Final Lit Mag 3 | Page 8

Do you remember, America? By Jason (Mr. J) Walters D o y o u r e m e m b e r h o w w e A L L c r i e d t h a t da y , staring in disbelief? Do you remember how the estimates were that they expected 20,000 lives were lost and how horrified you felt? Do you remember how the Red Cross said, “We need…” and then there was so much that they had to say, “Stop, we have more than enough!” Do you remember the other things that have happened around the world and how AMERICANS (not their government) stepped up and donated millions of dollars and supplies of pocket, then again through our taxes when our government gives. Tha t’s who we are. We are more than just the sum of what our government does. We are a loving, caring, giving, and self-sacrificing people. Never forget that. Remember who we are as a nation and stop the blame game and go back to our roots. It o n l y t o o k a c o u p l e o f y e a r s t o b u i l d t h e W T C back in the early 70’s when we were still sending men to the moon. Now it’s almost 10 years since they were destroyed, and they still haven’t been rebuilt, and we’re a b o u t t o g r o u n d o u r s h u t t l e f l e e t . W e s p e n d h u n dr e ds o f billions each year on defense, and yet we’re insecure. We say, “United we stand, divided we fall”, and yet we can’t even agree on the time of day. It’s sad, what has happened t o t h i s c o u n t r y . T h e R e p u b l i c a n s c l a i m t o h a v e i de a l s around small government, and th e Democrats say they have ideals around using the government to help the under privileged, and regulate excesses and abuses. But, it seems like both parties are largely made up of hypocrites, who occasionally bang the drum for a conservative or liberal issue, and then get back to lining the pockets of their contributors, and those wonderful folks on K Street. Meanwhile, our roads and bridges fall apart. Our educational system - once the best in the world – lags m o s t o t h e r d e v e l o p e d c o u n t r i e s . O u r f o o d i s l e s s s a fe . 8 8