The Unity in "United States of America"

Saturday October 13th 2001
By Paul E. K. Mullan  
OCSurfEDITORIAL@ix.netcom.com

EDITORIAL – After the tragic events of the past month no one thought the country would be the same. They are right, but people forget that the same isn’t always the best thing for people or our nation. This world is a rough one. It is fortunate that over the years we never had to see it up close, or see it as a personal matter. All my years growing up after the climax of the Cold War, I lived only in a world where the largest dangers were those of drunk drivers, or robbery. Every time I heard a plane fly over I knew it was ours…our military protecting us, or a plane of happy people headed on vacation or a business trip. Bombs would not come falling, the sounds of the plane didn’t make me run for cover as they do in other parts of the world. A roar coming down the street is most likely a truck or high-performance car, not a series of tanks or military vehicles. The only time I saw those were the times I spent on military bases or in bad snow storms when the National Guard was there to help emergency personnel get about the city.

            Just over a month ago, the thoughts of drunken drivers, robbery, and other crime took a back seat to the horrific actions caused by the evil around the rest of the world coming to our land, our homes, and our families. We are still awaiting more to happen. With each bomb that drops and each missile that is launched we fear more and more terrible actions from within more so than on our proud military far on the other side of the world. With the awful loss of those truly faced with such actions my heart goes out to you. The rest of the nation has done just what we have done in the past, and in future will continue to do…stand tall in support of those affected.

            I more so feel pride in the USA in the past weeks than ever before. With more red, white, and blue waving in the wind than ever before we have our chins high and look down upon the cowards in the rest of the world even with the pain we suffer.

            Driving down to the Eastern Shore from the Baltimore-Washington area every overpass had “Old Glory” hanging on each. Just a year ago the nation was split, literally 50/50 for or against the man that would soon have the most distinguished title in the world, “Mr. President.” The arguments were fierce, as were the protests. All that seems to be lost in the shadows or simply water long gone under the bridge. Now those who refused to vote or even stand behind George W. Bush once elected, are now there. Our nations internal army of patriots, not going to the front line but having just as much responsibility as those who are there. These patriots are the ones working to keep this great nation together, and to provide a nation for our men and women heroes to return to.

            The people of our great nation from young to old have a feeling they are really helping they are doing something! This Is what the terrorists didn’t expect, and beyond our military superiority in the world this is what they must fear more. The people who stand to salute the flag to those who just remove their caps at ballgames during the national anthem. We are to be feared. There are many of us that fear terror, buildings and planes coming from the sky.

            However, thanks to the people of our nation the people who seek to inflict terror have more to fear. We stand united as one, and on our side is might and more important justice and everything pure. To the terrorists: you have bit off more than you can chew, and now we will relish in making you choke to the point of non-existance.

Thank you for reading, please comment to:

OCSurfEDITORIAL@ix.netcom.com