September 11th

Remembrance

Innocent and blissfully unaware, Americans went to work or boarded a flight into or out of town on that September 11th in 2001.

Little did they know they would never drive home or ride the subway or reach their destination because the roads and mass transit were shuttered, their lunch meeting at “Windows on the World” restaurant would never occur because there was no more building, and they would never hug their children or kiss them goodnight again.

Some that day were instantly killed, some jumped from 80+ stories because the prospect of dying upon impact was a viable option compared to burning to death, some were late to the office because it was their turn to bring donuts to the office and they had to stop to fulfill their obligation so they weren't in the building yet, and some had to go to a meeting on a much lower floor or left their building altogether for an appointment elsewhere.

So much randomness.

So much carnage.

So much evil.

So much patriotism.

Somewhere in a small dingy room or a cave, a group of people, some educated in America, hated the ideals of the USA so much they plotted to hijack our planes and kill as many Americans as they could in the name of their religion and their ideology - or more likely for their ego and self-aggrandizement. They were successful in their goal on that day of knocking down two of the biggest buildings on Earth and killing thousands of Americans, but the unintended consequence was that we were awakened as a country and as a people. We came to their country and doorstep with dogged precision and lighting-bolt ferocity.

We tracked them down, hiding in their safe houses and their spider holes like the cowards they were and still are, and right then and there, justice was served, and they paid for their actions with their own lives.

America has been far from perfect over the course of her history but for the wrongs we've collectively done their are millions of good things we've done for our fellow countrymen and humanity across the globe.

That we fight internally over skin color, religion, political ideals, or a myriad of other small and insignificant differences is just so ridiculous in the broader context of living.

I remember clearly how I felt watching those planes fly into those buildings. I remember where I was and who I was with that day. I remember that for weeks, we were all true hyphen-less Americans who held doors for each other, let each other in front of us in traffic, talked nicer to each other, and saw our commonality, ideals, and the USA Flag as our bond.

I remember watching people jump from high up on those buildings and wondering what they were thinking in their last 5 seconds of life... Was it that life wasn't fair? Was it that they were different than their co-workers? Was it about social justice? Was it if men could have babies? Religious differences?

Or - plain and straightforward - did they think about their spouse or parents or children, or was it a quick prayer to their God to take care of them? I know I was praying for them as I watched them fall, and I've prayed for them every day since.

Lady Freedom, the stately woman and iconic symbol of America, the Statue of Liberty, still stands tall and proud in the harbor, our ideals of freedom and governance are tempered in that fire and made stronger.

We are forever changed, but in the powerful and determined words of President George W. Bush, "I hear you. We all hear you. The world hears you… and soon the people who did this will hear you." And they did.

May those who committed the horrendous act of 9-11 get what they deserve and rot in the merciless fires of Hell for eternity.

We are Americans - and so many other things too - but this is the singular, hyphen-less bond we all share… American.

And I am proud to simply be an American, and nothing else, with you in this time and place... in the USA.

#September11 #Heaven #USA #NeverForget #WeAreOne #HypenlessAmerican #John316