A patriot is defined in the Merriam –Webster dictionary as “one who loves her or his country.” I think we can all agree that one thing that has occurred as a result of the attack on our country on September 11, 2001 is that we are pulling together as Americans.

Since I am now closer to 50 than 40 years of age, I have accepted that half of my life is over and as a true grown up I am being nostalgic about the simpler times during which I grew up. The public school I attended had a music teacher and every week each classroom marched into Mrs. Rebecca Smith’s music class. For an hour we learned different songs, many I guess we would classify as patriotic. Mrs. Smith was determined to teach us the values of American citizenship through songs and I believe to a large degree she was successful, at least with the 1973 class of Oneida High School.

We learned the words to The Star Spangled Banner, America the Beautiful, My Country ‘Tis of Thee, You’re a Grand Old Flag, The Battle Hymn of Republic, and my personal favorite, This Land is Your Land. Unless I am mistaken about the progressiveness of our school board, I don’t think our school administration was aware of the political leanings of Woody Guthrie when he wrote This Land is Your Land – This Land is My Land. (In the 1960’s many considered and still classify Guthrie as a left wing radical of the first order) Whether or not the Oneida school system embraced or disagreed with Guthrie’s politics, good for them for being secure enough to encourage singing this great song. We also learned the song for every division of our armed forces as well as the fight song for The Green Berets.

I remembered all the wonderful songs I learned to sing about my country on September 11. And I wept and I wept, just like everyone else. I think the hardest thing I have had to accept about the war being waged on Americans is that there is not a lot I can do to shape international diplomacy. Since I label myself as a Pollyanna who only sees the good in people first and believe we should all get along, I feel like I am battling my own internal battle about going to war and I need help.

I am just one woman and like all other Americans I am going through the various stages of grief about the September 11 attack on our country. I have been depressed, scared, sad, terrified, frustrated, outraged and as you read this column I am just plain mad. I think the hardest thing for me to accept about the state of war our country has entered and the recession we are in is that there is not a lot I can do about it except pray for our leaders and to continue my life.

Being angry is not the way I want to live my life. I want to get along with everyone and if I had my way the world would be a great place and we would all be friends. So, now that I know I am not going to be on a task force on world terrorism, what can I do to make a difference?

First, I am going to consciously pray every day for our leaders. It does not matter whether or not I voted for them, I am going to name them by name and pray for them.

Second, I am going to work on not letting others spoil the joy in my life. Life has enough conflict as it is, but I am going to go out of my way to be with people who are uplifting, to work in causes that are positive and to make my home and my place of business one of peace and acceptance. This attitude will make it a lot easier for me to say no to those who irritate me because life is just too short to put up with the aggravation.

Third, I am going to prepare to sacrifice. Many of our leaders are trying to stop any dependence our country has on oil from the Middle East. If we have to cut back and economize I will support that. Our parents certainly did that for us during World War II so there is nothing stopping us from doing the same.

Fourth, I am going to focus my anger on solutions. I am asking every one of my representatives to follow the money that support the cowards and terrorists that are waging war on us. President Bush said countries must decide if they stand with the United States or are against us. He also said anyone harboring these cowards is as guilty as those who flew the planes into the World Trade Center.

The people who are funding these groups as well as the banks that manage their funds are also our enemies. Follow the money. When we find it, take over the institutions. In a perfect world, the United States would impound all the funding for the terrorists and our enemies would be left with nothing but rocks for weapons. I would encourage each of you to write, call or email your congressman, Senator Frist and Senator Thompson and President Bush and prevail on them to seize all the assets of those responsible for the loss of lives on September 11.

Finally, I ask you to pay attention to what Senator Fred Thompson has been telling us. Before September 11 he told a Nashville audience that the United States has made it easy for world powers like China to have access to and purchase sensitive and critically important military equipment.

We should discourage American companies from selling such equipment, which can then be resold or copied or reverse engineered by those who have terrorist motivations. World trafficking in commercial equipment which can be converted to military uses continues because multi national corporations have too much influence in our nations capitol due to our campaign finance laws and a system where heavy political contributors command the attention of too many of our leaders. I hope with the almost certain reelection of Senator Thompson that he will continue to demand reforms in these areas.

As far as I am concerned the terrorists who killed thousands on September 11 did not have God in their lives nor did they have any regard for the value for the life of human lives. But I do and the wonderful thing about America is that we are a country of diverse beliefs and politics. No matter what our religious beliefs are or our nationality I am hoping that we can live as good neighbors and love each other. I am part of a generation that ended segregation, that has fought for equal rights for all and that has worked to build a better world. It is because of our diversity that I am confident that America is going to be stronger than ever.

I don’t think I will ever sing or hear God Bless America without crying. That’s okay because the something good that I have come away with from the horror of September 11 is that I am truly blessed to live in this country.

Saralee Terry Woods is an author and President of BookMan/BookWoman Books in Hillsboro Village