'Now More Than Ever:' Renewing the Spirit.

The tragic events of September 11, 2001 have shocked this country like no other since Pearl Harbor almost sixty years ago.

How did it happen? Who did it? How will we bring these evildoers to justice? How can we keep it from happening again? These and many more questions will be raised that need to be answered before this despicable act will be reconciled with our national psyche.

We, as a nation have suffered a grievous loss. The many families, friends, and co-workers of the almost seven thousand people who perished on that fateful Tuesday morning are in shock and have yet to come to grips with the depth of their loss.

This attack, however, was really aimed at the heart of the Democratic movement sweeping the world today. Their real targets were our rights to Freedom of speech and thought; Freedom of religion; Freedom to elect our leaders; Freedom of action and movement; all of these within the rule of law. The most serious threat to these wild-eyed zealots and their goal to destabilize the world is our Free Enterprise System of business and economics without which our other Freedoms cannot function.

They have attacked New York, our nation's and the world's center of business, hopeful that this shock would create financial chaos that would render us economically impotent. They are wrong, just as the fascists of World War II were wrong. They have awakened the "Sleeping Giant!"

The need for preserving and renewing our young people's spirit is greater now than ever before. In the words of a Junior Achievement Alumni, and young student from a recent presentation:

"Freedom has taken on a new meaning for me in the past three weeks.

As Americans, we have many freedoms. In school, we learn about the cornerstones of this great nation: freedom of religion, freedom of press, freedom of association, freedom of speech, and freedom to a chosen government - democracy. However, there is one more great freedom we often take for granted - our system of free enterprise.

Unlike the attack on Pearl Harbor, the first great strike against this country on September 11th was not aimed at our military. It was not aimed at our government's leaders. No, instead, the first strike was aimed at the ultimate symbols of the world-renowned economic system America has built. The target - a compound of thriving businesses, full of entrepreneurs from more than eighty countries across the world.

Unlike other freedoms which we, as students, read about in our textbooks, I learned about America's system of free enterprise through Junior Achievement, This past year, I participated in Junior Achievement's TITAN program, a business simulation where I learned the key issues involved in a free marketplace -- competition, strategy, and risk management -- issues dealt with every day by business leaders throughout our great country.

Through this program, I learned that America has developed a system of free enterprise unlike any other in the world. The 5.2 million students involved in Junior Achievement throughout the world are learning about the value of free enterprise, business, and economics. In programs like JA Titan, we compete with teams from across the world. We see that knowledge of economics is taught daily worldwide -- but this knowledge is practiced daily in the United States, America's system is so great, millions flock here to participate in it. Empowered by our determination to do business in a fashion commensurate with the free world, we will rebuild our businesses, rebuild our towers, and stand solid on our cornerstone of freedom, despite the fact that it has become a threat to those who do not understand its value and worth.

It was just a few short months ago when I watched the sun set beneath the Manhattan skyline from atop the World Trade Center. I know what the symbol is that we have lost. But the meaning behind the symbol, the message the towers represented, can never be lost. I also walked the halls of the Pentagon, and I know our military's prowess and resolve are not contained by any man-made five-sided concrete structure, but rather, live in the hearts of American citizens, Our true towers of freedom are not lifeless buildings, but the American people.

On that fateful day, President Bush stated that, "Freedom itself was attacked by faceless cowards. And freedom will be defended." (Pause) And freedom will be defended. This was not an idle threat, that our President made, but a profound reality that, for me, hits very close to home. On September 14th, three days after this horrific act, I turned 18. I now may be called upon to defend my country's freedom. So today, I say to the President, and to all of you, that freedom will be more than merely defended - freedom will triumph.

The terrorists attempted to force us to lose faith in our nation, our economy, our security, and our way of life. They failed. Americans have united. Patriotism is not just the next fad of my generation; it is a dramatic force embraced by all citizens once they experience it, a force overstepping class, culture, and age barriers.

And so, as many are asking at this time, what can we do to fight for freedom's triumph? You could, as one group of young people did, sell six hundred dollars worth of lemonade, and donate the proceeds to the American Red Cross. You could show confidence in the American economy, and invest in our nation's companies. Or, you could follow President Bush's advice. In his address to Congress, he urged the following: "I ask you to uphold the values of America, and remember why so many have come here. We are in a fight for our principles, and our first responsibility is to live by them."

One of our greatest principles is our system of free enterprise. This is what Junior Achievement teaches young people across the world. Junior Achievement provides an opportunity for adults like you to teach the next generation about business, economics, and remind us of the ideals that founded this country -- the opportunity to do business in a free marketplace. Never has it been more important to understand the value of economic freedom.

Indeed, it is time to throw off the blanket of recession and despair, which has plagued our economy for the past year. It is time to invest, to invest in the future of our country, the world and the economic ties that bind us. We must reach out to those peoples and countries in the world who are less fortunate than us and give them the hope and opportunity to succeed with Freedom. We must double and triple our efforts to educate our young people to understand just how important and crucial our Free Enterprise System is to the retention and growth of all the other Freedoms we hold so dear.

The Junior Achievement educational program, in partnership with our nation's schools, exists today to teach the lesson of Free Enterprise as it has for the past eighty years. Invest in the future of Freedom. Invest in Junior Achievement.

R. Anthony Smith is a Board Member of Junior Achievement of Southern California, Inc. He serves as Funding Committee Vice Chair. He is also Principal of Security Finance Associates.

What is Junior Achievement?

Junior Achievement is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization sponsored by corporate and individual contributors. The Junior Achievement mission is to ensure that every child in America has a fundamental understanding of the free enterprise system.

Junior Achievement is a consortium of the passionate people behind a movement that seeks to educate and inspire young people to value free enterprise, business and economics to improve the quality of their lives. Located in Colorado Springs, junior Achievement's National Headquarters and Service Center provides support for 156 local offices that carry out the mission. The international affiliate serves another 100 countries with offices around the world.

Altogether, Junior Achievement reaches approximately 5.2 million students worldwide. Through age-appropriate curricula, junior Achievement programs begin at the elementary school level, teaching children how they can impact the world around them as individuals, workers and consumers. Junior Achievement programs continue through the middle and high school grades, preparing students for future economic and workforce issues they'll face.

Junior Achievement of Southern California serves the nine counties of Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, Ventura, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Kern and Fresno. They concentrate in areas where students are economically disadvantaged, with special focus in the communities of the Urban Core including, South Central Los Angeles, Pico Union, East Los Angeles, and Santa Ana. Eighty percent of our participating students are minorities. Nationally, teachers in more than 95,000 classrooms use junior Achievement programs annually.

This is all done with the help of volunteers. Volunteers who so care about our youth they take time out of their day to make a difference.

To learn how you can become a Junior Achievement volunteer, please call [phone].