Whenever I hear that song by Lee Greenwood — even before September 11th — I pause and listen to the words and it’s hard for me to keep from tearing up. I’ve always felt that I was lucky to be born here in the US and able to do whatever I want as long as it doesn’t hurt other people.

Like so many other Americans on the morning of September 11th I was horrified and angry. As time passed and the body count and number of missing elevated I experienced every bad emotion that a person can feel. Even though I did not know any victims personally I felt assaulted. After all, this is my country. It burns me up to think that they used my country’s facilities to train for their deadly mission — took advantage of my country’s hospitality while doing so — took advantage of the freedoms we have here to carry out that horrible deed.

Now it’s our turn. If he thought what he did would cause us to buckle under and fight among ourselves then Osama’s Bin Stupid! I’ve never felt so proud to be an American as when the people in my country dropped all their petty arguments and pulled together in the aftermath. What a wonderful feeling it is to experience the outpouring of emotion and support we’re receiving from other countries, especially Britain! This attack brought about by the scum of human-kind brought out the very best in human nature.

It brought out the heroes. I want to believe that given the circumstances I would have had the courage to do the same as those who sacrificed their lives to help others. The passengers on the flight that went down in Pennsylvania. The police and firemen who were inside the buildings when they fell. The rescuers who worked day and night to the point of exhaustion to find any signs of life in the rubble. I’d like to see Ground Zero, once cleared, remain sacred ground and nothing built upon it except a memorial.

This attack has also brought out a few roaches from our woodwork — and these roaches rank right up there with the opportunists who tried to bump up gas prices during this crisis. It exposed “religious leaders” who proclaimed that God punished us for our evils like homosexuality, etc. And whatever would we do without Jesse Jackson? I say let him go talk to the Talaban but don’t let him come back! And — yes — I must say it! The American people were finally able to see the real face of Hillary Clinton as she rolled her eyes during Bush’s address to the nation.

Now it’s time for us to find Osama Bin Laden and all his merry men so that they can pay for their crimes. Many say to simply drop “the bomb”. I have mixed emotions. On one hand it certainly would make the job easier and, let’s face it, they deserve it! On the other hand we should try first to punish only the ones responsible and spare as many innocent lives as possible — even though some people reveled in the loss of thousands of innocent American lives.

We can all sit around and talk about the things we should do as a nation to protect ourselves and serve Justice to Bin Laden and his crew. But as an average American I’m not privy to all the facts. The people who do know the facts are the ones we elected to handle such things. I think Bush has done a wonderful job so far and I am behind him all the way, whichever way he chooses to go.

Though Bush’s strength may not be in public speaking when he speaks publicly his words are strength.

—Peggy