In the weeks that followed we came together as a nation; a nation refusing to live in fear and cower under the threats of mad men. Patriotism was the rule, not the exception. We, as a people proudly flew our American flag and for the first time in my life I displayed a decal of the flag on my car. An urgent request went out from my church asking all persons with flags to loan them to the church for display on Sunday morning. I remember walking into church and seeing all of the flags hanging from the balcony and on the wall behind the choir. We sung the patriotic songs and hymns and prayed for those lost and wounded in the attacks and for our country. In those early weeks there was no Black America or White America, no Hispanic America or Asian America. We came together as united people of the United States of America.
It has been fifteen years since the attacks and our world has changed. There is homeland security and TSA checkpoints as we respond to the war on terror. Wars have been waged and thousands more have been killed or maimed in violent attacks not just in the Middle East, but around the world. And sadly, we are no longer as united as we were 15 years ago.
We have always had divisions in our country but in recent years they have become more prominent and even acceptable. Divisions by race, color, religion, national origin, age, gender, and gender identity are at an all time high. As we watch the coverage of the candidates running for office, we realize that what many people thought and would not speak in open company is now proudly proclaimed. The name calling, lying, and ranting that used to be condemned by civilized people in polite society is now proudly proclaimed. Racial tensions are at an all time high and the need for concepts like Black Lives Matter, Hands up, Don't Shoot, and even Blue Lives Matter speak volumes on what we have become as a nation. These are not our best times and do not reflect the values and standards America has grown to believe.
Our nation is far from perfect and we have a lot of work to do. But it's time for us to remember who we are as a nation and that each day thousands of people come here seeking a better life. We are better then what we have become. As we remember those who perished on 9/11 let's remember how we came together as one nation. We did it once, we can do it again.