Wake up, America
I wondered how long it would take. I wondered how long before the shock and horror
of September 11th, 2001 and the resulting national pride and patriotism wore off. In
reading the editorial section of my local paper in the past year, I've read several
separate examples of citizens wishing we'd "get over it". I'll give you three of
them.
One letter writer in an October 2001 Houston Chronicle
edition (not even a month after the attacks), while insisting he's not un-American, said
he's getting tired of hearing the national anthem and God Bless America every day. He also
said the flag has become "just another piece of cloth by overexposure".
Another Chronicle story was over an elementary school's
battle with a parent (that's right, 'a' parent, singular) and the ACLU over their putting
up a "God Bless America" sign.
In Madison, Wisconsin, the school board rejected the Pledge
of Allegiance because of the words "under God" and chose the Star Spangled
Banner instead, but without the words, because they didn't want to offend anybody, which
as we know today is the worst crime a person can commit: to hurt someone's feelings. This
piece of news was months before this year's flap about the Pledge thanks to a lawsuit in
San Francisco that made national headlines.
All the above is characteristic of the short attention span
of an apathetic and cynical American public. These are the same characteristics that got
us in trouble on 9/11 in the first place. We knew international terrorists could
eventually hit us on our homeland, but we didn't care enough to do much of anything about
it. Unless something worthy of 24-hour TV coverage by CNN happens on our soil, and
interrupts our routine, America just goes on about its business. Several embassies have
been bombed in the last several years killing hundreds of innocent people, and don't
forget the bombing of the U.S.S. Cole, also arranged by Osama bin Ladin. Where was the
outrage and patriotism then? Those stories didn't even last a week.
Maybe if America woke up and gave a rip about the national
anthem, the flag, recognized God's hand on this country, and were more consistent in their
generosity as we have been since Sept.11th 2001, we wouldn't have been a sitting duck for
these terrorists. That's not to suggest we brought it upon ourselves, as others have
suggested, but we were hardly vigilent. I know the majority of Americans are still very
much wrapped up in this wave of patriotism and compassion and the above examples are
currently in the minority. But given that it's already started, how long before we lose
interest as a whole and backslide into our old ways?
Even though "freedom of speech" seems to only be
for those who are anti-God, I'm going to invoke that freedom anyway. As a Christian and an
American (two ideals that grow further apart every day, despite their long history
together) I personally believe, now more than ever, that we assist our national healing,
and preparation for the future by looking to the Bible. I'll simply refer you to one of
the passages I'm thinking of. I won't quote it verbatim. I ask you to go get a Bible and
look it up. I'm sure you have one since polls show every American household has at least
one, regardless of religious affiliation. Go get it and look up 2 Chronicles 7:14. That is
a promise from God. Not an idea, not a suggestion. A promise.
And a great place to start.
Dwight Baker is an engineer for
a NASA contractor at the Johnson Space Center. |
