This morning, eleven years ago, I sat in class when another teacher came into the room and without saying a word turned on the tv. It took me a few moments to even understand what the image of the burning picture meant. Then the second plane hit. As far as we were aware, we were under attack.

The nation came together in a way that only happens in times of great stress. The ugly side also crept through. We were justified in removing the Taliban from Afghanistan. We were not justified in persecuting our Arabian, Muslim, or “towel head” brothers and sisters. I will never forget the pain of that morning but I will never forget the pain inflicted by an illegal war in Iraq or the continuing racism that plagues our society.

Today is a day to remember, honor those who have died in the service to our country, and work towards the United States we know we can be.

My father, who turned 86 this year, spoke with me shortly after the September 11, 2001 tragedy, saying that he held his breath for a couple of days. The spirit of togetherness and humanity emanating from New York City gave him hope. In the city where he and his parents lived, where he worked and earned his Masters and PhD and where his family continues to live and work, compassion had blossomed.

This was a wake up call, he said and he hoped that the nation would use it to see what our country has become; an empire that has dominated the world with military force since World War II. A target for retaliation. A bully disguised as a cop. A fattened pig ripe for slaughter.

My father was disappointed when after the stillness of a few days, we all heard the unmistakable rattling of blood-thirsty sabers. Eighteen months later, with astounding disregard for the United Nations, George W. Bush launched a revengeful rampage resulting in the deaths of more than 100,000 civilians.

Do I morn the slain innocents who suffered a horrible death on September 11, 2001? Yes, I do. And I also morn the death of American innocence, compassion, and common sense which occurred soon after that fatal date.

The magnitude of destruction at incredible cost to American citizens has, in my opinion, placed this country firmly in the same camp as Hitler’s Third Reich. One day I’m afraid, readers of American history will look back on these years and ask themselves, how could the citizens have allowed their country to turn into a police state and a global killing machine?

“Katrina exposed serious problems in our response capability at all levels of government,” Mr. Bush said. “And to the extent that the federal government didn’t fully do its job right, I take responsibility.

“I want to know what went right and what went wrong,” Mr. Bush added. “I want to know how to better cooperate with state and local government, to be able to answer that very question that you asked: Are we capable of dealing with a severe attack or another severe storm?”

Based on the following exceprts from the Maui News letters, I think we are leaving just in time.

“The election is over; time to unite behind president”

“Too bad about the election. Nice try. Good teamwork. Really. Except for one thing: Bush did not win.”

“I don’t know how some drivers on Maui ever passed their driver’s course and got their license.”

“This election reminded me of the type of elections that generally take place in Third World democracies where politicians always play religion, personality cults, divisive social issues, etc. to win over the voters while doing little for their welfare.”

“If this election proved anything, it proved Americans want an American as their president, not a French-like girlie man.”

“In four short years George Bush has destroyed America’s stature in world opinion, launched a baseless and fallacious war against a sovereign country with the deaths of 100,000 innocent Iraqis and 1,100 U.S. soldiers, has a vice president who is in hock to Halliburton, ignored the itemized terrorists’ airliner threats, defines “life” to exclude stem cell research and excludes gays, blacks and the middle class, but bestows favors to the rich. Whew!”

“I have never been more proud to be an American than I am today (Nov. 3). Nor, have I ever been more grateful for the wisdom and basic goodness of the American people.”

“Judging from “Letters,” Democrats think Bush is a buffoon and an idiot.”

“The elephant graveyard of rapidly aging post-WWII crybaby boomers on Maui is seething with fury to judge by the Nov. 7 letters.”

“Oooh! Ahhh! That’s how it always starts. Then later there’s running and screaming.”

After the initial shock dies down, the bride turns to this man AND MARRIES HIM!