Masonry Magazine October 2001 Page. 6
President's Message
Building a Strong America
The events of September 11, 2001 are without a doubt one of the most devastating events in our nation's history and most certainly in my lifetime, having been born after "Pearl Harbor". Watching the news accounts, it seemed so surrealistic, much like a Tom Clancy novel. Unfortunately, all of the things that weren't supposed to happen did.
As we all watched the events and news accounts unfold before our eyes, I was heartened by the overwhelming acts of heroism that gave us hope in the face of all of the destruction and loss of life. We saw America at its best. Example after example of what makes America so great flashed on our television screens. We witnessed heroism on an hour-by-hour basis. We watched as rescue workers raced into the burning World Trade Center to save fellow Americans from the tragic event. And we watched in horror as the two twin towers came crumbling down with thousands of civilians and the hundreds of hero rescue workers still inside. We learned of the heroic acts of a few passengers aboard United Airlines Flight 93 that was aimed at the White House, when those few American heroes fought back to save additional lives and destruction in Washington. We witnessed the faces of heroes as they worked around the clock to rescue possible victims buried under the rubble, with no intention of giving up. We learned of accounts of Americans risking their lives to assist injured Americans as they raced from the doom of the WTC. We see the faces of heroes in many of our leaders such as New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani. And now as our military leaves to attempt to rid our world of future barbaric acts of terrorism, we see bravery at its best.
Never before have I been more proud to be an American. And like most of you, I continue to watch with tears of both sorrow and pride as I hope that we do not have to witness more sorrow. And if you are like me, you must feel a sense of frustration because as individuals, we feel helpless that we cannot do anything, nor can we understand the terrorists' motivation.
However, I believe that we can do something. We can live our daily lives and not be afraid to do so. If we hide away in the safety of our homes, then the devastation of what happened in New York, Washington and Pennsylvania is truly more devastating to America than we first thought. Obviously, we must now become ever more diligent and aware about the world around us, but also ever more mindful of the freedoms that millions of Americans have died to protect. We cannot simply give up our freedom as a result of the actions of a few radicals. We have fought and beaten back tyranny for centuries. America and Americans will win over tyranny again. I dip into the past to echo words that seem so appropriate now, the words of Franklin Roosevelt during World War II, "the only thing we have to fear is fear itself". If we fear to live our lives the way we have always lived our lives, then America has lost something far greater than all that was lost on September 11th.
All of America's leaders seem to be united in the common goal of keeping America the land of the free and the home of the brave all else is incidental. It was particularly heartening to see both republicans and democrats finally in total agreement as President George W. Bush addressed the nation on the evening of September 20th. This is a national tragedy that must be overcome with clear heads and common resolve. It is an exceedingly delicate situation into which our political and military leaders have been thrust. I liken it to our high school physics where every action has an equal and opposite reaction, or a game of pool where a retaliation becomes a "bank shot" with unknown consequences. This attack was not only an assault on America, but on democracy and civilization - our way of life.
I urge you to pray for the victims' families and our leaders for the wisdom to do the right thing, and for all of us to support that decision with conviction. We, as mason contractors, are in the unique position to build a strong America in more ways than one; but it is at times like these when one way definitely takes precedence over the other.
Richard M. Johnston,
President MCAA