Today I went to work, thoughts on 9/11 on my mind. This time last year, Robin and Katie were stuck in Rhode Island, their flight that day cancelled because of the terrorist attacks. Today they're home safe. But at the back of my mind I wonder, how safe will we be tomorrow? I'm not obsessed with it. I'm not fearful of the future (any more than I used to be).
I listened to the opening ceremonies at the World Trade Center on the radio this morning. Gov. Pataki read Lincoln's The Gettysburg Address. Powerful words, somehow appropriate. I found myself thinking "Why couldn't he have just quoted some phrases in an original speech?" Just reading the whole thing, no matter how appropriate, seemed so lightweight. Like a piece of boilerplate text dropped into tragic contract.
Not like President Bush's op-ed piece in the New York Times.
"We will use our position of unparalleled strength and influence to build an atmosphere of international order and openness in which progress and liberty can flourish in many nations."
"Poverty does not transform poor people into terrorists and murderers. Yet poverty, corruption and repression are a toxic combination in many societies, leading to weak governments that are unable to enforce order or patrol their bordes and are vulnerable to terrorist networks and drug cartels."
Powerful words. Rhetorical but powerful.
I can't express how grateful that George W. Bush is our president. I voted for him in the last election. I support 100% the work he and his administration is doing in the war on terrorism. I saw him on 60 Minutes II earlier. The man is focused. He isn't going to forget what happened last year and while he's president it ain't going to be "no slap on the wrist crap."
I guess that's why I don't worry about the future. The right people are in charge. I trust President Bush, his administration and all the people trying to keep us safe. They're doing they're job and I'll do mine. I'll go to work tomorrow and make my daughter's life and my wife's life a little better, one day at a time. 
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