Today is a day of sadness.
We as a nation have been in mourning for almost a week.
This Sunday was designated as the official day of mourning.
As we leave the churches, either figuratively or in fact, having said our prayers for the dead our thoughts naturally turn toward the situation of those left behind. It would be so nice to offer sentiments such as "Don't worry it will be better." or "Hang in there, tomorrow will be a brighter day." Unfortunately we can't. It is obvious that we as a nation and all children of freedom in general are headed for a long journey with uncertain twists and turns along the way.
We don't know what this will mean to our way of life. There are so many things we don't know about tomorrow.
Today, as a nation, we are sad. Tomorrow is a new day. President Bush has asked the American people from the White House lawn to get back to work. He has basically asked the American people to "Do your job, so we can do our job."
We know that the "War against Terrorism" will take years not days.
The only way our men in uniform can do their job is for us to do our job of keeping America economically strong. A poor nation will fair poorly in war. A rich nation will be rich in resources to support our men in arms on this difficult venture.
We as a people have a job. The job is not to pursue our own self involved ends. We have been given a collective burden to carry. Our actions need speak louder than our words. Which actions? What should I be doing? Start with doing your job. Shop keepers keeping shop, manufacture's manufacturing, service personnel giving service. This will be the foundation both economic and spiritual which will provide the base for what follows.
This doesn't make the sadness any less. That will be with us for some time to come. Sad for innocents lost and sad for a national innocence lost. However, pulling one's weight, contributing one's measure will give us a strength of resolve which can see us through the days and nights ahead. When a team pulls together no one is left to face the outcome alone.
This was the situation after Perl Harbor and it is the situation today.
