I ran a 5K on the morning of September 11th, a benefit for Freedom Alliance. John would have ran with me, but he is in training for BJJ nationals at the end of this month (our CA trip!). The morning was absolutely beautiful. It was a perfect running morning in fact. I woke up early to be able to eat a little, get hydrated, and get hyped. The truth is, I had been hyped the last few days (which I will elaborate on later in the post). I arrived at 7am to an already bustling crowd. I got my race packet, put on my number, and attached my shoe tag. The shoe tag tracks your real time--the time you start and the time you finish. It's more accurate then the handwritten days of the past. In a large crowd, it's rare to be able to start at the beginning where the gun goes off--so even though the gun goes off and the clock starts, 20 or so seconds or more could have passed before you make it to the starting line. The course was plenty fine--except for the last hill. In the picture below, this is me right as I'm finishing the last hill. You are already exhausted and just about finished-and ready to sprint those last 3/10ths of a mile, but the hill KILLS you. Men that looked like they were in great shape had to walk. I'm happy to report that although it was painful, I didn't stop running (and beat those said men :)).
I picked up the pace and did sprint those last 3/10ths of a mile or so to the finish line. My family was on the sidelines cheering me on--along with my trainer and some folks I train with. It was one of the greatest feelings I must say. I finished with an official time of 23 minutes and 35 seconds--my personal best by far. I didn't know this at the time, but I found out later that I came in 16th overall (out of hundreds!) and 2nd place in my age bracket. I didn't stay for the awards ceremony--but I did win something and they are sending it to me this week. I wonder what it is!
Earlier in the week John and I had recorded and watched two National Geographic 9/11 documentaries: Giuliani's 9/11 and 9/11: Pentagon Witnesses. Both were absolutely incredible and heartbreaking. My heart became extremely heavy and I became angry all over again watching these two 1 hour long shows. While I like to keep politics off of this blog, I feel I must speak from my heart--as what I am about to speak of will affect my children and future grandchildren for generations to come.
The horror of re-living 9/11 in those two moves brought to my attention how important it is to fight against the Ground Zero Mosque. As an American citizen, I know how important religious freedom is. As a Christian, I do not want to be told my faith can not be practiced freely. I suppost all walks of faith--even if it is not my faith. That is why I think anyone should be able to build religious buildings--except when it insensitive and disrespectful to others.
In this country, everyone is entitled to certain inalienable rights granted by God. You have the right to bear arms, right to free speech, and the right to a trial by jury. You also have the right to practice your religion freely. You have these rights protected by our government put forth by our founding fathers in the Bill of Rights. The controversy has arisen from the Ground Zero Mosque because those individuals ARE entitled to assemble and practice their faith as they so wish as given to them by our own government.
However, you can and should lose these rights under certain circumstances. Let's use the Right to Bear Arms as an example. If you murder someone or I believe are convicted of a felony, you lose that right (at least in most states)--as you should. Why would we trust a convicted felon with a gun? You also have certain restrictions with this right. For example, there are certain guns that are illegal. Another example: in some or most states there is a 'waiting period' when you want to purchase a gun. Rights are a privledge in my opinion--and you can lose your privledge.
While Islam didn't attack America (and continue to attack America), extremist muslims DID attack our beloved country. We lost nearly 3,000 Americans in a matter of hours--and thousands more were severly injured. Since then, we have lost thousands of troops fighting against terrorism in the middle East. We will continue to fight terrorism against this country in the name of Allah for the rest of my life for sure. So in my opinion, they do not have the right to build that mosque so close to Ground Zero.
I don't think they shouldn't be able build a big and beautiful mosque in New York City--just not at that location. I feel their choice in space for the mosque is saying, and excuse my language, F YOU to all American's and especially to those who lost someone on 9/11. They do have the option to build a mosque a bit further away. Instead of respecting our country and avoiding controversy, they instead choose to fight the battle and disrespect our dead.
For the record, I would feel the same way about the Jewish and Christian faiths.
So to end this very long post, I ran for those American's who lost their lifes and the families that have to live every day without a loved one. I ran for the troops or fight so hard for our country. I ran for my children and future generations--so that they too can enjoy every right and freedom I have had the opportunity to have in my lifetime.
Me and my boy:
So cute!
My mom and sister playing a game--there is no loser when you play your family for the same toy that you are going to give 
