A normal day is a mother running out the door in a rush forgetting to kiss her child(ren) goodbye. A husband leaving without saying I love you. A brother or sister, son or daughter; putting off yet another night to call the other or their mother or father to say; ‘Hey, I love you’. A normal day is people taking for granted people important to them or that they will be there that evening, the next day, month or year.

A normal day is thinking to yourself, you should help that woman whose child is crying as she hurriedly seeks their bottle or pacifier as their groceries fall out around them. We take for granted so much only to have a tragic event change us for eternity. Thinking as you realize you aren’t going to make it out alive, ‘Do my kids know I love them? So my mom and dad know how much I appreciate them and love them? Man, I should have said I’m sorry to my husband/wife and held them. It’s thinking; this is it! I cringe to think what so many of the innocent victims’ last thoughts were. To think of the things they put off until tomorrow what is now no longer there.

In light of so many innocent lives tragically taken, so many lives have been brought together. Some may question, ‘How could God let this happen?’ My answer is simple, maybe God is trying to bring some good to the wrong of what happened. I hug my kids more, I tell my husband I love him every chance I get, as well as everyone else I love. So in reality peoples lives weren’t really taken in vain, but a way for us to realize and see how truly precious life is and to be thankful everyday we are blessed to see our loved ones beautiful smiling faces.

A way for us to come together as a nation as a whole and grieve and hopefully realize that we are no better nor different that anyone else. That we are all the same inside. I am sure God and so many of the lives ended so abruptly are smiling down upon us proud and glad that we are seeing the light, that every vicious storm no matter how scary or dark the clouds are, all have a silver lining. This doesn’t make them victims, but heroes as well.

They are angels now. May all the angels rest in peace knowing the unity they have bought us.

Denise Collier (Dallas, TX)
September 22, 2001
divine@fadedtimes.com

A Declaration Against Terrorism

As a citizen of the United States of America and of the civilized world, I do declare my will against all past and future acts of terrorism. I will do everything in my mortal power to fight deliberate acts of terrorism in my home, community and country. It is my duty as a member of civilization to fight against this unyielding continuous struggle. We must overcome our own personal fears of insecurity to defeat the leaders and followers of all terrorist movements across the world.

Since the beginning of recorded time and civilization, men and women have lived in fear of deliberate acts of terror. Whether at home or walking down the street or sitting in an office or school building, citizens have been living in fear. We will overcome this fear within ourselves to combat and defeat the modern enemy we call terrorism.

The terrorist attacks against the United States on September 11, 2001 mark a dramatic shift in American and world history. We are now entering a new era of unprecedented challenges that will continue to test our pride, dignity and resolve. From this day forward, civilized life will never be the way it was before. We will now have to be on constant alert to protect our homes, communities and allies from the inevitable onslaught of terrorist acts of violence.

Let us now realize the path we must take in order to stop future acts of terrorism. Let us now declare to ourselves and each other that we will forever fight to maintain our freedom and way of life by standing up against every single act of terrorism here in the United States of America and within the borders of our allies.

Thus, I reiterate my declaration to stand against any and all deliberate acts of terrorism. I declare to defend my family, my home and my country until the last breath of air leaves my body. I declare to use my last drop of blood in defense of these virtues and truths I hold so dear to my patriotic heart and soul.

Tyler Toby (Swampscott, MA )
September 19, 2001
tyler@whotochoose.com

With heavy hearts we write today
We think of you from faraway
We need to let you know
You are not one nation grieving
But we are a world left cold and unbelieving

Elaine Gibson (Northampton, England)
September 18, 2001

BLOOD, SWEAT & TEARS

For everything we stand for-
The Red White & Blue;
The devastation of September 11th,
Effects everyone, not just me, not just you.

America was attacked-
America stands United;
Together we shall heal,
Eventually our fears will be subsided.

The shock, the anger, the pain-
Remains in our hearts ever so fresh;
The horrific scars inflicted,
Upon every American's flesh.

As the entire World connected-
They too watched in disbelief;
These allies in other countries,
Extend their support to share our losses & grief.

These evil-demonic creatures-
Brought terror onto our soil;
Their barbaric missions,
Their violent ways of turmoil.

Many called this a Pearl Harbor II-
Some an Armageddon, a Holocaust,
The 100's of people injured,
The souls of the loved ones we have lost.

They've taken our sense of security-
With in the American Dream;
But with in just hours of the news,
We began to rebuild, Thank God for our Rescue Teams!

Traveling from all over-
Our United States;
Many Police & Fire officials unite,
Because of their dark portrayals of hate.

Volunteers quickly organized-
Food, supplies, money, blood, even flowers;
Truckloads arriving to a fallen Manhattan,
With in a timely couple of hours.

Our Spirit must stay strong - to support & praise our many many heroes;
The brave rescue teams,
Whom join hands at Ground Zero.

We hug our next door neighbors-
Praying for hope, keeping faith & we give donations;
witness the love of blood, sweat & tears,
pray God Blesses our Nation.

Like so many others-
Rushing home from work to see the TV;
Flipping relentlessly thru the stations,
CNN, Fox 2, Local 4, Peter Jennings on ABC.

The heart-wrenching stories told-
By families effected by this tragedy;
I can't bear to turn off the news,
I don't want to miss survivors being pulled from the debris.

The internet, the photos, the emails-
Shower an abundance of voices uniting support;
Our children's future depends upon us,
We must not fall short.

We stand for being civilized-
We have freedom that offers foreigners opportunity;
These terrorist have taken us for granted,
They have under estimated our strength, our unity.

This changes our ways of living-
Our sense of safetiness for many years;
As the entire country joins as one,
Together we have cried countless tears.

To the families of the plane crash victims-
I pay tribute to all, especially hero's of flight 93;
The humanity with in the American spirit,
Extends appreciation for an eternity.

As our Military prepares for strikes of war-
It may claim more lives, more disaster;
Our strength in numbers,
Justice will prevail, Peace we'll recover after.

Thru the blood, sweat and tears-
Of this mighty Nation;
As Americans, we will rise above,
Overcoming this abomination.

Celena Day

This Time
There Were Cameras

Again and again
On the TV
Again and again
The plane I see

The eyes of the world turned
Watched simulatainously
As the towers collasped
Before you and me

Again and again
On the TV
Again and again
The jumpers I see

We weren't there for Troy
Or the falling of Rome
But on September 11th
We watched from our homes

Again and again
On the TV
Again and again
The rubble I see

How many are alive?
How many our dead?
Visions of fear
Dance in my head

Again and again
On the TV
Again and again
The grieving I see

As I sit in the classroom
Noise all around me
I drift far away in my mind
To flee the world on TV

Dr. Olga (British 14 year old)

The Difference One Day Makes

On Monday, there were people fighting against praying in schools...
On Tuesday, you would have been hard pressed to find a school where someone was not praying.

On Monday, there were people were trying to separate each other by race, sex, color and creed...
On Tuesday, they were holding hands.

On Monday, we thought that we were safe and secure...
On Tuesday, we knew better.

On Monday, we were talking about heroes as being athletes...
On Tuesday, we relearned what a "hero" meant.

On Monday, people went to work at the World Trade Center as usual...
On Tuesday, they walked through the door for the last time.

On Monday, people were fighting the 10 commandments on government property...
On Tuesday, the same people voiced, "God help us all" and said "Thou shalt not kill."

On Monday, people argued with their kids about picking up their room...
On Tuesday, those people could not get home fast enough to hug their kids.

On Monday, people picked up McDonald's for dinner...
On Tuesday, they stayed home.

On Monday, people were upset that their dry cleaning was not ready on ime...
On Tuesday, they were lining up to give blood for the dying.

On Monday, politicians argued about budget surpluses...
On Tuesday, grief stricken, they sang "God Bless America."

On Monday, we worried about the traffic and getting to work late...
On Tuesday, we worried about a plane crashing into our house or place of business.

On Monday, we were irritated that our rebate checks had not arrived...
On Tuesday, we saw people celebrating Americans dying.

On Monday, some children had solid families...
On Tuesday, they were orphans.

On Monday, the President went to Florida to read to the children...
On Tuesday, he returned to Washington to protect our children.

On Monday, we emailed jokes...
On Tuesday, we did not.

It is sadly ironic how it takes horrific events to place things into
perspective. The lessons learned this week, the things we have taken for granted, the things that have been forgotten or overlooked, hopefully never will be again.

God Bless all ...