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October 19, 2007

Where were you?

(Originally published by Nattie on September 09, 2003)

I love this song by Alan Jackson--"Where Were You When The World Stopped Turning" that was written about 9/11.

"Where were you when the world stopped turning that September day Out in the yard with your wife and children Or working on some stage in L.A. Did you stand there in shock at the sight of that black smoke Rising against that blue sky Did you shout out in anger, in fear for your neighbor Or did you just sit down and cry

"Did you weep for the children who lost their dear loved ones
And pray for the ones who don't know
Did you rejoice for the people who walked from the rubble
And sob for the ones left below
Did you burst out in pride for the red, white and blue
And the heroes who died just doin' what they do
Did you look up to heaven for some kind of answer
And look at yourself and what really matters

"I'm just a singer of simple songs
I'm not a real political man
I watch CNN but i'm not sure i can tell you
The difference in Iraq and Iran
But I know Jesus, and I talk to God
And I remember this from when I was young.
Faith, hope and love are some good things He gave us
And the greatest is love.

"Where were you when the world stopped turning that September day
Teaching a class full of innocent children
Or driving down some cold Ynterstate
Did you feel guilty cause you're a survivor
In a crowded room did you feel alone?
Did you call up your mother to tell her you love her
Did you dust off that Bible at home
Did you open your eyes in hope it never happened
Close your eyes and not go to sleep
Did you notice the sunset for the first time in ages
Speak to some stranger on the street
Did you lie down at night and think of tomorrow
Go out and buy you a gun
Did you turn off that violent home movie you're watchin'
And turn on 'I Love Lucy' reruns
Did you go to a church and hold hands with some strangers
Or stand in line and give your own blood
Did you just stay home and cling tight to your family
And thank God you had somebody to love

(chorus x2)

"And the greatest is love.
And the greatest is love.
Where were you when the world stopped turning that September day"

Copyright Alan Jackson

Where were you?

I was working at the doctor's office, then. A patient came into the office and told us that a plane had flown into the World Trade Center in New York. We hurried to turn on the TV in the waiting room and watched in horror as a second plane hit the second tower.

I called my husband and told him to turn on the TV. We still didn't know what was going on when we heard a report that the Pentagon was bombed. We would later find out that it was another terrorist-flown plane that had crashed.

As President Bush ordered all planes to be grounded, a rumor erupted that a hijacked plane was on its way to California. "Was my family there in danger?" I asked myself. Later I heard the courageous tale of Flight 93 that sparred lives by crashing into a Pennsylvania field.

Life changed dramatically for some that day. Many lost their lives or loved ones. I counted my blessings that all my family was safe. But were they?

The reality hit home as I gazed at a beautiful blue sky free of all air traffic. My daily life may not have changed but the fabric of my sense of safety had been shredded that day.

All of a sudden I was adding new words and names to my vocabulary--al Qaida, bin Laden, and more.

I was proud of the way Americans rallied around each other. When they couldn't be there physically to help, they sent supplies, donated blood and money, and sent up many prayers. We held candlelight vigils, prayer and memorial services. We showed off our true colors--red, white and blue. Flags flew everywhere. Flags weren't just for flagpoles anymore. They flew on cars, t-shirts and in windows.

We supported our president as he began to wage a war on the insidious disease of terrorism. Where is that support today?

I'll never forget that day. The day my world stopped turning. The day I began to worry about terror in small town, USA.

Copyright Natalie Rose York