Someone sent me this from a Genealogical forum she is on:

During this terrible, frightening time, this poignant e-mail from an 18-year old young man named Charles Brennan reminds us how strong and how blessed we really are to live in this great country:

"An open letter to a terrorist:
 
Well, you hit the World Trade Center, but
you missed America. You hit the Pentagon,
but you missed America. You used helpless
American bodies, to take out other
American bodies, but like a poor marksman,
you STILL missed America.
 
Why? Because of something you guys will
never understand. America isn't about a
building or two, not about financial centers,
not about military centers, America isn't
about a place, America isn't even about a
bunch of bodies. America is about an IDEA.
An idea, that you can go someplace where
you can earn as much as you can figure out
how to, live for the most part, like you
envisioned living, and pursue Happiness.
(No guarantees that you'll reach it, but you
can sure try!).
 
Go ahead and whine your terrorist whine,
and chant your terrorist litany: "If you can
not see my point, then feel my pain." This
concept is alien to Americans. We live in a
country where we don't have to see your
point. But you're free to have one. We don't
have to listen to your speech. But you're
free to SAY one. Don't know where you got
the strange idea that everyone has to agree
with you. We don't agree with each other in
this country, almost as a matter of pride.
We're a collection of guys that don't agree,
called States. We united our individual
states to protect ourselves from tyranny in
the world. Another idea, we made up on the
spot. You CAN make it up as you go, when
it's your country.
 
You guys seem to be incapable of
understanding that we don't live in America,
America lives in US! American spirit is what
it's called. And killing a few thousand of us,
or a few million of us, won't change it. Most
of the time, it's a pretty happy-go-lucky kind
of Spirit. Until we're crossed in a cowardly
manner, then it becomes an entirely
different kind of Spirit.
 
Wait until you see what we do with that
Spirit, this time. Sleep tight, if you can.
We're coming.
Charles Brennan"

Love your families, your neighbors and each other. Hold them close and tell them over and over how you feel. Live every day to its fullest, secure in God's love.