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Ten years on...
Sep. 11th, 2011 11:02 amI will not--I cannot--forget.
But I will rejoice in beauty that has risen from ashes. I will give thanks for men and women willing to stand in harm's way, those who gave some and those who gave all. I will honor them by living as a free-born American woman, unafraid and unashamed of my heritage, my faith, my education, my freedoms, my rights, my responsibilities, my country. I will support our men and women in uniform even when the powers that be forget that they are some of the finest folks our nation has ever produced, and I will do my part to ensure that Washington does right by both our military and the rest of us--to remind politicians that they are supposed to serve us, not the other way around.
And I will remember, too, that justice and mercy belong together, that love is stronger than hate. I remember very clearly a moment during a celebration service when the American missionaries (one of whom was a friend of mine) were rescued from Kabul and people started chanting "Jesus loves Afghanistan." It's true; He does--and Iraq, Iran, Syria, etc.--or at least the people who live there, especially those who are oppressed, and who don't understand that they're being taught lies. Islamist ideology grieves Him as much as does the Nazi ideology it draws on. I don't have a problem with people noting that we're not the only ones who've suffered, only with those who say we should have done nothing.
And where is the band that so vauntingly swore,
'Mid the havoc of war and the battle's confusion,
A home and a country they'd leave us no more?
Their blood has washed out their foul footsteps' pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling or slave
From the terror of flight and the gloom of the grave,
And the Star-Spangled Banner in triumph doth wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.
And thus be it ever when free men shall stand
Between their loved homes and the war's desolation.
Blessed with victory and peace, may the heav'n-rescued land
Praise the Power that has made and preserved us a nation.
Then conquer we must, when our cause, it is just,
And this be our motto: IN GOD IS OUR TRUST!
And the Star-Spangled Banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!
But I will rejoice in beauty that has risen from ashes. I will give thanks for men and women willing to stand in harm's way, those who gave some and those who gave all. I will honor them by living as a free-born American woman, unafraid and unashamed of my heritage, my faith, my education, my freedoms, my rights, my responsibilities, my country. I will support our men and women in uniform even when the powers that be forget that they are some of the finest folks our nation has ever produced, and I will do my part to ensure that Washington does right by both our military and the rest of us--to remind politicians that they are supposed to serve us, not the other way around.
And I will remember, too, that justice and mercy belong together, that love is stronger than hate. I remember very clearly a moment during a celebration service when the American missionaries (one of whom was a friend of mine) were rescued from Kabul and people started chanting "Jesus loves Afghanistan." It's true; He does--and Iraq, Iran, Syria, etc.--or at least the people who live there, especially those who are oppressed, and who don't understand that they're being taught lies. Islamist ideology grieves Him as much as does the Nazi ideology it draws on. I don't have a problem with people noting that we're not the only ones who've suffered, only with those who say we should have done nothing.
And where is the band that so vauntingly swore,
'Mid the havoc of war and the battle's confusion,
A home and a country they'd leave us no more?
Their blood has washed out their foul footsteps' pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling or slave
From the terror of flight and the gloom of the grave,
And the Star-Spangled Banner in triumph doth wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.
And thus be it ever when free men shall stand
Between their loved homes and the war's desolation.
Blessed with victory and peace, may the heav'n-rescued land
Praise the Power that has made and preserved us a nation.
Then conquer we must, when our cause, it is just,
And this be our motto: IN GOD IS OUR TRUST!
And the Star-Spangled Banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!
