omg...read this and read it all
kk this is really powerful and moving so if u cant stand to think back on 9-11 dont read it its from a romanian newspaper
An Ode to America
Why are Americans so united? They would not resemble one another
even if you painted them all one color! They speak all the languages of
the world and form an astonishing mixture of civilizations and religious
beliefs. Still, the American tragedy turned three hundred million
people into a hand put on the heart. Nobody rushed to accuse the
White House, the army, and the secret services that they are only
a bunch of losers. Nobody rushed to empty their bank accounts.
Nobody rushed out onto the streets nearby to gape
about. The Americans volunteered to donate blood and to give
a helping hand. After the first moments of panic, they raised their flag
over the smoking ruins, putting on T-shirts, caps and ties in the
colors of the national flag. They placed flags on buildings and cars as if
in every place and on very car a government official or the president
was passing. On every occasion, they started singing their traditional
song: "God Bless America!" I watched the live broadcast and rerun after
rerun for hours listening to the story of the guy who went down
one hundred floors with a woman in a wheelchair without knowing who she
was, or of the Californian hockey player, who gave his life fighting
with the terrorists and prevented the plane from hitting a target
that could have killed other hundreds or thousands of people.
How on earth were they able to respond united as one human
being? Imperceptibly, with every word and musical note, the memory
of some turned into a modern myth of tragic heroes. And with every
phone call, millions and millions of dollars were put in a collection
aimed at rewarding not a man or a family, but a spirit, which no
money can buy.
What on earth can unite the Americans in such a way? Their land?
Their galloping history? Their economic Power? Money? I tried for
hours to find an answer, humming songs and murmuring phrases
with the risk of sounding commonplace. I thought things over, but
I reached only one conclusion...
Only freedom can work such miracles.
An Ode to America
Why are Americans so united? They would not resemble one another
even if you painted them all one color! They speak all the languages of
the world and form an astonishing mixture of civilizations and religious
beliefs. Still, the American tragedy turned three hundred million
people into a hand put on the heart. Nobody rushed to accuse the
White House, the army, and the secret services that they are only
a bunch of losers. Nobody rushed to empty their bank accounts.
Nobody rushed out onto the streets nearby to gape
about. The Americans volunteered to donate blood and to give
a helping hand. After the first moments of panic, they raised their flag
over the smoking ruins, putting on T-shirts, caps and ties in the
colors of the national flag. They placed flags on buildings and cars as if
in every place and on very car a government official or the president
was passing. On every occasion, they started singing their traditional
song: "God Bless America!" I watched the live broadcast and rerun after
rerun for hours listening to the story of the guy who went down
one hundred floors with a woman in a wheelchair without knowing who she
was, or of the Californian hockey player, who gave his life fighting
with the terrorists and prevented the plane from hitting a target
that could have killed other hundreds or thousands of people.
How on earth were they able to respond united as one human
being? Imperceptibly, with every word and musical note, the memory
of some turned into a modern myth of tragic heroes. And with every
phone call, millions and millions of dollars were put in a collection
aimed at rewarding not a man or a family, but a spirit, which no
money can buy.
What on earth can unite the Americans in such a way? Their land?
Their galloping history? Their economic Power? Money? I tried for
hours to find an answer, humming songs and murmuring phrases
with the risk of sounding commonplace. I thought things over, but
I reached only one conclusion...
Only freedom can work such miracles.