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In
total disbelief I steered my car up to the
highest point in town. Living only 20 miles from
the city there were many places you could stop
and gaze across the Hudson River. I had picked
up my 2 daughters from school as well as my
niece and nephew. The images on television were
surreal and shocking, it was nothing compared to
witnessing it with your own eyes. We weren't
prepared. I thought it was as bad as it could
get. It was about to get worse.
Unfortunately
it wasn't hard to spot. I pulled the car over.
The four children and I got out of the
car. We stood there in total silence,
tears streaming down our faces. The smoke
billowing up into a cloud of devastation. There
was nothing to say. The pain of the city hung
heavy in the air. It was beyond overwhelming.
This is the impetus for my page on patriotism.
September
11, 2001 was the beginning of the largest sweep
of patriotism this country has seen since the
American Revolution. It was the day we
remembered we were a family. Americans are
nothing if not fiercely loyal in the face of
injustice, terrorism, or evil against one of our
own. Like a family we may disagree, bicker and
fight one another. But do harm to one of our
brothers or sisters, and you will face a nation
United. You will answer to each and every one of
our citizens. We look after our own.
And so I
chose Americans, as my subject and a pictorial
as my theme, because we all know that one
picture is worth a thousand words. Here are some
days in the lives of some average Americans,
doing an extraordinary job.
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