I have to believe

It’s hard to believe that someone reading this wasn’t alive on September 11, 2001. Or was too young to realize what happened that day.

The hijacking of those four different planes and their subsequent crashes amounted to the single deadliest terrorist attack in human history. There were 2,983 fatalities, over 25,000 injuries, and at least $10 billion in infrastructure and property damage. 343 firefighters and 72 law enforcement officers were killed. Over 3,000 children lost at least one parent in the attacks.

Fear gripped this country, but somehow, when the literal dust settled, when we realized our mortality and our vulnerabilities, we were able to rally. We came together as a nation. We turned out in droves to donate blood. We sent teams of volunteers to help with clean efforts. We flew our flags. We vowed that we would never be defeated.  

Other countries around the world supported us. They stood with us and offered whatever aid we needed. They assured us that they would join us in retaliation against the terrorists.

How different things are nineteen years later. Why would other countries stand with us now when we can’t even stand with ourselves? And our enemies? All they have to do is sit back and watch our country fall in on itself, destroy itself.

Paul Harvey said it best in 1965. He called it. How did he know that fifty-some years later his predictions would have come true. It’s sad, so very sad.

I’d like to hope there is time to turn things around for our country. I don’t see how, but I still have to believe it, have to have faith in the goodness of humankind.