Tragedy unites citizens from all backgrounds
by Michele Whitehead, reporter

    In the past few weeks, we have seen a reawakening of patriotic spirit in our country.

    Schools, churches, businesses and homes have displayed the American flag and changed their billboard signs to read “United We Stand.” Cars fill the street with red, white and blue ribbons waving from their antennas or “God Bless America” shoe polished across their windows.

    Firefighters walk parking lots and streets to collect donations. Lines stretch for hours to donate blood, and people wait patiently just to try to do something to help.

    Since the tragedy that began this new wave of American pride, I have heard some people ask where patriotism was before this happened. My answer to that is really a question. Does it really matter where it was before? We have it now whether it was rediscovered or just realized.

    The American people from all nationalities and all walks of life have shown that in times of crisis, we can pull together. A renewal in appreciation of freedom has emerged.

    It is unfortunate that it takes an event of such proportion for people to take time to consider the things that really matter.

    We realize that despite color of skin, age, educational level and all of the other things that sometimes separate us, we are all the same.

    I have never been prouder to be an American than I am today. It goes without saying that I am one of those people who has taken my freedom for granted.

    It is understandable when times are good that it is so easy to get caught up in daily living that we don’t always take time out to be thankful that we can live the way we choose. Liberty makes the United States one of the greatest places to live. We are free to pursue our hopes, dreams and goals.

    That is exactly what the terrorists hoped to take from us. In those buildings that fell and those planes that crashed, they tried to instill fear in our hearts.

    My only hope as the weeks pass is that Americans will keep encouraging one another and that patriotic spirit we have rediscovered does not fade. Just because the rubble gets cleaned up and swept away, We shouldn’t forget what it meant.

    Americans have been fortunate never to have experienced much confrontation on our own soil. The grim reality that we are not isolated from the world in a safe bubble has been made clear. However, it has brought about a change for the better. We are stronger. There has been a genuine concern shown by people all over this nation.

    Through all the stories that have been told by family members still searching for their loved ones and others who are mourning, it is almost as if we know those people. It has reached us in a personal level through stories of heroism and bravery, even thousands of miles away.

    In the patriotic spirit of this country, they are our brothers.