Thoughts on a sad day

Five years ago, our country was attacked. This was an act of war, performed by individuals who felt that their way of life is superior to ours and that we and anyone else who do not hold their beliefs are not human, thus we can and should be slaughtered easily and without remorse just as a farmer might slaughter a pig or chicken. This was done in the name of one of the great religions of the world- a religion that usually preaches peace, tolerance and universal goodwill. We will probably never understand why such people exist and why they hate all who are not like them, though we will try. I listened to one of my favorite talk show hosts, Penn Jillette, talking about the loss of personal freedoms we have suffered as a result of the "war on terror" and it made think. Have we really lost our personal liberty, or have we simply given up some of our entitlements as American citizens to help in the struggle against attacks by fanatics and terrorists? I still have the right to free speech, the right to bear arms, the right to vote, I can still go where I please and do what I please so long as I don't infringe upon the rights of others...I still have what I had five years ago except my wait in airport is longer and I can't wear my shoes. I do not feel that my rights have been trampled in any way. I think it offensive when people say that we should use 9/11 as a symbol in the fight to "get back freedoms we have lost," because frankly, we haven't really lost any. What we have lost is a large number of good people. People who had families and friends. People who went to church and people who didn't. People who, in their own way, helped change the world. If only one of us is lost, all of us are diminished. That is what this day should be about. And that is the lesson we should teach our children. Because if we don't, this will happen again.