From these ashes...

The Coconut Telegraph ^ | September 18, 2001 | Luis Gonzalez

[Luis Gonzalez]

This is madness.

I can't get my mind around it.

I can't seem to get the images to maintain perspective. My eyes are constantly trying to convince my mind that it is a movie, all the while; my mind is trying to convince my soul that it is a nightmare. But movies and nightmares end, and these images will do neither.

There are no words that can explain the dull, unformed mass of pain that has come to rest permanently in the very center of my soul. It throbs like it's alive, and it twists and burns my insides at will, and at the sight of the buildings, and the people, and the families with so little hope.

I've tried to write, for days now I have tried, but the words blur, and the keys fade from sight. My hands tremble and my heart is heavy inside me. For days now, I go through the motions of going through the motions. I work, I drive, I brush my teeth, I eat, and I do all those things that I do everyday, all the normal things that I do in my life, and at the end of the day, I can't remember doing any of it. All I can remember are the faces of the people; the beautiful American faces of our people, covered with soot, covered with tears, or covered with both, holding the pictures of their loved ones, and asking why.

I look at their faces, the faces in those pictures, and I can't tell whether they are northerners, southerners, liberals, conservatives, immigrants, or natural-born. I can't tell if they are gay, or straight, pro-choice, or pro-life...and I don't care, they are all my brothers and sisters, and savages who hate us simply because of what America stands for, have murdered them.

Perhaps in that rubble that used to be a symbol of American power lays the body of an adversary, someone with whom I have disagreed on many a topic, someone whose core beliefs violently collide with mine. Perhaps the cement, glass, and steel buried that adversary. Today, I would give anything at all, just to be there, at the mountain of rubble, looking for my adversary, my brother, and help him or her walk away. Every person buried in the rubble, killed by the hate mongers, was my brother.

I mourn the loss of my brothers and sisters. I mourn for the children who cry in the night, longing for the comfort and the warmth that only comes from the arms of their Mommy, or their Daddy. My heart goes out to the parent at home, coping with their own loss, and trying to ease their children's pain.

I mourn the loss of our innocence.

We felt safe in our bastion of Liberty, we felt untouchable behind the ramparts we watched. This is home, and this is sanctuary to all who seek freedom.

But the ramparts have been breached, and the Barbarians stand at the gate, the war has come home. The time for tears comes to an end.

There's a rumble building up from the depths of this wounded land, rising from every home on every street in every city across the nation. A sound both pained and angered, a sound emanating from the Earth beneath our feet, rising to the firmaments, a people enraged, a people united in purpose and determination.

The forces of hatred underestimated my people. They don't know Americans very well.

They seem to have forgotten what we are capable of when united in a just cause.

They have forgotten what America did in the war to end all wars; they forget what Americans accomplished when they made the world safe for Democracy. And our resolve then pales in comparison to our resolve now, our abilities then pale in comparison to our abilities today.

Make no mistake; this is our war, not the world's war. This war isn't about our relationship with Israel, but rather about our ability as a nation to freely associate. It isn't about our actions in the Persian Gulf during Desert Storm, but rather about our freedom to protect our national interests and defend our allies.

This is about our way of life, our beliefs, and our future. But most of all, this is about our freedom, and about the fact that we stand in the way of the spread of a malignant, stagnant ideology throughout the Middle East and ultimately, the world. These savages hate our lifestyle, they hate us for having the temerity to be free, and they hate that we stand against everything they believe in. They hate, and that hatred was brought to fruition on a beautiful, autumn morning in New York and the District of Columbia.

This war, thus far fought on foreign soil, has now spilled American blood on American soil, and with one devastating act of subhuman savagery, has brought us to our knees. At least, that's what our enemies think. They rejoice in the streets, and praise their blood-stained Pagan gods, celebrating the murder of innocent, unarmed, unsuspecting wives, daughters, children and old people. They celebrate cowardice and call it a victory. They fail to notice that we are kneeling in prayer, we are praying for our fallen and for their families. We are praying for the very soul of our Nation, and we are praying for the strength to hoist high His terrible swift sword, and for the determination to swing it wide, with horrific consequences.

They have won nothing.

From these ashes, from the still smoldering ruins left behind by the cowardly attacks of these unspeakable bastards, from the shattered pieces of humanity buried in the rubble, there will rise America, like a magnificent star-spangled Phoenix, blazing across the beautiful halcyon skies above the fruited plains. From every corner of this land, you can hear the cry of rage of a giant, awakened and moving with a single-mindedness seldom before seen; to defend our shores, to avenge our dead, and to wage war and wreak havoc upon our enemies, upon their leaders, their cities, and their way of life.

Behold the unspeakable fury of the giant awakened; behold the righteous rage of my people united, let the minions of hate know that we are coming, and Hell is coming with us.

Let the world watch and tremble.

Let history bear witness to the coming events.

Let this be our finest hour.

Gob Bless America, God bless us all.

[Luis Gonzalez]

The Defense of Fort McHenry
by Francis Scott Key
20 September 1814

Oh, say can you see, by the dawn's early light,
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars, through the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming?
And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.
O say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

On the shore, dimly seen through the mists of the deep,
Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, now conceals, now discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam,
In full glory reflected now shines on the stream:
'Tis the star-spangled banner! O long may it wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

And where is that band who so vauntingly swore
That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion
A home and a country should leave us no more?
Their blood has wiped out their foul footstep's pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave:
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

Oh! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their loved homes and the war's desolation!
Blest with victory and peace, may the heaven-rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation.
Then conquer we must, for our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: "In God is our trust."
And the star-spangled banner forever shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

[RJayneJ]

I notice one of your graphics is missing. Any time you need a graphic publised send it to me and I'll put it up for you. Nice job.

Quote of the Day by FReethesheeples

[Luis Gonzalez]

I have no clue WHY it won't come up!

Could you put this up for me?

Here's the link.

http://a740.g.akamai.net/f/740/606/1d/image.pathfinder.com/time/photoessays/shattered/flag.jpg

[ladyinred]

Big Bump for an excellent post!

I especially liked, "going through the motions of going through the motions." That says it all.

[Luis Gonzalez]

Thank you very much lady.

Luis

[Critter]

My life's been like that lately too.

I've been alternately angry and numb, and always just going through the motions.

I wish I was 20 years younger, so I could be in boot camp right now. :)

[Critter]

Great piece Luis! I think you put into words what a lot of us feel and haven't been able to express. thank you!

[Luis Gonzalez]

Thanks Critter!

[NautiNurse]

Thank you for the fabulous post! Here is your other graphic.

[Luis Gonzalez]

Thanks NN! For the life of me I don't know WHY it wouldn't post! It drove me nuts last night.

BTW, I have this pain.......

[Luis Gonzalez]

FYI.

[FITZ]

This is a most excellent essay. It sums up many things very very well.

[Iowa Granny]

Thank you Luis. You do exceptionally nice work, and I really enjoy reading your things. You are so kind to share them with us.

This Grandma is watching you, son. Even in times like this, it isn't nice to be hitting on the Nurses.VBG

Thanks again for all you do.

[proud American in Canada]

a beautiful essay!

[Luis Gonzalez]

Thanks FITZ. I don't know who's read this things from the Banana Republican page, so I never know if I should flag people or not.

Thanks for always responding.

Luis

[FITZ]

Flag everybody you can think of to this one. It's one of your best!

[Fiddlstix]

BTTT

[Luis Gonzalez]

Ouch! Busted!

Thanks Granny, and God bless.

Luis

[Luis Gonzalez]

Thanks!

[Luis Gonzalez]

FYI