September 11th: A Day of Reflection!

We all remember where we were and what were were doing that fateful day in mid September of 2001. Six years later, we are once again brought to the attention of it's meaning and it's impact on our lives. Today marks another a day of remembrance for us as Americans. Let us not forget what emotions we felt that day nor the feelings that we absorbed through the times ahead. Let us not forget the feelings we had on those moments following the attacks of grief, disbelief, anger, hatred and finally, something that had been missing in this wonderful Free world for a period of time, a feeling of unity with others across our country.

Picking it a part today as we did back then, we would be lying if we said we don't grieve for the loved ones lost and their families anymore. We are an emotional and sentimental group of individuals in this country and even more so when our own fall due to the hands of another. Grieving, they say, is part of the healing process. So this I ask, how long does this healing process take? Only God and yourself can truly answer that.

The disbelief came only after we realized that this was no accident. It was an attack on America and our culture of values. an attack of a way of life, not of what we did to them. As the truth about the attackers unfolded over the weeks, months and years ahead, astonishment also set in to me as well as many Americans when it was revealed that President William Jefferson Clinton, had an opportunity to take custody of Osama Bin Laden from the Saudis and refused. Knowing that the mastermind behind the September 11th attacks was in our hands at one point and this tragic event could have been avoided disappointed many Americans. Too many to be exact.

After we realized who did what and the possible reasons why, we were angry at many things. I know I was angry at the Muslim World, the media for providing excuses of why we were attacked and at the previous administration for letting Bin Laden go. It appeared to me that anger was the only emotion that really mattered or needed to be portrayed, because all else would do no good unless we defeated them. My anger was emotional and in my eyes, completely logical. Fair to sound that way you might ask? I'm not sure, what emotions did you feel when we were attacked? Helpless? Disappointed? Sickened? Anger set in about when? Not long thereafter, so yes, it is fair for me to sound like that. Remember, we were attacked and the anger I had felt was due to the notion of not being able to help my country, like so many others felt at the time.

I used the word hatred earlier, and yes it may be a strong word, however, it is an emotion that truly was felt and properly justified following the attacks. Obviously, if the terrorists had enough hatred of us on their minds to kill our fellow Americans, then it is only fitting to return the favor. Right? Let us not take this out of context. Hatred, unlike the anger felt, was due to the attackers. The anger was from not being able to do anything to prevent the attacks. The hatred felt towards the Muslim community and Middle Easterners in general at the time following the attacks was justified. If it were WWII again, where would the hatred have been applied? The Japanese, the individuals that attacked us. So, as much as it is wrong to hate, we clearly had reason at the time.

Lastly, we remember the greatest feeling at the time. Unfortunately, it came at a price. Unity was across the country accomplished, at least for a period time. True as it was, Boston Red Sox Fans love New York Fans and Democrats and Republicans joined hand in hand to make a stance against the attackers. The terrorists wanted to change America. Well it did. There were more flags flown, more ribbons pinned on, more patriotic songs written and more unity amongst Americans. Unity is a great thing, especially for a country like ours. I hope we get it back, but with out the price we paid before. The ones that perished on 9/11 would not forgive us.

Remember, we are not alone. The ones that gave their lives that day still are with us in various ways. Remember who they are. They are loved ones and strangers and neighbors and fathers and mothers and sisters and brothers and sons and daughters and aunts and uncles and more true than not, they were Americans. They still exist in our hearts, on memorials, on flags, on shirts, on granite, and on plaques. Remember this of the ones lost in New York, Washington DC and in Pennsylvania on that fateful day, they will always be Americans.

God Bless America!

Community Softball: A Cure for Political Overload?

It's 5:30pm on a Thursday evening at the softball field in Norridgewock. As the regular "jocks" and "rookies" stroll in and stretch out their limbs for the upcoming softball contest, onlookers will soon notice that the participants vary in age (18-60+), shape, size, gender, athleticism, and some with physical handicaps and some with not. Another thing that is noticed, especially if you know any of them is that many are on both sides of the political spectrum. We have some, like myself, very heavily involved in local and state partisan politics that lean a little right. We have some individuals that are firmly against President Bush and the Iraq War and some that want just want the government out of their lives. Regardless of any of their political affiliations and viewpoints regarding public policy, they all share at least two things in common this day of the week, they love the competition that softball brings and of course they love the Boston Red Sox.


On the community level, softball and sports in general, is a way to bring people of all walks of life together. It can be a way to get some much needed exercise, converse with neighbors, and feel like a team member without having to see another political news commentator, Anti-Bush commercial, answer tough questions about political insights in the world or hear how the economy is doing in Maine. The game of politics gets checked in at the gate, which gets replaced by a softball game that can get pretty competitive and at the same rate, can be as fun to watch as it is to play. Can you think of the last time when the Maine Legislature was fun to watch? I'm still thinking about that one. Nope, I can't recall. This reminds me of a famous quote that stated something along the lines as, "There are two things in this world that people should never see being made. One is sausage and the other is laws". Makes you wonder if they lived in Augusta.

So maybe our leaders in Augusta and the Maine Legislature and even locally elected officials can take a message from the great citizens in my town of Norridgewock, have fun and get your political frustrations out and play a sport. A few members on each side of the aisle getting together for a pick-up game of basketball or softball or even bowling. The lessons to be learned about each other on a non-political scale and working together as a team in a different manner could be priceless. Who knows, it may actually help them work together to accomplish the goals that need to be done in the Legislature, such as cutting spending and supporting the people of Maine.


As I close, I want to urge all communities to set up their own adult co-ed sporting event such as softball, volleyball or basketball or something else. It's purpose is not to build a power house softball team or NBA franchise. The purpose is to do a number of things such as bring the community together and enjoy each others company versus whether or not they are part of a certain political party. If differing opinions can work together to win on the field or court, you can find a way to work together to build a better community or state. So how about it Governor Baldacci, are you up for a pickup game of softball in Norridgewock? I'll even let you hit it off me, if you can hit my knuckleball.