September 11, 2001 - An old answer for a new problem

Remembering the experience of September 11, 2001 and determining our response and reaction continues to change and grow daily. One of the issues I believe America is struggling with is exactly how we see ourselves. Now there has always been a difference between rural and urban living but some of the lines there were once marks of distinctions that identified where someone lived or where they were from no longer exist..
Life in Southeastern Kentucky has herself made many changes over just the past 20 years, although it might be difficult for some to see the changes. Changes like who lives here and who is our neighbor has changed. I remember driving my grandfather up the roads of Stinking Creek and he could tell you who lived in every home, and something about them and their family. Today, folks do a lot of moving and ”homesteads” in the mountains that everyone once could identify have changed and single family dwellings are one example of change that occurred.
20 years ago our communities were also individually known, but not today. Fourmile is Pineville; Meldrum is Middlesboro; Goldbug is Williamsburg; In Corbin, the urban cluster is confusing because city services are provided in areas not officially Corbin, Ky; Popular Grove is even considered Barbourville; One could blame the postal service and say the closing of Offices that were once staples of our communities is the reason for this merger but nevertheless, it is what it is, things have changed. We’ve gladly taken on a new identity if it provided benefits and services, while honestly loosing just a bit of ourselves along the way. I am not suggesting that this is a bad thing, but merely pointing out that identifying ourselves can be a problem especially as the America of just a few years ago prior to the attacks of 9-11.
English is our native language and here in the mountains we haven’t had any issues understanding one another as we’ve talked. We have long considered the issue of foreign languages to be something that big city’s must content with. However, there is not a schools system in Southeastern Kentucky, a Law Enforcement Agency or a provider of health services that has not needed assistance with interpretation because our mountains neighbors are changing.
One factor that if consistent, I am confident could assist in this transition, would be a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Respecting people, all people is not a new liberal position that has been announced by the Democratic Party. The greatest liberator of all time, Jesus Christ set all people free long before our current system of government was established. Honesty and integrity were not created by the Republican Party those characteristic were created by Jesus Christ, who also established mercy and grace.
If individuals were to institute the teachings of the Bible into their daily lives we would not have to worry about corporate greed and abuse, because individuals living the right way would win out in every decision.
Could be I am just dreaming about a time past, but I don’t accept that position. Jesus never wanted us to live in the past, but rather to press forward. We all have choices and while we may have an identity crisis taking place today, the answer is still in front of us if we would chose to accept

Until then