Today is the anniversary of a day I will never forget. I found a post I wrote several years ago on the anniversary of September 11th and it is still so relevant today, so I am going to re-share this post, as my hopes and dreams for this country and this world remain the same.
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Since I was no longer a single student staying up way too late, hanging out with my roommates or my boyfriend; I figured I could handle an early morning college class. It was the beginning of my junior year of college; I was a newlywed of 3 months and loving life. Eric and I were both going to school full time and working part time. We had a little 1 bedroom apartment but felt like we were rich with our little box TV and brand new DVD player.
I trudged into class, students were all gathered together talking. 'I heard a plane hit the Twin Towers' some of the students were saying. We all wondered if this was true. A few more students came into class saying the same thing. It must be true.
There were no smart phones, no twitter, no Facebook that we could quickly turn to to confirm if this was true. I had a cell phone, a large brick of a phone that was actually pretty advanced with a black and white game of SkipBo on it.
We all wondered what had happened. As soon as class ended we all hurried to the nearest TV. It was true. Planes had hit the Twin Towers in New York City.
We were all shocked and not quite sure what to do.
I had a doctors appointment after my class and headed to that as I normally would. The waiting room was silent, everyone's eyes glued to the TV they had brought into the waiting room. I sat there watching the coverage, watching people run, hearing the speculations as to what could have happened, then I saw it live, the second tower collapse.
People cried freely and held each others hands. What happened to our country?
I will never forget that day. I will always remember.
I also remember what happened after; flights were canceled, security went to all new levels-- but so did something else.
The country's pride. The number of American Flags that were flown by peoples homes. Peoples desire to step up, help out, be a little more kind, be more united.
Those terrorists wanted to hurt us and they did but they also made us stronger.
Now 12 years later in a world of instant communication and instant gratification, too many have forgotten. They have forgotten that his country was founded on freedom. A freedom to work, the freedom to prosper and have the American dream because of hard work and determination.
Far too many want the American Dream for nothing; they feel entitled to have it handed to them, to be taken care of. This is not the America I love. This is not the America that everyone cried over that day 12 years ago.
The American Dream is not meant to be handed out like a participation trophy to everyone who plays. It's meant to be worked for, fought for, something that we desire with everything that we are.
It is our right to work, our right to try hard, our right to try and better our lives.
It is not our right, or our children's right to be given a free ride, a place to live, or even a phone. Just because everyone has one is never a reason for anything. Things that we have should be earned because we have helped in the home (and in the world), shown that we are responsible, and have earned it.
Sometimes life is hard and it will be and it will seem unfair; this is the time to tighten our belts, cut back and work even harder. It is not a time to keep trying to live like the Jone's just because 'it isn't fair'.
Life is not fair.
Something needs to change and it starts with you and me.
It starts with us understanding that in life there may be times that we all will need hand-ups but never hand-outs. This country, our children, this society needs a little tough love. A little wake up call, a lesson in life. As moms we know all too well that there is only so much we give before we totally lose it. How can this country survive by just giving and giving? It is going to lose it.
I will not stand idly by and let that happen. I will fight, in my own way, in my own home, in my own city and state. I will fight by educating myself and my children and by stepping up and speaking out. I will help those in need by helping them learn how to help themselves. I am not going to hand out free fish, I am going to teach a man to fish. To whom much is given, much is required and I will give- but my giving will be in ways that can help change a life forever not just for a day.
This is the American Dream, this is what those terrorists tried to take away from us on that awful September day. Don't let them win! Don't let them win through entitlement, laziness and dependency.
I am living the American Dream because I have worked and am working to deserve it.
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