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What Can Real
Leaders Do After "911"?
These
are truly emotional and disturbing times. We went to work or school on Tuesday,
September 11, 2001 and we planned on it being another normal day. We thought
about homework, and video games, and what to eat for lunch, and who was going
out with whom, and who was going to win Friday’s football game, and could the
Redskins win again.
Suddenly, at 9:00 AM, the whole world was torn apart. Suddenly, we were
worrying about our parents and friends and neighbors; and maybe relatives in
New York City and maybe military friends at the Pentagon. We wondered: where
were they going to attack next? When was it all going to be over? Could this
really be happening?
For me, it seemed like a science fiction movie with "real life"
special effects. I wanted the movie to be over so I could leave the dark
theater and go outside into the bright sunlight and realize that it was just
a movie. However, I realize that it is not a movie. It is real life. It is
now a sad part of our American history; an unbelievably horrible attack on
the greatest country in the world, the United States of America. We will
likely never forget "911" 2001.
But how and where do we fit in as Boy Scouts and Boy Scout Leaders? What can
we do? How do we show our commitment to our country? There are many answers
to these questions. We can display our flags. We can wear our uniform
proudly. We can donate money to the rescue workers and the American Red Cross
or other charities. We can support Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts and other
organizations that cherish freedom and the American way. We can donate our
time to make this a stronger America; one that celebrates life and freedom.
But most importantly, we can be leaders. We can be leaders of today and
tomorrow. We can show our classmates and coworkers that we don’t support
hatred of any kind. We can avoid buying records with hateful lyrics. We can
stop watching violent and hateful shows or TV. We can turn away from friends
that tell hateful or racist jokes. We can keep ourselves "physically
strong, mentally awake and morally straight."
Most importantly, over these next few weeks and months, we can protect the
rights of our fellow Americans that may be from the Middle East or may look
like someone from the Middle East. It is up to us to set the example. It is
up to us to be leaders against hatred. We can all help bring peace to our family,
our neighborhood, our school, our workplace, our country and our world.
Please join me in a short prayer. God, give our governmental leaders the
wisdom and courage to do what’s necessary to bring peace to the world. Help
our leaders make these hard decisions. Please give comfort and peace to the
families and friends of the people who lost their lives in these tragedies.
Give our rescue workers the strength to continue their jobs. Help all of us
get back to our normal lives as soon as possible. Help us find the peace and
happiness that we once knew.
Please bless these Scouts and help them enjoy their freedoms. Keep them safe
and happy. Give them the courage to fight hatred in all its forms. Help them
grow to become the leaders of tomorrow and the peacekeepers of our world.
For all these thing we pray. AMEN
John Caskey
Committee Chair
Boy Scout Troop 1137
Centreville, Virginia
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