But, unfortunately, as Americans, 99% have no idea what the events of September 11, 2001 really meant, or how they have impacted our lives. In fact, unless you lost friends or family in the 9/11 attacks, or are in the military, most everyone has gone back to their normal routine of life without a second thought of September 11, and they have been that way since a month or two after the attacks. About the only difference any of them notice is that it takes them longer to board an airplane, and that airport and some large event security is a little tighter (but still nowhere near tight enough).
In fact, someone I used to follow on twitter posted this little gem this morning: "Nope. Havent forgot about 9/11. Why? Because there's always 1000 msgs on Facebook and Twitter reminding me not to. Ugh. " (sic)
Really? Really. Obviously I cannot follow, or deal with, someone who would say that. No matter how they try to justify it later.
I just can't imagine that attitude, or the arrogance and ignorance that could breed it. Unfortunately, it's not a singular attitude. It's a common one. This is one reason America is broken.
So, here's my thoughts on, and remembrance of, September 11, 2001.
My first thought is, AMERICA, WAKE UP!
Yes, I realize most of you reading this are not the people this is projected at, and if you feel you are, let me know so I can stop talking to you now.
On September 11, 2001, I was working as the opening bartender at Spaghetti Works Old Market in Omaha, Nebraska.
As per my normal habit at that time, (and still now to some degree), I got out of bed around 7:30 Central and went running, took a shower, had some breakfast, then jumped into my grey 1989 Ford Taurus SHO (or POS as I called it) to drive into work. It was probably around 9:00 by then, and it was the first time I had turned on the radio or television all day.
It was only about three miles from my apartment to work's parking area, and as I listened to reports of the fall of the South Tower, my brain, for some reason, switched into author mode, and I assumed someone was doing an updated version of Orson Welles' "War of the Worlds" radio broadcast.
I got out of the Taurus, locked it, and headed into work.
Over the bar in those days was a small 17" television with basic cable. I turned it on (it was always on CNN), and watched in horror as the South tower fell in a replay.
All thoughts of a radio drama were gone.
Other members of the staff started to wander in, but none of our usual prep work was being done. Everyone, including the managers, was gathered around the bar.
Soon replays of the second tower hit started coming in, then the crash of Flight 93 in Pennsylvania, and the collapse of the North Tower.
Somewhere in this confusion, Kira, one of the servers I was and still am friends with, asked me why someone would do this to us.
Yeah, seems like a silly question, right? Everyone knows basically the only people that like Americans are other Americans......and foreign women. But THAT's another story.
But Kira knew me. She knew my background and interests, knew I had studied terrorism for my recent book.
I don't remember what I answered, exactly. I know my answer took a couple of minutes, the two of us on either side of the bar, discussing it.
I kept trying to call Mike Scott, who worked at the Pentagon, to be sure he was ok.
Obviously, lines to the DC area were jammed. Didn't stop me from trying to call Jill or Laura, who live nearby, any way.
Nor could I reach anyone I knew in the Manhattan area, although, compared to now, I knew far fewer people then.
I did have a lot of my friends calling me throughout the day, as I tend to be info central for our group, asking if I had heard about any of our mutual friends in the areas affected.
I had different parts of my mind reacting in strange ways in those first couple of hours.
My fear response side was a gibbering mess, worrying about friends in the area and the possibility of further attacks, knowing I was just a couple of miles from the headquarters of the United States Strategic Command.
My analyst side was trying to determine how I could help out, how best to get ahold of my friends in the area, and what retaliation, and how fast, the US was likely to take.
And I was yelling out loud at the television for keeping anyone watching aware of exactly where President Bush was at all times during the crises.
Nice move, asshats, let our enemies, who DO know how to watch TV, know right where the head of the country is and is heading.
I knew Air Force One was on it's way to Omaha LONG before it flew overhead.
After work, I headed to the Air Force recruitment office. My original medical discharge still held.
I hit the Red Cross to donate blood.
Because I had lived in Europe within the past 10 years I was not allowed to do that, either.
i did have a nice little interview with the FBI about terrorism and tactics in the United States, since I had written a novel featuring it. I heard later a few other authors had had these clandestine interviews, some, like mine, in public places as casual conversations, until I asked for ID.
I never got the impression they thought I was helping Al-Queda, but that they were truly looking for other ideas from people who had hypothesized these things, as they obviously hadn't seen it coming, and had had no defense.
I remember suggesting they talk to El-Al about how to improve Airline security.
I did end up volunteering with the red cross, when I wasn't at my normal job, helping hand out orange juice and doughnuts to those that WERE able to give blood.
Nine years later, our airport security, though apparently improved, is still way too lax. It's not even near the state airport security was in Europe when I lived there in the 90s. Hell, my last two flights I have gotten on board with my pocket knife still in my jeans, because I just forgot to leave it home.
People still don't seem to understand that more attacks are not only likely, but almost assured.
Because, let's face it, our global reputation hasn't gotten any better, and we aren't exactly doing a stellar job of finding the people responsible for the attacks in the first place.
WWII was started for most Americans when Japan attacked Pearl Harbor, which, at the time, was not even a part of the United States.
It was a different time, and we had a man in office, and generals and advisers below him, that knew what had to be done.
We ramped up military war production, recruitment offices were flooded, and in under four years we had our aggressors on their knees.
Then, idiots that we are, we rebuilt them, and they own half the country now.
On September 11th, our country, and one of the largest population centers of our country, was attacked.
We've been playing hit and scoot for nine years now, and, though recruitment centers initially were flooded, no new materials for the fighting of war have been produced, and, in fact, Congress has continually cut defense spending.
And yet people still think, when they bother to remember we are fighting a war at all, that we will somehow magically win.
Our newest fighter, the F/A-22A Raptor, took its first flight in 1991.
The F-15s and F-16s that make up the core of the USAF fighter force were built in the mid 1970s.
Our bombers?
B-2A (1989), B-1B (1986), B-52H (1952). And we aren't getting anything newer. In fact, we keep losing aircraft to retirement, fatigue, accidents, or being shot down. Yeah, yeah, we have UAVs.......but really, a UAV is just a stopgap, and everyone knows it.
All the guys hiding in the caves have to do is wait. At this rate, we'll run out of equipment long before they give up.
And the worst part?
People now seem to think of Sept 11th as a holiday. Period. I heard someone complaining that they had to work today. You know what, shut up, suit up, and get thrown into the sandbox.
Sure, the news tells them they are still at war, but, hell, they can still get their starbucks, their netflix, so nothing's changed for them.
Patriotism died with a whimper for this country at large sometime in the 70s. It flares up in spurts, but more out of an "It seems to be the thing everyone is doing" kind of way than because people truly feel it. Again, not for most reading this, but most in general.
Maybe we need to do what our grandparents did. Sure, they weren't happy about it, but in WWII there was rationing, blackouts, curtailing of basic services to HELP OUR BOYS FIGHT.
God forbid these days if the mall is a couple minutes late in opening.
And you know what? Al-Queda and their friends are actually MORE dangerous to us than the Empire of the Rising Sun or the Third Reich were.
Because with the advancements of the last 65 years, the world has shrunk.
That's right. Why?
Because they are among us. You could bump into a member of a terrorist cell walking down the street, getting your slurpee, or driving on the highway.
And don't talk to me about racial/cultural profiling. White men helped pave the way for the WTC bombings.
So, start thinking about it. Maybe that guy in the rusted 4x4 has a chemical bomb in the bed.
Maybe the guy taking flight lessons from you isn't just trying to impress his girl/boyfriend.
Not only will I never forget 9/11, I will never FORGIVE 9/11.
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