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2002-09-11

On this same day last year I was working in the Office of the Provost, The University of Texas at Arlington. Needless to say, this event was quite a shock. I have friends, both on and off campus, that relocated here from New York who did their best just to function that day. Perhaps being so far away from New York, Pennsylvania, and the Pentagon was the reason I did not react more emotionally than I did. Don't misunderstand me, I was upset, in fact, I was downright angry over the loss of physical life; upset over the loss of way of life; and upset over the loss of beautiful buildings. Angry because someone had the audacity to commit such brutal acts of murder. America has always taken in those that came to our country, irregardless of race, creed, religion. We opened our arms to those who willingly and freely came to us. There is a saying in Texas to those who litter our roadsides - "Don't Mess with Texas." Well, right now to those who planned, initiated, carried through, and celebrated the terrorists' actions on September 11, 2001, Perhaps we should say: "Don't Mess with America. We are united. We are proud. We are resolved to do whatever we have to do. Make no mistake, we will do it."