Yo, Osama!
Well, the government finally named you as a suspect, so I guess it's fair to talk
about you now. Thought you had us, didn't you? What a laugh! You did
more to unify this country than George Washington.
See, we Americans had gotten sort of distracted. We worried
about things like lockboxes, taxes, and who was committing hanky panky with
whom. We were too stressed to reach out to one another, to sit down and talk
with our kids, to call our spouses at work and tell them we loved them. We
were MUCH too busy to even think about giving blood or going to the hardware store to buy
and hang an American flag.
You changed all that, Osama, you and your gang of creeps. I met
my neighbors in the park across the street tonight. We talked quietly
while everybody gathered. Then we lit our candles, and just stood there
silently, holding them. Without anybody saying anything, we walked back
to our neighborhood, and set them on our doorsteps. They are still
burning. You will never be able to put them out.
See, Osama? You think you get ticked off when someone messes
with your culture, your beliefs, your country? Just wait a minute, you
flea bitten, miserable excuse for human DNA! You haven't seen anything like the
anger of a MOTHER whose son has to go off to defend their homeland against
your cowardice and hatred. You haven't seen anything like the WIFE of a fireman,
policeman, or EMT who clings to hope wondering if he'll ever return from trying to
help his fellow man in your moment of destruction.
You haven't seen anything like the WOMAN who will keep her
family, and her neighbor's family, and her best friend's family, and country's family
going when hope and energy falls low. You haven't seen anything like the good OLE
GIRL who weeps tears of agony for families she's never known or never will meet, just
because she cares.
You think the American MEN are bad? You just better thank
your lucky stars that you aren't dealing with one of us American WOMEN right
now. Trust me, the men are the ones showing restraint. I have heard the best
ideas of just how graphically you need to be disposed of lately in the beauty shop,
nail salon, and the grocery store lines.
I've had more meaningful conversations with my teenager this week than
in the last couple of years combined. Tonight I was driving her to a
friend's house when the voice of Lee Greenwood came over the radio singing, "I'm
Proud to Be an American". We were stuck in traffic, and normally we would have
been snapping at one another. She started singing along softly with the
radio. I joined in. By the second verse, we were singing at the top of
our voices, with the windows rolled down. People stuck in traffic on
either side of us joined in. By the time we were finally able to move a
little, perfect strangers were wiping their eyes, blowing their horns, and shouting good
wishes to one another.
I hung an American flag on my house yesterday for the first time in
my life. I'd like to get another one, but there are no flags or anything
else red, white, or blue left in any store in this town. My daughter and I
did find some white and blue ribbon in the sewing box. Tomorrow we're
going to make a huge blue-and-white bow and fasten it to the front grille of the car.
I called my husband at work today just to tell him I loved him. I
hadn't done that for a while - too busy, I guess. It felt wonderful. We
are going to send some money to a fund to help the victims. Tonight at the dinner
table we talked about the various charities and tried to decide which one was best.
Normally we just eat and run. It was the best dinner table conversation we've had in
a long time. We finally decided on a fund that's been set up for the children of the
rescue workers who were killed in New York City. We'd never given
much thought to appreciating all they do for us before now.
My husband and I are on a waiting list to give blood. It'll be
awhile before our names come up; there are over 500 people ahead of us.
There's been a shortage of blood in this area. I wouldn't be surprised if the
blood donated all across this country eventually saves more people than you killed.
That would be a fitting memorial to those who died.
We're sticking together. Our politicians are rising to
the occasion. Rudy Giuliani and George W. Bush never looked half as
statesmanlike as they have this week. Partisan bickering? What's that?
Half the Congress stood on the steps of the Capitol the other night and sang "God
Bless America".
See, Osama, you underestimated us. And maybe for too long
we've been underestimating ourselves. This is the greatest, strongest, richest,
most beautiful country in the world. Our firefighters, policemen, EMTs, and
people like the ones on the plane that crashed in Pennsylvania have reminded us that we're
also the bravest and most determined.
You can't destroy us, and you can't stop us. Because we're coming,
Osama.
Just thought you oughta know. And, just to show you how good
hearted we Americans are, I will end by saying THANK YOU. Not for the lives
taken, for which we now mourn, nor for the destruction, but for instilling back into the
hearts of every American, young and old, black, white, red, or yellow, what we always
knew deep down. We are strong. We are brave. We are ONE NATION, UNITED UNDER
GOD. We will overcome this, as we have always overcome those moments that
tested our very being.
And, Osama, I say this, all the while asking God to forgive ME, for I do
not feel any compassion or have any mercy on your soul, but...may you and all your
cowardly friends soon sit happily in those front row seats you have reserved in Hell.
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