Friday 7th September 2018..... a day I shall not forget!!

My regulars know I do not use my blog for political religious or sexual content material but this article below moved me to share with you???

How it all started, and how we got here.

(Unfortunately, the people that could learn something by reading this likely won't bother).

Did you know this?

Aug 14, 2016- Colin Kaepernick sits for the national anthem.....and no one noticed.

Aug 20th, 2016- Colin again sits, and again, no one noticed.

Aug 26th, 2016- Colin sits and this time he is met with a level of vitriol unseen against an athlete. Even the future President of the United States took shots at him while on the campaign trail. Colin went on to explain his protest had NOTHING to with the military, but he felt it hard to stand for a flag that didn't treat people of color fairly.

Then on on Aug 30th, 2016 Nate Boyer, a former Army Green Beret turned NFL long snapper, penned an open letter to Colin in the Army Times. In it he expressed how Colin's sitting affected him.

Then a strange thing happened. Colin was able to do what most Americans to date have not...

He listened.

In his letter, Mr. Boyer writes:

"I’m not judging you for standing up for what you believe in. It’s your inalienable right. What you are doing takes a lot of courage, and I’d be lying if I said I knew what it was like to walk around in your shoes. I’ve never had to deal with prejudice because of the color of my skin, and for me to say I can relate to what you’ve gone through is as ignorant as someone who’s never been in a combat zone telling me they understand what it’s like to go to war.

Even though my initial reaction to your protest was one of anger, I’m trying to listen to what you’re saying and why you’re doing it."

Mr. Boyer goes on to write "There are already plenty people fighting fire with fire, and it’s just not helping anyone or anything. So I’m just going to keep listening, with an open mind. I look forward to the day you're inspired to once again stand during our national anthem. I'll be standing right there next to you."

Empathy and understanding was shown by Mr. Boyer.........and Mr. Kaepernick reciprocated.

Colin invited Nate to San Diego where the two had a 90 minute discussion and Nate proposed Colin kneel instead of sit.

But why kneel? In a military funeral, after the flag is taken off the casket of the fallen military member, it is smartly folded 13 times and then presented to the parents, spouse or child of the fallen member by a fellow service member while KNEELING. The two decided that kneeling for the flag would symbolize his reverence for those that paid the ultimate sacrifice while still allowing Colin to peacefully protest the injustices he saw.

Empathy, not zealotry under the guise of patriotism, is the only way meaningful discussion can be had. Mr. Kaepernick listened to all of you that say he disrespects the military and extended an olive branch to find a peace.

When will America listen to him?

We can all learn from this backstory. The truth often lies in the middle. Seek to learn the opposing side's point.

As a result of me seeing the musical about the 911 aftermath...being in the city close to the anniversary and seeing the new tower in all its glory I decided I must visit the site ..so last night I booked a guided tour, not crazy about these but turns out a magnificent choice!!!

I am getting to be an expert on the trains and even had a couple asked me if they were on the right train to get to the tennis..I had to inwardly smile when I told them they were in fact on the correct number train...the 7...but they were actually going in the wrong direction and they needed to get off and go the other way!!!

I met the guide Daniel at the allotted place and there were seven of us on the walking tour and small world as it is two women were from Sheffield my birth place!!

All I want to say about the tour is TAKE IT!!  Daniel was amazing very knowledgeable and very personable and he imparted so many fascinating facts and it soon became apparent that the memorial and the new tower were not about the horrific tragedy but about the coming together of the people of this wonderful city!!

I cannot tell you everything he told us but Google and watch the planes assault...read about the loss of life and then read about the architect that won the design for the memorial  and why he designed it the way he did.....it was a moving tearful experience......enjoy the photos!!

Another aspect of this tree is that whenever there is a major disaster anywhere in the world they send a small branch of the tree to that place as a sign of peace and hope....

I do enjoy searching out reflection shots!!!

There is a fireball right on the corner and the six fireman on duty that day were the very first of the first responders to enter the towers....sadly over 300 hundred fir fighters lost their lives including these six men...

This is Harry..

He has been coming here every day since this memybwas opened and he cleans it...

The price of the tour also included a self tour of the tower which in itself is awe inspiring..google why it is the height it is and the meaning of that....

The views were incredible!!!

Truly a great afternoon!!

Close by I found this giant screen and watched the sad end to Rafa’s US open hopes....google that too!!

What a change in the weather must be a drop of 20 degrees I was actually cold on the walk back to the train station!!!

A day to remember!!

I get to play with Gracie’s grandson Jonah tomorrow..stay tuned!!

Yashi Kochi!!!