STANDING TALL

Standing Tall - yes, we have a lot to be proud of. We have accomplished a great deal; we have overcome a lot of the old prejudices and problems. We have more to do, and we need to improve our individual lives and way of life as Americans without giving away those very special things we inherited that set us apart as a country. Our rights and privileges, our freedoms. Our willingness to STAND TOGETHER, to aid our own in needs and crises periods; to really care. We know we must STAND UP to those who make themselves an enemy to our lives and -basically- to life itself. We need to choose carefully what we STAND FOR daily, for we no longer have separate front line.We need to consider what we STAND ON, our combined inheritance. Our everyday representation of the Life, Liberty, and Pursuit of Happiness should reflect the best values we possess and our willingness to remember the price of their free expression here. Some of our finest possessions are these truths and some of our finest people have lain down to keep them for us. We should STAND WITH THE FALLEN in the gratitude and remember what value they placed on this nation when they gave themselves freely for it. War has never totally ignored the people doing ordinary things in ordinary ways. but now it is without a covering or a place to STAND BEHIND. We all follow the pain and grieving and determine to remember the loss. the painful continuence and to rebuild in time. We will heal, but not forget; we will be able to forgive if that is received, but we will not be dissuaded from the terrible truth of the betrayal of our friendship as a people to peoples. We will not be disheartened nor thrust down by men. or a man. We can bend, bow like a supple tree, and restraighten ourselves. We can do some of our best work on our knees, where we will pray, profess and rededicate ourselves to the TRUTH of God, and rise again to STAND UP AS THE AMERICAN PEOPLE UNITED in our brotherhood, able to work together for our own good and that of the world. We refute the active enemy of our people and give our heartfelt support the those who aid, assist and protect us all, whether known or unknown, seen or never heard widely, whether in uniform or plain street wear and no matter how much we look or sound differently on the surface of our lives. We STAND BEFORE THE FIRE and we plan to pass through together to the better side. Let those who oppose our people or think to oppress us beware; AMERICA IS STILL STANDING TALL.