September 11 2018.

17 years ago today a group of terrorists, part of the Al Qaeda terror network, hijacked 4 aircraft. Two of them were flown into the North and South towers of the World Trade Center complex. One was flown into the Pentagon. The final aircraft crashed while being fought for by the passengers. Nearly 3000 people died from the combined effects of the attacks, and more will die from the eventual effects of being involved in the rescue efforts. Brave men and women ran toward the danger instead of doing the sensible thing and running away. Many of them were injured or killed. Today, remember their bravery, remember what they gave up for their fellow Americans. Remember also that they believed in the ideals this country was founded under. I have nothing more to say, other than to thank the many brave souls who gave it their best shot on that day 17 years ago, and to commemorate those who died. Remember them, grant them dignity in death.
But also remember that Muslim fanatics who blow up buildings do not represent the vast, overwhelming majority of Muslims, the totality of whom simply wish to live their lives in peace. Remember also that America was founded as the center of Enlightened Democratic-Republican rule, wherein those who govern do so at the will of the governed.
Take a few moments today to remember those who died in the attacks, and those who have fought to put an end to Al Qaeda and other terrorist groups.

Sincerely
     DLC

Poem:
The Star-Spangled Banner
(by Francis Scott Key)

O say can you see, by the dawn's early light,
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming,
Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming?
And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there;
O say does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

Remember, Key was facing some dark times when he wrote this.
He was being held against his will on a British ship.
The British were marching on Fort McHenry and were heavily bombarding
the fortress, with the intention of taking it. The country was in turmoil
and it looked as if an ignominious loss was at hand.
Key was stunned when he saw that his countrymen had not hauled down the colours.
It gave him hope, and he wrote the above. 


(Note: this was scheduled to auto-post on September 11 2018, but for some reason it did not. )