We are lucky to live in a nation where we are safe from terrorism. We can go about our business without fear. Go to the grocery store, the mall, take our kids to school. All without fear that a bomb could go off and kill us and countless other innocent people.
There’s a reason for that. When 9/11 happened, our lives could have been very different if we didn’t have world leaders who understood what they were up against. They knew we were in a war with extremists intent on killing us and they stood up to them, even when popular sentiment moved against them. Even though they were maligned in their own nations, by their own citizens, they stood their ground to keep us safe.
Today, President Bush, one of those leaders, awarded Tony Blair and John Howard, the two other world leaders, with the Presidential Medal of Freedom for their work fighting terrorism. All three of them got it. They understood what 9/11 was about and what was at stake if they didn’t respond forcefully, and even though their political careers suffered for it, they remained strong and loyal to their beliefs and their countries.
For that I am truly grateful.
Great Gratituesday post! I am thankful yes, we live in a safe nation. I am thankful for the men and women that protect those freedoms for us, that often go unrecognized.
Just yesterday, one of Maddy’s friends was over – and when I asked her if her Mom worked, she said “yes, she’s in the Army”. I asked her if she had been deployed and she just told me got back from Iraq in October – and she had been gone for ONE YEAR! I couldn’t even imagine. This girl is 14 and her sister is 8. I couldn’t imagine my Mom being gone for a whole year, nor leaving my kids for that long – but it happens each and every day.
Anyway, glad you joined in – unlike those of us that “forgot” – yep, that’s lame, I forgot my Gratituesday post. Shame on me.
I found you through the comments on Kim H.’s blog. We just got back from adopting in China and there was a little girl named Zoe in our travel group from the same orphanage as our little Juliana.
There was also an amazing woman I didn’t get a chance to know well enough on our trip. She was there on her own adopting a little boy with special needs. She had 3 boys at home as well. She was travelling solo because her husband was deployed until February. I have such admiration for her generousity. I, too, am thankful for those who secure our safety.