Suddenly, it scrolled across my screen:  Omg, did you see that?  Do you have the news on?  Quick!  Turn on ABC!  We're being attacked!

I had visions of the cliche scene from an old WWII movie, of states being blown sky-high, men in trenches, and gunshots fired on both sides.  But no, when I turned on the news, there was nothing more than the cowardice of a left hook to America's jaw on the screen as a plane carcass burned high, pushed through the first tower at the World Trade Center.

These are a couple paragraphs from my rememberance post from last year on 9/11.  They're still true today, as people around the country remember the Towers and the Pentagon and the people lost within; my heart still sinks a little when I remember how violated I felt that morning while watching the broadcast.   My adreniline still kicks in and makes me want to fight back, to seek revenge, to destroy their home as they destroyed ours.

However, this is the wrong reaction to have, eight years after some jerk got it into his head that killing 2,998 innocents was an excellent way to take a giant, ragged chunk out of America. It's hard to wrap one's head around the motives for causing such pandemonium in the streets of New York and DC, but what it comes down to is Hate and infamy.

We can't really fight infamy; without remembering, we wouldn't be able to subvert future attempts to crush our strength.  Without remembering, we wouldn't understand the pain and horror that watching another person's life being snuffed out brings.  Without remembering, we wouldn't have the foundation or the building blocks to rebuild our Towers and our communities.  Without remembering, we would forget the real enemy.

We can't fight infamy, but we can fight Hate.

We will fight Hate.  People all over the country today have chosen to do just this by doing one simple thing today: instead of wallowing in the guilt and despair of the Attacks, today, they are building a better home.  Today, they have taken up arms to rebuild in their own communities, to volunteer their time and energy to put their backs and give a cause a push.  Whether it's helping the animals or building houses or sharing their garden's bounty with a less fortunate family, today is a day where we should remember and fight by strengthening ourselves, by strengthening our neighborhoods, our towns, our states, and our country.

The best and only weapon against Hate is Love; unfortunately, we can't pack Love into a missile and shoot it across the world.  We can't stuff it into grenade shells and expect to get in a Guerrilla attack.  No.  Love starts at home.  Although I am not religious, most of the religious texts that I've read -- and I've read many -- come back to one very important lesson: Love thy neighbor.

Take this tenant to heart and realize that although we may not always agree and we may not always get along, our neighbors are the best tools we have to create an America that is not touchable by the long arms of Hate and destruction.  Today, find a need, fill that need, and love your neighbor.  Pull together, strengthen your communities, and let those who sought to destroy us know that they have failed in their mission. 

The war is not over.