|
|
S.E. Wood United we stand! My wife and I attended the candlelight vigil
Saturday night at the Sparta Amphitheater. Only one kind of person
was there. American. No Republicans. No Democrats. No
whites. No blacks. No Jews. Just us. Just us Americans! We came in cars, on motorcycles and in pickup
trucks. We dressed in whatever we had that was red or white or
blue. We carried our flags. We lit our candles. We were there
to express our love of country, our concern over its being attacked,
and our pledge, both to our flag and to each other, to see that
it doesn't happen again. We prayed. We sang. We wept. Those who were supposed to give speeches did.
Mayor Bradley. County Executive Sullivan. They were good speeches.
Even better were the two high school teachers who expressed both
their concern and their hope for our young people. But the real essence of the evening was provided
by those who came with no intention of speaking out. Those who
have no real experience at public speaking but who felt moved
before what the mayor estimated to be the largest crowd ever
assembled in this outdoor facility. There was the tall, lanky young man, dressed
in his blue jeans and baseball cap, expressing his willingness
go serve his country if that's what it would take to assure his
daughter the same benefit he has enjoyed as an American. And
yes, he had both his sleeves rolled up! And there was the Desert Storm veteran who
related the hardship that surely lies ahead if we are serious
about this matter. And the African-American lady who, like her
ancestors in the cotton fields before her, expressed her feelings
in the best way she knew - with a moving rendition of "America
the Beautiful." And then there was the little girl who stood
on tiptoes before the mike to say it all with the one phrase,
"God Bless America!" Our leaders are speaking of war and rumors
of war. Our president says we are "at war" with the
terrorists. But few in that audience, and I fear few of our political
leaders, are old enough to understand the real meaning of that
word. War does not mean flying over at 10,000 feet
and dropping a few bombs. War does not mean installing a new
dictator in Haiti or Somalia, or trying to quell a civil unrest
in some other far-off place. I believe it was Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman
who said, "War is hell!" And for the first time in
our memory, "hell" has been brought to our own shores.
What we have seen last week in New York and Washington may be
only a sample ... only a beginning. We saw America, and Tennessee, and White County,
at its best that night. And nothing less than our best will suffice
as we are now called upon to defend the liberties for which prior
generations have died, and our generation has sadly neglected.
We've got some catching up to do! · · · |