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blueeowynUp front, this post is probably going to tick a few people off. If you are likely to find rants about the government, views of this date, views of the events of 2 years ago, etc. offensive, I suggest you don't go to the cut.
Today is September 11, aka "nine-eleven", aka the 2-year anniversary of the "Worst surprise terroristm attack on America".
One the radio this morning they were interviewing a young woman whose father died that day as a result of the plane crashes. They asked he r how she felt if if this day was hard for her (sensitive? NOT!). She is one of the first to get a scholarship to college by being a family member to one of the victims. Her pain (and all the families pain) is being dragged out for all to see because of the perceived national significance.
Yes, what happened that day was tragic. Yes, true heros died (the people on the plane in PA who took control back; the fire-fighters in New York, etc.). Yes true victims died (the people on the other 3 planes, in the trade center, etc.). I do NOT approve of calling all of them heros. They are people, ordinary people. It almost feels like I should grieve more for each of them than for my friend Bill who died on Veteran's Day that year, or my friend Chuck who die d this past winter. If I don't I must not be a patriot.
The "surprise act of terrorism" bit really annoys me. Of course it was a surprise. So was Pearl Harbor, so was D-Day, so was the bombing of Hiroshima (yes, we said we were going to do something b ut there is no way that the people in the city had any idea of what was coming their way). It isn't like Al Qaeda was going to say (on such and such a day these planes will be hi-jacked). The organization isn't that stupid (though Bush might be).
Speaking of Bush. There are people saying that there have been more acts of Terrorism since he took office than ever before. That is correct, but the actions of 2 years ago was planned long before the actual implementation. So, no, I don't blame him for that (though his idiotic ways of dealing with other people & cultures may have hastened the action).
I do blame him for taking the word "Patriot" and twisting it to his own evil purposes. A patriot in my mind is someone who supports this country becoming t he best it can be WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF WHAT IT SHOULD BE. Not within the framework of what Bush's religion and monetary interests think it should be. Not within the framework of tossing the Constitution out.
I read a joke about a week ago where we s hould give our constitution to Iraq to help set up a government, it isn't like we are using it. A morbid joke in many ways and waaaay to close to the truth.
I feel sorry for the people who lost people on that date ... whether or not the people were thos e involved (i.e. I feel as sorry for someone whose mother died of cancer on 9/11/01 as for someone whose father died on one of the planes).
We, the true patriots of the US, need to keep a vigilance on our government to prevent us from becoming that which is being decried. We must remember that bombings are possible (just ask people in other parts of the world). We must make sure that the foundations of this country (freedom in so many ways) is cherished and encouraged. We must stand strong against stu pidity in the government (Patriot Act anyone?), the courts (Stella Awards), and in many different things.
Personal accountability, responsibility and respect are crucial. Am I less of a patriot because I am Agnostic? Am I evil because I am glad that the monument in Alabama got moved (though I wish it had been removed from the building altogether)? According to the government, possibly. Heck, writing this may put me on the 'yellow' list of danger for flying.
My Country Tis of Thee, Sweet Land of Liberty, for Thee I weep..
Today is September 11, aka "nine-eleven", aka the 2-year anniversary of the "Worst surprise terroristm attack on America".
One the radio this morning they were interviewing a young woman whose father died that day as a result of the plane crashes. They asked he r how she felt if if this day was hard for her (sensitive? NOT!). She is one of the first to get a scholarship to college by being a family member to one of the victims. Her pain (and all the families pain) is being dragged out for all to see because of the perceived national significance.
Yes, what happened that day was tragic. Yes, true heros died (the people on the plane in PA who took control back; the fire-fighters in New York, etc.). Yes true victims died (the people on the other 3 planes, in the trade center, etc.). I do NOT approve of calling all of them heros. They are people, ordinary people. It almost feels like I should grieve more for each of them than for my friend Bill who died on Veteran's Day that year, or my friend Chuck who die d this past winter. If I don't I must not be a patriot.
The "surprise act of terrorism" bit really annoys me. Of course it was a surprise. So was Pearl Harbor, so was D-Day, so was the bombing of Hiroshima (yes, we said we were going to do something b ut there is no way that the people in the city had any idea of what was coming their way). It isn't like Al Qaeda was going to say (on such and such a day these planes will be hi-jacked). The organization isn't that stupid (though Bush might be).
Speaking of Bush. There are people saying that there have been more acts of Terrorism since he took office than ever before. That is correct, but the actions of 2 years ago was planned long before the actual implementation. So, no, I don't blame him for that (though his idiotic ways of dealing with other people & cultures may have hastened the action).
I do blame him for taking the word "Patriot" and twisting it to his own evil purposes. A patriot in my mind is someone who supports this country becoming t he best it can be WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF WHAT IT SHOULD BE. Not within the framework of what Bush's religion and monetary interests think it should be. Not within the framework of tossing the Constitution out.
I read a joke about a week ago where we s hould give our constitution to Iraq to help set up a government, it isn't like we are using it. A morbid joke in many ways and waaaay to close to the truth.
I feel sorry for the people who lost people on that date ... whether or not the people were thos e involved (i.e. I feel as sorry for someone whose mother died of cancer on 9/11/01 as for someone whose father died on one of the planes).
We, the true patriots of the US, need to keep a vigilance on our government to prevent us from becoming that which is being decried. We must remember that bombings are possible (just ask people in other parts of the world). We must make sure that the foundations of this country (freedom in so many ways) is cherished and encouraged. We must stand strong against stu pidity in the government (Patriot Act anyone?), the courts (Stella Awards), and in many different things.
Personal accountability, responsibility and respect are crucial. Am I less of a patriot because I am Agnostic? Am I evil because I am glad that the monument in Alabama got moved (though I wish it had been removed from the building altogether)? According to the government, possibly. Heck, writing this may put me on the 'yellow' list of danger for flying.
My Country Tis of Thee, Sweet Land of Liberty, for Thee I weep..
