Welcome to Sandie's World
Page moditifed 9/16/2001
My world is a different place today, follwowing the horrendous crimes committed against the citizens of the United States and the citizens of the world on September 11, 2001. The attacks on the World Trade Center cost thousands of lives--not all American, either. Citizens of many nations and adherants of many religous beliefs and non-beliefs lost their lives equally. The attacks, presumably carried out by Arab extremists of the Muslim faith, took Christian, Buddist, Jewish and Muslim lives without distinction.
The attack on Washington D.C. struck at the heart of the symbol of our national defense, taking lives dedicated to serving and protecting the citizens and residents of the United States. Though the actual death toll is somewhat lower than that in New York City, the devastation reaches every corner of our nation.
Death is a great equalizer. It knows no race, religion or economic status. As each of us struggle with the idea that our national and personal safety is indeed at risk, it is well worth remembering that those of us who live must continue to go on with our daily lives, as best we can, while offering aid, comfort and remembrance to the many thousands of victims and heroes.
"I hereby declare, on oath, that I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state or sovereignty, of whom or which I have heretofore been a subject or citizen; that I will support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States of America against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I will bear arms on behalf of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform noncombatant service in the armed forces of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform work of national importance under civilian direction when required by the law; and that I take this obligation freely without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; so help me God."
Oath of Citizenship, United States of America
I
send a dove of peace to every person on the planet earth. Let us not destroy
each other with hate. Rather, let us heal ourselves with love.
Adopt a Plaque Here
I do not claim to know what happened or what caused these events. I only know that I have read many internet sources and individual bulletin boards. On these boards, I have seen victims and people far removed from each other grieving together. I have seen intellectual discussions of U.S. Middle Eastern policies. I have seen people striving to pick up the fragments of their daily lives and cope with the sense of violation that most of us feel.
I have seen news coverage, 24 hours a day, everyday, since the event. Religious leaders, political leaders, social commentators, and news media have tried to provide an explanation of why this happened. Perhaps there is no explanation that makes sense to everyone. One thing I do know is that the persons who perpetrated this crime are extremist and do not represent the majority of Arabs and Muslims and any retaliatory actions against these populations in our own country is as equally abhorrent as the attacks on New York and Washington D.C. Every Arab American and every Mosque should be a secure. Persons of those origins and faiths are not responsible for actions of extremists, just as persons in Arizona are not responsible for Timothy McVeigh. Extremists exist in each nation, including our own, and are not reflective of all persons from those countries. I urge peace and unity in the United States for all of our residents, regardless of national origin or religion.
Links of interest:
