Remembering 9/11 – Why its Important

Image from FEMA - Public Doman. Wikimedia Commons.

I will never forget the events of 9/11 – nor where I was and how I felt that day and in all the days that followed. Few things have caused me to cry so long and so hard as I did then.

Today, I have been reflecting and remembering. For me, its about so much more than us being attacked. Please understand – us being attacked is horrible and I in no way mean to minimize it. It IS a big deal that we were attacked.

There are also other aspects of what happened that should be considered.

In the months leading up to the attack, we were being attacked around the world. Do you remember the U.S.S. Cole incident? There were others, too. Americans were being targeted. Since 9/11 things have changed a great deal and the terrorists and the war they launched against us were taken off our soil.

When the World Trade Center towers were hit, it was not just Americans who died. In the towers and on the planes were people from many other countries, too. The World Trade Center was just that – a place of business for people all around the world. When the towers were chosen as targets, war was declared on the world.

News reports that day and in the days following as officials struggled to find out who was behind the attacks showed people in some countries in mourning – sending prayers for those they lost and for us, or just shedding tears and sending prayers for the losses we experienced, guiltily feeling grateful that their country did not experience losses, too.

Other clips showed people in other countries taking to the streets, celebrating and cheering. It wasn’t just the ‘radical Muslim al-Qaeda members’ who wanted us dead. There are other groups, people and countries around the world who share the sentiment.

We need to remember this – not to stir up anger and hate, but so that we can be aware and prepared. If we know who ‘the enemy’ is it’s a lot easier to know how to protect ourselves and defeat them in their efforts against us.

The people who died that day and in the days following due to the attacks are numerous. The pain still felt to this day by those left behind is immeasurable. We cannot change what happened, but we can stand strong and show those who wish us harm that they have failed. We can honor the memories of those we lost best by making their death more than a senseless tragedy. Let us use it to be better, kinder, more united and stronger.

Let us honor them by rebuilding the towers – bigger, better and stronger.
Let us honor them by remembering the days following 9/11 and reclaiming those feelings of love, kindness, compassion and togetherness we had. We are Americans, first and foremost. United we stand – divided we fall.
Let us never forget this day; using every anniversary as a renewal to our commitment to be united and to never let ‘our enemies’ (foreign or domestic) destroy us.

Let us keep the focus on the day as it should be and not allow the impact of 9/11 be minimized by calling it “A day of service”. We already are highly charitable and service-minded as a people. A day of service can be proclaimed any day – do not dishonor those who died or give a win to those who attacked by repackaging this day and ignoring the history of this country.

Those who forget history are doomed to repeat it. Let us not condemn ourselves by forgetting, whitewashing or repackaging this day and the important lessons we have learned. Those lessons and how we became united, strengthened and inspired is why remembering this day is important.

At War Over The War on Terror

Since I heard on the radio today that some fool Democrats (The brain trust responsible for this is otherwise known as: House Appropriations Committee Chairman David R. Obey, Defense Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman John P. "Jack" Murtha and Rep. Jim McGovern) wanted a 'War Tax' (because, you know, we aren't taxed quite enough YET), I started thinking back to the beginning of this debate about the War on Terror and what started it all.

Who will forget that day, September 11, 2001, when the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center were hit by airplanes and came down? Thousands were killed, including many rescue workers who were there to save lives. The Pentagon was hit, and another hijacked plane crashed into a field after terrorists on board were fought by passengers determined not to let them succeed in their plan.

For the first time in many years, Americans from all walks of life united in grief, anger, and support. We lived in a brief time period of truly being the UNITED States of America. Out of our tragedy came such great beauty, sacrifice, and generosity.

Patriotism and the recognition of God soared as many began seeking out churches for answers and hope. We made vows across the nation, spearheaded by our president, to seek out those responsible and bring them to justice. We were determined to put a stop to this string of terrorist attacks against our country and our citizens. Country singing star Toby Keith's song, Courtesy of the Red, White, and Blue (The Angry American) summed up so very well what most of us felt.

Then came the crooks, cons, and scam artists. And the Dixie Chicks.

Shortly thereafter, it was back to business as usual. The unification we felt as a nation was once again lost.

Now, all these years later, people have forgotten what started it all. People have forgotten the outrage, the pain, the grief, and the loss. It has all become lost in a confused and convoluted din of shouts from those crying 'make love not war', '9/11 was a hoax: our government was behind it', and 'Get out of (pick your country)'.

While it is true that Saddam Hussein was not involved in 9/11, he was, in fact, a known terrorist and mass murderer of the people of his own country. Such leaders cannot be allowed to remain in power: or have we also forgotten Hitler's reign of terror and atrocities?

Had our leadership had a backbone at the prime of Hussein's trouble-making days, how different would things be today? Would 9/11 have even happened, or would other terrorists have thought twice about messing with the big country who could and most certainly would blow them off the face of the earth?

Would taking out Hussein in the early '90s when we had the chance have expedited our trouble, or prompted us to make the changes then which we are making now?

There are those who say we are not the world's police force. We are the world's greatest and most powerful country. Who, if not us, will take a stand against the heinous acts of murderous psychopathic leaders who wipe out thousands of their own people? Who, if not us, will protect the weak and defenseless as we were once helped in our war against a tyrant?

"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing." ~Edmund Burke

Will we turn a blind eye to the forces of evil and therefore aid and abet its insidious spread? Or will we live the true meaning behind the calls for 'humanity' and help those who cannot stand alone in their fight for life and freedom from murderous tyrants?

This has gone beyond 9/11 and is a true War on Terror. This means that any and all terrorists will be systematically eliminated by those with the power, means, drive, and incentive to do so. Does that make us the terrorists? Of course not. There is a clear dividing line between right and wrong, evil and good, and terrorist and defender of their victims. Eliminating the mass murderers is not terrorism. Eliminating those who would kill us for the mere fact we are Americans is not terrorism. Protecting our soil, our citizens, our allies, and the innocent is not terrorism.

As Billy Joel so aptly sings, "We didn't start the fire, it was always burning since the world's been turning. We didn't start the fire, no we didn't light it but we tried to fight it"



*NOTE: There was a musical video parody of the song 'Macarena' which went around after 9/11. It was by Johnny Crass a.k.a "Redneck Jihad" and was titled 'Bomb Osama'. I wanted to include a link to it in this blog post, but could not find it anywhere. If anyone has it or a link to it, please let me know. ~Thanks.



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