12th Anniversary of 9-11-01: We'll Always Remember



Today is 9-11.  It has been 12 years.  Seems so long ago, but I remember it like yesterday.  I was living in Washington D.C. at the time, and was at work checking out the new on Washington Post's web page, when I saw the picture of the first plane going into the Twin Towers. 

I remember telling a co-worker, and she turned on the news on the analog TV in her office.  We all watched in horror as the second plane went into the building.  We watched in horror as people jumped to their death, instead of succumbing to smoke inhalation.  And we watched as the towers began to collapse, aware of all the lives inside that were ending.

I went back to my desk, shaken by what I had seen.  We were deciding what to do.  I worked for a small credit union, but we were in a government building, and it was clear at this point it was a terrorist attack. 

My Mom called, "Lauren, they've hit the Pentagon!  You need to get out of there.  We are under attack."

"Mom, I'm at work."

"Go home.  Lock your doors.  Don't go anywhere.  Move back to Alabama." (I took her advice on this, albeit years later--the moving part that is).

About this time the CEO decided we would close, and he sent us all home.  Hubby, who wasn't hubby then, had my car so I went home with my friend Kristin and waited for him to pick me up. 

Driving into D.C., the streets were deserted.  Strange to see a place so normally bustling,  completely empty.  We turned towards our house and a tank came rambling towards us.  There were soldiers on the street, like we now lived in a war zone.

In the days that passed, the U.S. came together.  Everyone put up flags.  We vowed never to forget.  We vowed to be ONE nation together and put aside our differences for the sake of common good.  We'll never forget the horrific attack on our nation and the lives lost.  I'll never forget this gaping hole I saw in the Pentagon every time I passed it on the interstate:

 

 

The fight against terrorism is never done.  Terrorists at home and terrorists in other countries, but we can do something to combat this evil.  We can use all diplomacy measures we have available, instead of rushing off to war like we're the world's policemen.  We can let the UN lead efforts to help in places like Syria, and take our lead from their suggestions, instead of the other way around.  I was happy to read, an hour ago that Obama wants to try his hand at diplomacy in Syria again.  After all, what's the point in getting involved in another country's Civil War?  And won't this bring more terrorists knocking on our front door? 

 

Just some thoughts on this 12th Anniversary of 9-11.  

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Equality for All!

 

Way back in January 2012, I wrote this blog post about the Lovings. You'd have to be living in a box to not know what's going on in the Supreme Court this week. 

But if you are living in a box, here's a brief snippet from Yahoo News:

The court's first major examination of gay rights in 10 years begins Tuesday with a hearing on California's ban on same-sex marriage. On Wednesday, the justices will consider the federal law that prevents legally married gay couples from receiving a range of benefits afforded straight married Americans.

I believe in equality for all.  I believe in the right to pursue happiness.  I think by not allowing gay marriage, the United States is supporting a religiously-backed, flawed logic. 

In the 1960's in the South, there was a Civil Rights movement.  The black people who lived here didn't have equal rights, despite the fact that they were considered "free" men since the Emancipation Proclamation.  The Blacks fought for their rights to attend the same schools as the whites, to have the same rights, and to be able to drink from the same fountain.

I liken Gay Rights to the Civil Rights movement.  These are people who just want to live their life.  They want the same basic human rights that everyone else has, despite their sexual orientation!  They want to marry the people they love.  They want to have the same rights as heterosexual people, and why shouldn't they?  Because they love someone of the same sex?  Let me ask you, how does that in anyway hurt you?  It doesn't!!!  Gay marriage is about personal choice, but honestly most people I know who are gay say they are born that way and always knew they were different.

Most gay people I know are wonderful.  They're not pedophiles.  They're not out to change your Christian values.  They just want to live their life in the same way you and I do.  They want to make their OWN decisions about their future, and not be held back by a government who is currently denying them their basic rights to happiness. 

Stepping off my soapbox now. 

It's Better to Give than to Receive

Alabama came up with a new ethics law that restricts gifts to public officials and employees in order to try to stop corruption. This law, inadvertently affected teachers though, and now parents and children are not allowed to give gifts to teachers unless they are of “de minimis” value. This means, that you may not give your child’s teacher a gift card, money or even a ham, this Holiday Season. You can provide baked goods but anything that you give to him or her must not have significant value.

I read an article today, which states that Governor Bentley is trying to amend this law to remove teachers, and I for one agree with him (maybe for the first time!).

Giving a gift to your child’s teacher is not going to corrupt them into giving your child all As! In the last few years, as the economy has tanked, they’ve had to deal with budget cuts that leave them with little or no resources. They spend thousands of their own dollars providing fun and enriching activities for our children. They prepare our children to be the future leaders, doctors, and lawyers of America. Does your child’s education have significant value? The least we, as parents, can do is thank them by giving them a gift at Christmastime! What do YOU think?