Time and again, I find myself constantly reminded of how blessed, honored, and privileged I am to have been born in the United States of America. I cannot imagine having been born elsewhere, nor could I imagine living elsewhere. The opportunities, the freedoms, my country has provided me with are innumerable, and I cannot thank her enough for them, and I will, as the song goes, “(always) gladly stand up, next to you, and defend her still todaaaaaaay, ‘cause there ain't no doubt I love this land, God bless the U.S.AAAAAAAAAA.”

Americans come from all different ethnic, religious, political, and social backgrounds, and while the expectations of the international community may have been a nation divided and fallen within the first few minutes of its existence, we have, in spite of our many differences, been – and still are – united as one, big family. This has never been more evident than on September 11, 2001. While terrorists sought to “divide and conquer” us, they only succeeded in uniting us more than ever before. On that infamous day, engraved deep in our hearts and memory, there were no Democrats, no Republicans, no liberals, and no conservatives – there were only Americans. We stood up to and faced together an enemy that declared war on us simply because we were Americans. The enemy made no distinction between black, white, brown, or yellow Americans; it made no distinction between liberal and conservative Americans; it made NO distinction at all. Likewise, we, as Americans, must make no distinction among ourselves on our war on terror.

My fellow Americans... let us remain united! Let not our political, religious, ethnic, and social differences be a source of division. Rather, let our being Americans be our only source of unity. When we realize that our differences are of secondary importance when combating the enemy – as we did on September 11 – will we be able to maintain that unity so evident on that infamous day for centuries to come.

God bless America!

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