Never Forget

It's been four years since September 11, 2001. My life has changed so much in that time, but my memories of that day are so vivid that for awhile this morning I felt just as I did then and I sat for an hour or so in a daze. I took time to go to the archive of articles and commentary on my web site and re-read what inspired (and infuriated) me in the months that followed.

Beyond that, one of the things that stands out in my mind was a trip to the post office that afternoon. It was virtually deserted when I entered, except for a woman standing in the small lobby looking bewildered. She had several stamped envelopes in her hand and was staring at the slot marked "Outgoing - Metered Only". She looked at me with tears in her eyes and asked, "Where am I supposed to put these?" I dropped my own stamped mail into the slot next to the one she was looking at and said, "Oh, those can go right here." She ran her fingers across the label that said "Outgoing - Stamped" and thanked me, then she hugged me and sobbed, "Nothing will ever be the same again." I had never seen her before, but we stood with our arms around one another as if we were dear, close friends.

"Nothing will ever be the same again." For awhile, nothing did feel the same. If there was one positive aspect of that horrible event it was that it seemed to unite us as a nation in a way that nothing else had for decades. That, at least, was a welcome departure from the norm. But that didn't last long.

In the four years since that brief, shining moment when congress stood together singing "God Bless America", (I had to prove to myself I hadn't imagined it) the political divide in this country has continued to deepen. I needn't detail all of it here - suffice to say that the Democrats care more about regaining power than they do about the security and preservation of what used to be the UNITED States of America. And the leftist, "liberal" pundits continue to lead their PeeCee followers down a garden path of destructive attitude with the help of the sympathetic mainstream media. Above all, the excoriation of George W. Bush takes precedence.

Michell Malkin provides a number of links, some of which brought tears. I posted some of them here on the main page of my business site.

Today, September 11, 2005, I feel renewed resolve. Not to rant, but to encourage us - ALL of us Americans - to unite against our common enemy by having our voices heard, by telling the world "We will NEVER forget."

You won't hear about this...

...from the networks.

Reported by American Forces Information Service:

Iraqi Soldiers Make Donation for Katrina Victims

TAJI, Iraq, Sept. 9, 2005 – Iraqi soldiers serving at the military base here collected 1 million Iraqi dinars for victims of Hurricane Katrina.

Iraqi Col. Abbas Fadhil, Iraqi base commander, presented the money to U.S. Army Col. Paul D. Linkenhoker, Taji's coalition base commander, at a Sept. 5 staff meeting.

"We are all brothers," said Abbas. "When one suffers tragedy, we all suffer their pain."

The amount of money is small in American dollars - roughly $680 - but it represents a huge act of compassion from Iraqi soldiers to their American counterparts, said U.S. Army Maj. Michael Goyne.

"I was overwhelmed by the amount of their generosity," Goyne said. "I was proud and happy to know Colonel Abbas, his officers, NCOs and fellow soldiers. That amount represents a month's salary for most of those soldiers."

In a reciprocal gesture, U.S. soldiers attended a memorial service Sept. 5 for victims of the disastrous panic during a pilgrimage in Baghdad, which happened the same day Hurricane Katrina struck the U.S.

More than 1,000 people, mostly women and children, fell into the Tigris River or died on a bridge over the river when the crowd panicked after rumors that suicide bombers were in the procession.

Abbas spoke of the Iraqi victims as "martyrs" and donated one half of his paycheck to a fund earmarked for their families. A collection box for the fund was filled with contributions from American soldiers.

Brotherhood - Not Racism

This insightful commentary by Rabbi Aryeh Spero is posted today at Human Events Online

An excerpt:

There is only one real America. Beginning Friday morning in Houston, thousands of regular citizens poured into the Astrodome offering water, food, clean clothes, personal items, baby diapers and toys, love and even their homes to the evacuees who had been bused in from New Orleans. Most of the givers were White, most of those being helped were Black. But there was Jesse Jackson, busy on TV, accusing the country of not putting Blacks -- i.e., him -- on some type of Commission he is demanding. Where was he early in the week? Not sweating with others from around the country who had scraped their last dollar to come help. With Jesse, it’s always about Jesse.

NOLA "leaders" knew a year ago

But did nothing. Hurricane Exposes Flaws in Louisiana Disaster Plans... in 2004!

'Tis an ill wind...

Despite what we're hearing from the mainstream media and The Venomous Left, the fact remains that America is truly the greatest country in the world. Witness the outpouring of generosity and assistance provided to the victims of Hurricane Katrina. The funds that have been raised, the donated items, the offers of physical assistance to aid in the efforts; all done out of love and concern for our fellow man. Hurricane Katrina: Blog for Relief Weekend raised well over a million dollars, so far Americans - individuals and corporations - have given over $400 million, and the unprecedented relief effort is ongoing. Here's a round up of more good news.

The disaster has also exposed the underbelly of a society sinking into the abyss of failure to take individual responsibility. Too many expect the government to take care of every need, to rescue them from every adversity. A Tale of Two Hurricanes underscores the disturbing deterioration of the moral fiber and backbone that was once the epitome of American character.

Hurricane Katrina: Blogging For Relief

This event has been extended through Labor Day weekend. Dig deep and do what you can to help. Find my list here.

Help Those Who Are Helping

The "blogosphere" - of which I have just recently become a part - has joined together to dedicate today to raising funds for Katrina's victims. You can go here for a round up of participants and a list of suggested charities. You'll find a link to the right for some I especially recommend. A note of caution: Beware of scams perpetrated by the scum of humanity!

Another super bit of enlightenment comes from Americans Aiding Americans, an ongoing list, put together by Chuck Simmins, of American businesses and organizations who stepped forward immediately to make a real difference during this disaster. Without waiting for federal aid, help from other countries or pledges from celebrities, these people went to work and they represent what this great country is all about.

For more about "Blog For Relief Day": Instapundit's List, Flood Aid, and Hurricane Katrina

Spinning Katrina

Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. blames the governor of Mississippi for Hurricane Katrina. Oh, and of course, George W. Bush and the Republican party in general. I tried to take a look at the article in the journal Nature that he references, but their site requires paid membership to benefit from the wealth of "wisdom" no doubt contained there.

For a sane and thoughtful opinion, read Katrina and Disgusting Exploitation, by James K. Glassman.

Sheehan, Sheen & Sharpton

The "The theater of the absurd has found pay dirt in East Texas."