http://www.usmemorialday.org/images/movies/memflash03.html
Messages from Barbara and Chris published September 2001
From Barbara:
Yesterday, our minister said the new national situation calls on each one of us to be ministers to one another. Chris and I are not certain what that means but I have been thinking about it.
It is true that our nation will never be the same. Maybe it is time for us to change. Perhaps we have taken our abundance for granted for too long. I'm hoping we will renew raising the flag and saying the pledge every morning at school. I think it is time to undo the damage inflicted by secularists and implement a time of silence at the beginning of each school day (to pray or reflect in ways that are personally satisfying).
I have also been thinking about the individuals who instigated this tragedy. If they were children in our classrooms, we would not use classroom management techniques such as proximity, differential reinforcement, or require letters of apology. Instead all students who threaten the safety of their peers and teachers would have to be removed from the school. It would be a matter of business to keep others safe, AND it would not have to be done with hatred.
I'm praying that as the nation does what must be done to safe-guard our citizens, we do not engage in hatred of individuals or groups. When we can say "No," to unacceptable behavior from positions of both forgiveness and firmness, we open the opportunity for true healing. I pray that we will send a clear and loud message to all those who would terrorize innocent people. The message must be, "We will not accept your behavior and you will not be allowed the freedom and opportunity to stay in our school (i.e. world)." I also pray that simultaneously, we remember that each and every one of us is a precious child of God.
Barb
From Chris:
America is wonderful country. Ask any child anywhere in the world where he/she would like to live and what do you think they would answer most often? America is the land of milk and honey. America is rich. Jobs are available just for the asking. The medical care is so good that many people on this planet would consider it miraculous. Show up at a schoolhouse door and you can go to school regardless of your gender, probably someone would give you paper and pencils too and ,in spite of the critics, it is a good education if you want it. Most of all America is safe! Yes, safe for most of our citizens. No not all us but if you pay attention to where you are and what you are doing you are safe.
This is saying a great deal given the freedom that we enjoy in this country. A freedom that is unparalleled in this world. It is an all encompassing freedom. Economic, Geographic, Political, and Religious freedoms are available to all. This freedom has its costs. We are more vulnerable to attacks of the type we have seen in NYC. The old quote "The price of Freedom is eternal vigilance" has never been proven so true. We have trusted our government to provide this vigilance. Perhaps we have taken too much for granted. Perhaps we have expected our representatives in government to take care of providing the necessary budgets and organizations.
What was your position on our defense and intelligence budgets on September 10th? Did you know who our enemies were in this world and why? Did you know how they might attack us and what we could do about it?
Children do not need to know these things but adult citizens in our society should. Preparation for adulthood begins at home and in school. The questions above need to be addressed somewhere in our curriculum for our young people at sometime before they become voters. I think parents everywhere should determine how and when their children learn about the world and their civic responsibilities to their country. Delegate it to the school room if you wish but make certain that it is addressed. Remember another quote, "Freedom isn't free!"
Chris
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