family and friends, life in America

Where were You……

It’s hard to believe it has been sixteen years since the most heinous attack on American soil in American history.  These people came to America exploited our kindness, hospitality and “everyone’s welcome” here in America with only one thing in mind.  They lived among us, educated themselves and learned how to fly with the sole purpose to kill Americans.

So someone please tell me why there are people who are against the travel ban?

America lost 2,996 people on this day.  Regular everyday people became heroes and fought back against the terrorists sacrificing their own lives to save others.  Many brave first responders gave their own lives to save others.  It was a time that united ALL of America and every American.

It is a day that is burned in our minds for the rest of our lives.  Everyone can tell you where they were and what they were doing on this day.

It is a day that should NEVER be forgotten…….ever!  Every American should remember this day.  All young and future Americans should learn about this time in American history and what it truly means to be an American and live in the greatest country in the world.

I have over 1,300 songs in my playlist that I listen to daily that play at random.  When this song comes on, most days I choose to skip it because it is still a strong and painful reminder of how I and many other Americans felt on this day and many days that followed.  Today it happened to play.  It was my moment of silence to pay respect all the lives that were lost on this day.  To listen, hear and let myself feel the way I felt sixteen years ago.

This song says everything about every American and how we felt and where we were when the world stopped turning.

Where were you when the world stopped turnin’

That September day?
Were you in the yard with your wife and children
Or workin’ on some stage in L.A.?
Did you stand there in shock at the sight of that black smoke
Risin’ against that blue sky?
Did you shout out in anger, in fear for your neighbor
Or did you just sit down and cry?
Did you weep for the children, they lost their dear loved ones
Pray for the ones who don’t know?
Did you rejoice for the people who walked from the rubble
And sob for the ones left below?
Did you burst out with pride for the red, white, and blue
And the heroes who died just doin’ what they do?
Did you look up to heaven for some kind of answer
And look at yourself and what really matters?
I’m just a singer of simple songs
I’m not a real political man
I watch CNN, but I’m not sure I can tell you
The diff’rence in Iraq and Iran
But I know Jesus and I talk to God
And I remember this from when I was young
Faith, hope, and love are some good things He gave us
And the greatest is love
Where were you when the world stopped turnin’
That September day?
Teachin’ a class full of innocent children
Or drivin’ down some cold interstate?
Did you feel guilty ’cause you’re a survivor?
In a crowded room did you feel alone?
Did you call up your mother and tell her you love her?
Did you dust off that Bible at home?
Did you open your eyes and hope it never happened
Close your eyes and not go to sleep?
Did you notice the sunset for the first time in ages
And speak to some stranger on the street?
Did you lay down at night and think of tomorrow
Go out and buy you a gun?
Did you turn off that violent old movie you’re watchin’
And turn on I Love Lucy reruns?
Did you go to a church and hold hands with some strangers
Stand in line to give your own blood?
Did you just stay home and cling tight to your family
Thank God you had somebody to love?
I’m just a singer of simple songs
I’m not a real political man
I watch CNN, but I’m not sure I can tell you
The diff’rence in Iraq and Iran
But I know Jesus and I talk to God
And I remember this from when I was young
Faith, hope, and love are some good things He gave us
And the greatest is love
I’m just a singer of simple songs
I’m not a real political man
I watch CNN, but I’m not sure I can tell you
The diff’rence in Iraq and Iran
But I know Jesus and I talk to God
And I remember this from when I was young
Faith, hope, and love are some good things He gave us
And the greatest is love
And the greatest is love
And the greatest is love
Where were you when the world stopped turnin’
On that September day?

Written and performed by Alan Jackson

911 never forget

life in America

“A Nation Gone Under”

I can’t imagine calling anywhere else in the world home.  I remember growing up, my family instilled in me what an honor it is to be an American.  It’s the land of the free and the home of the brave.  Even today, despite all that is wrong with our great country, I am still proud to call this my home and myself an American.  The men and women of our armed forces have fought, many have given their lives so that we have the freedoms we do today.

It’s time that we as Americans go back to a more simple time when we believed in the word of God and live by the Amendments of the Constitution on which this great country was founded.  This is not intended to be a rant of religion or politics, but a message of how we need to treat our fellow Americans.  We should “love thy neighbor” and “treat others the way we would want to be treated”.  Ronald Reagan said it best, “If we ever forget that we are One Nation Under God, then we will be one nation gone under.”

With that said, it would never matter if you are black, white, hispanic, middle eastern, oriental, straight, gay, transgender, conservative, liberal….I think you get the point.  I have friends of all race and sexual preference.  I don’t think any less or any more of them if we don’t see things the same way.  We all don’t have to believe in the same ideas or beliefs.  Everyone is entitled to voice his or her opinions.  It’s a little thing we call the 1st Amendment and one of the many reasons what it means to be an American.  This is our right, but it his does not give us the right to be disrespectful to others who don’t share the same opinions or beliefs as you or I.  Just because it’s different doesn’t mean it’s wrong.

There will always be differences.  (“Haters”, hate groups, white supremacy, racism the list goes on and on.)  No one is born to hate, hate is learned and/or taught.  I wish this wasn’t the case but it is and probably always will be.  I see these individuals as ignorant.  Not stupid, but ignorant.  There is a difference.  Ignorant is uneducated or lacking knowledge and anyone can fix that through education.  Stupid on the other hand, in my opinion is lacking intelligence and common sense (which appears to almost non-existent today, The Sad Passing of Common Sense ) and the inability to achieve higher learning. We are always most afraid of things we know little or nothing about.  No one race is better than any other.  To say that any one race are all criminals, simply just isn’t true.  There are good and bad people in every race.

This very same thing could be said about the travel ban.  America is not saying that all of these people are bad, only that there are bad people who’s intentions are not as honest as we would like to believe.  This is not meant to offend, but to protect you and I and our other fellow Americans from the dangers outside our boarders.  To just allow anyone to come into America to stay or live without the proper documentation, is insulting to the people who have worked hard and are proud of  being legal American citizens.  America has never said to ANYONE that you are not welcome.  All we are asking is that you come to America legally.  Don’t just take my word for it.  Here is what one of our own soldiers had to say about people beyond our boarders ( U.S. Marine Speaks the Truth).  Other countries in the world have different beliefs and ideas.  Some of the countries do not hold our same beliefs and they do not value life as we Americans do. We need to stop holding the hands of the countries that do nothing but spit in our faces.freedom