The Next Day...

The morning of September 11, 2001 will be one of the horrible days I will always remember where I was, what I was doing, what I was wearing. I will remember how it was a wonderful fall morning. The sky so bright and blue with not a cloud in sight. I was teaching in my class of freshmen for High School 101. As with most days, at the end of the class period, I allowed the students to use that time as study time. I recall turning on the TV in my classroom to CNN and hearing the anchor just say “A plane has hit the World Trade Center” and as we were all mesmerized by the images that began to stream in to CNN we watched in horror the second plane hit the second tower. In my gut, I knew it was not a freak accident. I knew it was an attack on my beloved nation. Every year I do a special 9-11 lesson, a lesson I wished I didn’t have to do. It is important for me to impress on my students why we cannot forget the events of that tragic day, but to remember the founding principles and values that make our nation great and unique.

About a year ago, I had begun watching Glenn Beck on Fox News. Some days I agree with him, some days I don’t. That is my right as an American. But in that particular show, I realized how much Mr. Beck loves our nation, which is something that is still evident to this day. He began to unveil his new plan for America called the 9-12 project by taking a look at 9 core principles and 12 values that are essential to our nation. I encourage you to take a moment and visit the site (www.the912project.com). I believe it was the start of this project that led to last Spring’s Tea Parties to the Americans asking boldly questions to their elected officials at town hall meetings across the nation. I agree with Mr. Beck with his plan. America needs to reexamine its past, its roots, its founding in order for us to find where we want to go as a nation.

The 9 Principles
1. America Is Good.
2. I believe in God and He is the Center of my Life.
God “The propitious smiles of Heaven can never be expected on a nation that disregards the eternal rules of order and right which Heaven itself has ordained.” from George Washington’s first Inaugural address.
3. I must always try to be a more honest person than I was yesterday.
Honesty “I hope that I shall always possess firmness and virtue enough to maintain what I consider to be the most enviable of all titles, the character of an honest man.” George Washington
4. The family is sacred. My spouse and I are the ultimate authority, not the government.
Marriage/Family “It is in the love of one’s family only that heartfelt happiness is known. By a law of our nature, we cannot be happy without the endearing connections of a family.” Thomas Jefferson
5. If you break the law you pay the penalty. Justice is blind and no one is above it.
Justice “I deem one of the essential principles of our government… equal and exact justice to all men of whatever state or persuasion, religious or political.” Thomas Jefferson
6. I have a right to life, liberty and pursuit of happiness, but there is no guarantee of equal results.
Life, Liberty, & The Pursuit of Happiness “Everyone has a natural right to choose that vocation in life which he thinks most likely to give him comfortable subsistence.” Thomas Jefferson
7. I work hard for what I have and I will share it with who I want to. Government cannot force me to be charitable.
Charity “It is not everyone who asketh that deserveth charity; all however, are worth of the inquiry or the deserving may suffer.” George Washington
8. It is not un-American for me to disagree with authority or to share my personal opinion.
On your right to disagree “In a free and republican government, you cannot restrain the voice of the multitude; every man will speak as he thinks, or more properly without thinking.” George Washington
9. The government works for me. I do not answer to them, they answer to me.
Who works for whom? “I consider the people who constitute a society or a nation as the source of all authority in that nation.” Thomas Jefferson

The 12 Values
* Honesty
* Reverence
* Hope
* Thrift
* Humility
* Charity
* Sincerity
* Moderation
* Hard Work
* Courage
* Personal Responsibility
* Gratitude

Take a moment and see if you agree with this 9 principles and 12 values. I know I do. I hope I can instill these into the students I teach and to others I encounter in my daily life.