Today, 7 years ago

Well I can't believe it's been 7 years since the twin tower attacks. I turned on my TV this morning to see the weather and the current hurricane's path, but what I saw was a report on what's happening around the world for remembering today. They showed soldiers in Iraq who were having a moment of silence and they talked about Obama and McCain also visiting ground zero and then planning on making a speech about homeland security. I was instantly brought back to that day seven years ago when my Mom and her friend got a call, then turning on the TV. I watched in disbelief as these building burned/fell to the ground. I thought that it couldn't really fall cause someone was going to report how the day was saved. But in my teenage brain I never could have imagined these building falling to the ground. My family and I watch the news from 9 AM until noon at which time we were told to turn it off. But I couldn't let it go I had to keep watching I needed to know what was going to happen. I remember the talk between my parents and others and how when I went to work babysitting how my boss talk about it and how she express her opinion on the news and the local concern of letting children see this kind of thing on TV (never mind it was always okay for their kids to watch R rated movie and all the sudden the reality was too much for their young eyes). It feels like so long ago but at the same time feels like yesterday. It seems like the media only tells us about the bad things happening in Iraq I thought I'd share these positives happening.
Did you know?
I didn't know!
How could we?

Did you know that 47 countries' haveReestablished their embassies in Iraq ?Did you know that the Iraqi governmentCurrently employs 1.2 million Iraqi people?

Did you knowThat 3100 schools have been renovated,364 schools are under rehabilitation,263 new schools are now under construction;And 38 new schools have been completed in Iraq ?

Did you knowThat Iraq 's higher educational structure consistsof 20 Universities, 46 Institutes or collegesand 4 research centers,All currently operating?

Did you knowThat 25 Iraq students departed for the United States inJanuary 2005 for the re-established Fulbright program?

Did you knowThat the Iraqi Navy is operational?They have 5 - 100-foot patrol craft,34 smaller vessels and a naval infantry regiment.

Did you knowThat Iraq ' s Air Force consists of three operational squadrons,Which includes 9 reconnaissance and 3 US C-130 transport aircraft(under Iraqi operational control) which operate day and night,And will soon add 16 UH-1 helicopters and 4 Bell Jet Rangers?

Did you knowThat Iraq has a counter-terrorist unit and a Commando Battalion?

Did you knowThat the Iraqi Police Service has over 55,000Fully trained and equipped police officers?

Did you knowThat there are 5 Police Academies in Iraq
That produce over 3500 new officers every 8 weeks?

Did you knowThere are more than 1100 building projects going on in Iraq ?They include 364 schools, 67 public clinics, 15 hospitals, 83 railroad stations, 22 oil facilities, 93 water facilities And 69 electrical facilities.

Did you knowThat 96% of Iraqi children under the age of 5 Have received the first 2 series of polio vaccinations?Did you knowThat 4.3 million Iraqi children were enrolled inprimary school by mid October?

Did you knowThat there are 1,192,000 cell phone subscribers in IraqAnd phone use has gone up 158%?

Did you knowThat Iraq has an independent media that consists of75 radio stations, 180 newspapers and 10 television stations?

Did you knowThat the Baghdad Stock Exchange opened in June of 2004?

Did you knowThat 2 candidates in the Iraqi presidential election had a Televised debate recently?

OF COURSE WE DIDN'T KNOW!WHY DIDN'T WE KNOW?BECAUSE OUR MEDIA WON'T TELL US!

Instead of reflecting our love for our country,We get photos of flag burning incidents at Abu GhraibAnd people throwing snowballs at the presidential motorcades.

Tragically, the lack of accentuating the positiveIn Iraq serves two purposes:It is intended to undermine the world's perceptionOf the United States thus minimizing consequent support;And it is intended to discourage American citizens.
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Above facts are verifiable on the

Department of Defense web site
http://www.defenselink.mil/

Did you know?
I didn't know
But I know now.....


.......Pass it on! Give it a Wide Dissemination!