Oh right.
September 12, 2011 2 Comments
Now I remember.
I remember how 19 terrorists conspired to knock down some buildings, killing nearly 3,000 people in New York City, Arlington, and Shanksville.
I remember the confusion of the day, as news reports scrambled to report every bit of information, much of which turned out to be rumor.
I remember how quickly Osama bin Laden and al-Qaeda came up in assigning blame, and wondering if it was premature.
I remember al-Qaeda taking credit, which mostly sated that skepticism–though obviously not for everyone.
I remember the sense of patriotism and vulnerable togetherness that gripped the country.
I remember rushing to set up donations at my high school, talking about the Gadsden flag in a college application essay.
I remember the days with no airplanes flying overhead.
I remember politicians scrambling as quickly as they could to wield the tragedy like a cudgel, so they could rush to unrelated wars and trade liberty for fake security.
I remember other politicians allowing it to happen, or going along with it out of misguided nationalist fervor.
I remember finding out about the memo that warned of the attacks, ignored at our peril.
I remember “mission accomplished.”
I remember the United States committing war crimes for no tangible benefit.
I remember a President campaigning on his stellar terror record, which paradoxically included the worst domestic attack in U.S. history.
I remember the millions of dollars that went to no-bid contracts, the millions more that were lost entirely.
I remember the sinking of the economy on the backs of cronyism and corporate greed.
I remember the wars that have killed more on both sides than thirty 9/11s.
I remember a President campaigning on change, who left the horrors of torture and indefinite detainment and unchecked surveillance unchanged.
I remember the day almost ten years later when the man behind the attacks was finally caught, in a nation that claimed to be our ally, nowhere near our wars.
I remember the men and women still fighting those insane, costly wars, who cannot come home.
I remember that, even if they were to come home, corporate greed and political spinelessness would mean that they’d have no jobs to come back to.
I remember that terrorism means the use of attacks to spread fear and force action.
I remember what America was like before, and wonder how we let the terrorists win.
I'm late, but glad to see more posts from you.And yeah, I feel the same way you do. With so many politicians doing everything they can to fuel the hysteria that the liberty-destroying "security" measures are based on, what's left for the terrorists to do?
God blessa youse – Fr. Sarducci, ol SNL