Seven Years
I’m not sure what September 11th is like in other cities but in the DC area every highway overpasses on I66, I270 and 395 have US flags hanging from them on both into and out of the city. It’s been that way since immediately after 9/11.
It’s been seven years. Seven. Long enough that the stock footage from that day looks dated to me. My memories are inextricably connected to he-who- shall –not-be- named. We were 3 months into our relationship at that point but hadn’t said the L-word. After that day, we would.
9/11 set in motion the creation of the Department of Homeland Security. The Patriot Act and in the greatest mystery of all, into Iraq under the false auspices of WMD’s and alleged Al Qaeda funding by the Iraqi government.
Seven years later and it seems we are no closer to vindicating the victims of 9/11; all of us in some way or another. What we have instead are the US casualties in Iraq, and tight security on baby formula confiscated by the TSA.
“Pop” who isn’t speaking to be but who has faithfully served our country for close to 20 years says that there is progress in Iraq and Afghanistan but that the liberal media chooses not to focus on the positives, instead reporting only on the things that might not be going according to plan. I always try to keep that in the back of my mind when I ask myself this: Is the US any safer today then we were pre- 9/11? As Neighbor Girl Jen and I sit in the courtyard in the village on a spectacularly pretty day what in the Middle East might be called an “open air market” are we likely to be victims of a car bomb that pulls up outside of Johnny Rocket? (note, I’d actually like to see that place close anyway though a simple real estate re-allocation would do just as nicely. A Starbucks might be nice.)
I don’t think we’re at any greater risk but in my mind, no safe. Our collective civil liberties are in constant challenge and the evil-do-ers responsible are still making S’Mores in a cave in Afghanistan.
Seven years.
I hesitate to comment on this blog. September 11 is still an event of such importance, and is indelibly imprinted on my mind. The images still strike horror into my heart, much as do the images of Kennedy’s murder and the old footage of Pearl Harbor.
Nothing that’s been done since that day in September of 2001 makes me feel any less or more safe from terrorists. There is much, however, that makes me feel more threatened by our own government’s reactions and restrictions, to say nothing of the loss of liberties American citizens are now experiencing.
I sure don’t feel that the airport screening is at all effective. Just a year ago I flew into our nation’s capital to visit JavaJennifer. Unbeknownst to me, my computer bag still contained a foo-long knife that I had used at work for an event, then put in my computer bag to take home. Did the screeners find it? Hell, no. I could have done some serious damage with that thing, had I been so inclined. But, heck, I had taken my shoes off before I boarded for the flight to D.C. so I was deemed “safe” to fly.
This left-leaning liberal will fly the American flag on 9/11 and will shed tears for the lives of all the innocent people lost. When all is said and done, I’m an American, first and foremost.
Very nicely put, Mickie, on Sept 11th we should all put away partisan stuff and stand together as Americans.
When I think of 9/11 I feel both tears of joy for what I have been givin and am allowed to keep and tears of un ending pain for our country and those families who have suffered such loss that I could never understand fully.
I have been thinking about this anniversery, I remeber that year well and it marks some important mile stones for me which I am eternally grateful. I am sure I will hold my baby boy and cry for those who lost theirs. Thank you for remembering and writing about 9/11, makes all of us feel a little less alone in sorrow.
God Bless this beautiful world.