"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times." So begins Charles Dickens' A Tale of Two Cities. And when I think about September 11, 2001, I cannot help but apply those words to that fateful time.

No one will argue this: September 11 was the worst day in American history. It was one of only two successful attacks on American soil (the other being Pearl Harbor), and this time it was nearly 3000 civilians killed as opposed to military personnel. It was a heinous attack, one that would forever change our view of the world and the evil that exists.

While it was, most definitely, our worst day, I think the terror and evil brought out the very best in us as Americans. And in this way, I see it as our best day. It was our finest hour. Evil struck, and struck hard; but America prevailed.

On the anniversary, I watched numerous videos from those weeks: first the attacks and the buildings collapsing; the raw video footage with "Attack on America" plastered across the bottom; people covered in gray dust and dried blood. Then I turned to the recovery: George W. Bush standing on a pile of rubble with a megaphone, arm around a fireman, shouting, "the people who knocked these buildings down will be hearing all of us soon!" Then his address to Congress, where he decisively declared that we will not falter, we will not fail.

I remember exactly where I was when I heard, just as we all do: sitting at a desk in my grade school history class, my principal walking in and saying that a plane crashed into the World Trade Center and they think it was terrorists. After school for the rest of the week, I went to my grandpa's little flag store, taking orders for American flags. The phone was ringing off the hook for hours straight every day, so much that me and my grandma had to come help. He sold over 200 flags in 3 days.

I remember one of those days, eating lunch and watching the mass at the National Cathedral. I remember the thousands of people there, most of them crying. And I will never forget the sense of unity and purpose we all shared.

Those times came, and those times have gone. But I think it's important that we remember how we felt. Was it just hysteria, as many have since called it? Was it just anger and spite that fueled support for rash decisions? I don't think it was. I think it was real, coherent decision-making. Our heads were clearer then than they are now. We knew what had to be done, and thanks to a magnificent leader, we did it. We took the fight to them. We enacted necessary security measures. And we have been safe for seven years.

Out of our worst day came our best days, and out of evil came good and justice. We have not faltered, and we have not failed. Our people are safe. They say that four thousand deaths in Iraq are not worth it, but I disagree. The military exists to protect us, and it has. Enough said.

On September 11, 2001, a large network of terrorists known as al Qaeda knocked down North America's two tallest buildings. On September 11, 2008, al Qaeda is "broken" (according to a CIA report), the mastermind hasn't been seen in years, and the new World Trade Center is four years from complete reconstruction of Freedom Tower, a gleaming pillar of freedom standing 1776 feet tall. We win.

It was indeed the worst of times, but it was most definitely the best of times. And hopefully it will not take another attack for America to rediscover such a sense of purpose and pride once more.