Wounded But Not Destroyed

By Herman Cain

On September 11, 2001 the United States of America was wounded but not destroyed. Our hearts were wounded for the families whose loved ones were lost. Our economy was wounded. Businesses were wounded. Our lives were disrupted with a new anxiety about what will happen next, as America fights back. Because of our wounds the scars will remain but we have been wounded before, and the American dream was not and will not be destroyed.

We remember the self-inflicted wounds of the Civil War. The scars of slavery are still there, but we moved on. The wounds of World War 1, The Great Depression, World War II, the Korean War, and Vietnam are wounds we will never forget, but the American dream lived and lives on. The dream of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness lives on in each citizen according to his or her definition of happiness.

Our founding fathers dreamed of creating the greatest country in the world. Their dream kept us focused in the midst of conflict and war. We have not only inherited their dream, we are living their dream. It is now our responsibility not to allow any act against us as a nation to destroy that dream for ourselves or for our children.

Some say that freedom is not free. The same is true of the pursuit of happiness. Some have paid with great personal sacrifice, and others have paid with their lives. Across all generations we must thank them.

I must specifically thank my Dad, who for me exemplified the American dream, who sacrificed his health by working three jobs all at the same time to give my brother and me a little better start in life than he had.

First and always, I thank God. Who do you thank? When you answer that question, you will find the strength and determination to go on with living.

The war against terrorism will be with us indefinitely. And just as the collective resolve of the American people has won wars in the past, the victories have always started with the resolve of each individual citizen. Yes, we must regroup and redefine "business as usual," but we will live on, or those who died will have died in vain.

No one can destroy a person's dream except the dreamer, and only if they stop believing in themselves and their dream. Dreams are destroyed when you give in or give up. We will never give up.

The American dream is alive and well. Wounded, but not destroyed.