DEAR ABBY: Yesterday, I was afraid of needles, and I was terribly busy, so I didn't donate blood. Today my country has been attacked by terrorists, and my neighbors have been murdered and wounded, so I stood in line for three hours, rolled up my sleeve and donated -- because I'm an American, and that's what we do.
Yesterday, I had too many financial problems of my own to think about giving money to charity. Today, my country has been attacked by terrorists. My neighbors are in need, so I opened my wallet and gave -- because I'm an American, and that's what we do.
Yesterday, I viewed my immigrant neighbors with suspicion, because they looked, dressed and believed differently than I do. Today, I see the same grief in their eyes that I see in my own when I look in the mirror. The United States is their home, too. Today, I put aside my distrust and extended my hand in friendship and solidarity -- because I'm an American, and that's what we do.
We'll pick ourselves up out of the wreckage, and we will rebuild -- because we're Americans, and that's what we do. -- HOPEFUL AND COMMITTED IN CHARLOTTE, N.C.
DEAR HOPEFUL AND COMMITTED: You said it, my friend. Bless you.