Thursday, September 11, 2025
Utah Gov. Spencer Cox responding to the Assassination of 31-year-old political activist Charlie Kirk
challenged listeners: "Our nation is broken. We mourn as a nation. If anyone in the sound of my voice celebrated even a little bit at the news of this shooting, I would beg you to look in the mirror and see if you can find a better angel in there somewhere."
Noting a litany of recent political assassinations and attempted assassinations, Cox pleaded:
"We desperately need every single person in this Country to think about where are and where we want to be; to ask ourselves: Is THIS, is this IT? Is this what 250 years has wrought on us? I pray that that's not the case. . . . I pray that all of us will try to find a way to stop hating our fellow Americans."
With hearts torn between this 24th Anniversary of 9/11 and the horrific Assassination yesterday of Charlie Kirk, the words of Sandy Dahl, widow of Flight 93 pilot Jason Dahl, seem providential:
| "If we learn nothing else from this tragedy, we learn that life is short and there is no time for hate." | |
Gov. Cox calls on the nation to recall President Abraham Lincoln's plea to his countrymen
in his First Inaugural Address on March 4, 1861, to let "the better angels of our nature" guide their actions. In the shadow of the Civil War, in a Country divided by hate and disunity, Lincoln encouraged civility and respect for differing views, even when those views were contrary to deeply held beliefs.
He presented the "better angels" as the American way; only they could defeat the angels of darkness – rage, violence, destruction and death.
In the shadow of September 11, 2001, poet Carolyn Long recalled Lincoln's healing words in a prayer within the commemorative poem and 8-minute video, "Angels Over America."
Help the angels of our better natures rise to freedom's song
And lead the charge of justice on her path,
So our own avenging angels do not strike in blind revenge
And wreak unbridled ruin with their wrath.
© Carolyn K. Long, 2001
Perhaps this 24th Anniversary of 9/11 can help Americans recall how "better angels" everywhere reached out to one another during that horrific event, and how transformational that spirit was to our nation.
As we simultaneously mourn the loss of a bright young political star, reflecting the Country's widespread discord and disunity, Gov. Cox calls on the "better angels of our nature" to lead us toward reconciliation in hopes this Nation can reclaim our image as the shining beacon for people everywhere.
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The "Angels Over America," poem and video can be viewed at the website www.AngelsOverAmerica.org.
A laminated poster or printed copy of "Angels Over America" are available by email from Carolyn.K.Long@gmail.com.
Carolyn K. Long, author of "Angels Over America" and co-producer of the 9/11 memorial video, is a professional speaker, writer and photographer based in Annapolis, MD.
The events of 911 will be a part of the American consciousness forever.
How they are held there will shape our future.
The “Angels Over America,” poem and video can be viewed at the website www.AngelsOverAmerica.org.
A laminated poster or printed copy of “Angels Over America” are available by email from Carolyn.K.Long@gmail.com.
Carolyn K. Long, author of “Angels Over America” and co-producer of the 9/11 memorial video, is a professional speaker, writer and photographer based in Annapolis, MD.
The events of 911 will be a part of the American consciousness forever.
How they are held there will shape our future.