On the recordSeptember 11, 2012
11 years ago today, the worst attack in American history on American soil occurred; more loss of life than Pearl Harbor. It was a day that those of us who are alive and old enough to know what was happening will never forget. It was a day of commitment as well that we would do whatever was necessary to protect our country, that we would do whatever was necessary to prevent future such attacks from occurring. I recall there in east Texas where I live, I was a judge at the time. The day after, September 12, 2001, was an extraordinary day as well. It was a day that I also will not forget. I had never seen communities come together as we did across America on September 12, 2001, not in my lifetime. In World War II, from history, I've read accounts about some in America that felt like war with Germany was a bad idea, that we ought to be nice to them. There were even people that were divided in America back then. But the overall resolve was to protect democracy, make democracy safe--``Make the World Safe for Democracy'' was the slogan. But we were so united on September 12, 2001. There in Tyler, Texas-- and I know it happened all over east Texas the same way--people came together. It didn't matter what race anyone was. It didn't matter where they came from, their national origin--man, woman, religious preference didn't matter, we came together as one people. There were no hyphenated Americans that day--no Anglo-Americans, African-Americans, Asian- Americans.…
