my stomach, and a great lump forming in my throat. Hot tears were streaming down my face, and I felt I needed to ask the same questions I asked myself five years ago.

What is happening? Why did this happen? Who did this? What are they trying to prove? What is this ‘revenge’ that they need? What should I do? What does it mean to be an American?

I am asking myself the same questions today. And as I watched the names being read at Ground Zero, I felt a very proud feeling swelling in my heart. I AM PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN!! I don’t care what other nations, peoples, ideaologs, the media, or groups think of the United States of America. We are good people; we want good things to happen in this world. We don’t want to push our life style on people, but we want to invite people to come and see that democracy and freedom are worth having. We give people to choose for themselves, not have their choices made by someone else. Given the choice between converting to Islam and living or staying true to what I know is true, namely, Christianity, the principals of the US and freedom, I would choose the latter.

All of this is worth fighting for at home and around the world. Rudy Gulliani said something most profound today, “We cannot consign the attacks of September 11th to history. These attacks are still going on and we must remain vigilant.” The attacks are part of our history, but more will come if we as a nation cannot come together and act and work and be willing to sacrifice.

Our nation has been divided, and some have said that the wars we’ve found and are fighting are making things worse. I think this is true, to an extent, however, I believe the threat of Islamic terrorism, has always been there, the wars we’ve found have only fleshed it out and made these people show their colors. Frankly, I prefer this to another attack and to them hiding in secret. I want to know that these people are out there and what they are doing and to meet them head on. We need to meet them head on and realize that in order to preserve the memories of what we had, and the goodness of the free world and the goodness of the United States of America.

It’s a tough day, it’s a day for remembrance, but it’s also a day to rededicate our selves to the cause of freedom and to continue the fight, and to not let sick men and their sick ideas get the best of us.

God Bless America, and remember to follow the truths that we know to be self-evident, that freedom is good, and that our country and way of life is worth fighting for.