Staff editorial
The staff of The Southeastern would like to dedicate this special edition issue to all of our nation’s heroes: the men and women of the military and their families, the thousands of people who perished or were injured while working in the World Trade Center towers and the responders who reacted in the face of adversity to attempt to rescue those struck in NYC.
In addition, this issue is dedicated to the passengers of American Airlines flights 11 and 77, as well as of United Airlines Flight 175, the citizens lost in the attack on the Pentagon and the heroics of the passengers on United Airlines Flight 93, who diverted the jet intended to hit the Capitol, crashing in Pennsylvania instead.
The Southeastern is staffed by journalists. With this being said, we would like to show our national support by doing what we do best (I hope): writing.
While we realize our nation has not completely reached a consensus opinion of the war in both Iraq and Afghanistan, we do acknowledge the necessity of the United States of America to react in the offensive directly following the events that occurred on Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2001, as they did.
As a nation, we have stood our ground, proving the U.S. will not quake and fail at the first (or last) appearance of fear and tragedy inflicted upon us, but will continue to be the reckoning force that the rest of the world views us as.
Our freedom is a sanctity that we may have taken for granted prior to Sept. 11, but the terrorist attacks, even through the enormous devastation, have managed to create a new resolve amongst American citizens to unite in the face of adversity and terrorism.
The attacks have shown us that while we thought we had nothing to fear, we are constantly, and will forever be, battling for the freedoms that our militaries have granted us throughout the ages. Freedom is not a given but something that our country has earned through hardship and bloodshed.
While there are a vast majority of people who may not completely understand the sacrifices that the men and women of the military, and their families, have had to make, we should all keep in mind that they are great.
The military members have accepted the years of servitude and strife they will endure because of a belief in our country and all that the American flag represents.
Freedom. Life. Liberty. Justice.
They serve with honor and pride.
This should never be forgotten or taken lightly.
If you have not had the loss hit home, you are likely to walk down the street and pass two out of every three people (at the very least) who have experienced the overwhelming grief that the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, as well as the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, have conveyed.
Nor should we forget that America is a nation that immigrants continually migrate to (at a very high cost to their health and lives at times) due to its promises of freedom and shelter for all within. To live in the United States is highly desired by many, and it is yet another opportunity offered automatically and unconditionally to American-born citizens that may be taken for granted.
Keep your nation as a whole at heart the next time you look unfavorably on another. That person, such as you were, has been directly affected by Sept. 11 and is your comrade and partner in national pride.
Show your support for the nation, our troops and the allied coalition by supporting each other, and you will be rewarded in honor and a renewed sense of self and pride in our nation.
We thank you, America, for ensuring who we are as a free people.