“Far better it is to dare mighty things, to
win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure, than to take rank with
those poor spirits who neither enjoy much nor suffer much, because they live in
the gray twilight that knows neither victory nor defeat.”
– Teddy Roosevelt
It's impossible to put into words the range of emotion that I've felt in watching the people of France suffer so greatly at the hands of terrorists starting with the attack on the offices of Charlie Hebdo and culminating with watching the France Unity March this morning on the BBC. So many have been lost, so many have been shaken, yet so many STAND TOGETHER today in the face of such horrific and tragic events. The true beauty of humanity is shining ever-more bright this morning, from the arms of world leaders interlocked with the people whom they serve, the moments of silence observed around the world, and in the hearts of the millions of Parisians, Europeans, and other fellow marchers in the heart of Paris today.
Just like we witnessed here in the United States in the days, weeks, and months following the tragedy on 9/11, 13 years and 4 months to the day, there is so much good that can come in the aftermath of a national tragedy such as this. My hope is that the French people, just like we experienced here in the States, experience a profound period of unity and national pride. Our hearts, minds, and prayers are with the people of France today, tomorrow, and forever. May God Bless those families who lost loved ones in this past week's attacks in France. May God Bless the Marchers, the Leaders, and all People who are holding on to one another and building the great hope that so often rises in the face of extreme adversity.
Written below is an excerpt from a letter that I wrote and published on the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks about the good that sprung forth in the U.S. in the time that followed our own national tragedy. We are now united by a bond that does not recognize borders, and we too will "Never Forget" by standing with you and remembering the Charlie Hebdo tragedy as if it is our own. Captured so beautifully in the lyrics below, let's "Imagine" a future united by love, and rise from this time together.
“Imagine there's no countries
It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
Imagine all the people
Living life in peace
You may say that I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will be as one”
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
Imagine all the people
Living life in peace
You may say that I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will be as one”
Published 9/11/14 by Michael M. Knittel
Thirteen years ago, the lives of everyone in our country
shifted on a single moment, a startling terrorist attack that brought our
national consciousness to a level not seen since the end of the Cold War. On the day of the September 11th
attacks, my office went into full shut down and Wall Street fell silent for six
straight days in a time that greatly resembled the country’s reaction to the
assassination of JFK nearly forty years prior.
On the first day that the stock market reopened, the Dow Jones average
fell nearly 7.1% and by that Friday, the market was down over 14%
(www.investopedia.com). What did that
terrible event teach us and how are we different now?
For one, it changed an entire generation that had never been
through a collective national tragedy and popped the bubbles that life in our
country could never be touched. Second,
it raised the levels of national pride that were felt across the country, from
the baseball games that were played in New York City following the attacks, to
the flags that we all flew with pride outside our homes, car windows, and
office buildings. A lot of those
displays have faded into the background as time has passed, but I know that in
my heart and in the hearts of many people I know, we were forever bettered by
something so awful occurring.
When I
reflect on the aftermath of September 11th, 2001, I feel a
tremendous amount of pride in the way people pulled together, from the top of
our government to my neighbors who went to Ground Zero as first responders and
hope that we won’t ever forget the love, support and kindness that came out of
such an earth-shaking day. I know that I sure won't and remember each day, just how fortunate we are to be blessed by a life of peace and freedom.
Thank you so much for reading and God Bless France, the United States, and all those countries and people who hold Peace, Love and Unity so dear.
To donate to the victims and families of those affected by the Charlie Hebdo tragedies, please follow this link https://www.leetchi.com/c/solidaritecharlie.
To donate to the victims and families of those affected by the Charlie Hebdo tragedies, please follow this link https://www.leetchi.com/c/solidaritecharlie.
Thank You,
Mike
Michael M. Knittel
Director/Portfolio Manager
Lagunitas Asset Management
1024 Iron Point Road, Suite 100
Folsom, CA 95630
916.357.6656
Securities offered through Fortune Finacial Services (FFS), Member FINRA/SIPC. Advisory services offered through Lagunitas Asset Management. Lagunitas Asset Management and FFS are unaffiliated entities.
1024 Iron Point Road, Suite 100
Folsom, CA 95630
916.357.6656
"Helping Smart People Make Smart Investments"™
Securities offered through Fortune Finacial Services (FFS), Member FINRA/SIPC. Advisory services offered through Lagunitas Asset Management. Lagunitas Asset Management and FFS are unaffiliated entities.
No comments:
Post a Comment