September 11th: A Day of Reflection!

We all remember where we were and what were were doing that fateful day in mid September of 2001. Six years later, we are once again brought to the attention of it's meaning and it's impact on our lives. Today marks another a day of remembrance for us as Americans. Let us not forget what emotions we felt that day nor the feelings that we absorbed through the times ahead. Let us not forget the feelings we had on those moments following the attacks of grief, disbelief, anger, hatred and finally, something that had been missing in this wonderful Free world for a period of time, a feeling of unity with others across our country.

Picking it a part today as we did back then, we would be lying if we said we don't grieve for the loved ones lost and their families anymore. We are an emotional and sentimental group of individuals in this country and even more so when our own fall due to the hands of another. Grieving, they say, is part of the healing process. So this I ask, how long does this healing process take? Only God and yourself can truly answer that.

The disbelief came only after we realized that this was no accident. It was an attack on America and our culture of values. an attack of a way of life, not of what we did to them. As the truth about the attackers unfolded over the weeks, months and years ahead, astonishment also set in to me as well as many Americans when it was revealed that President William Jefferson Clinton, had an opportunity to take custody of Osama Bin Laden from the Saudis and refused. Knowing that the mastermind behind the September 11th attacks was in our hands at one point and this tragic event could have been avoided disappointed many Americans. Too many to be exact.

After we realized who did what and the possible reasons why, we were angry at many things. I know I was angry at the Muslim World, the media for providing excuses of why we were attacked and at the previous administration for letting Bin Laden go. It appeared to me that anger was the only emotion that really mattered or needed to be portrayed, because all else would do no good unless we defeated them. My anger was emotional and in my eyes, completely logical. Fair to sound that way you might ask? I'm not sure, what emotions did you feel when we were attacked? Helpless? Disappointed? Sickened? Anger set in about when? Not long thereafter, so yes, it is fair for me to sound like that. Remember, we were attacked and the anger I had felt was due to the notion of not being able to help my country, like so many others felt at the time.

I used the word hatred earlier, and yes it may be a strong word, however, it is an emotion that truly was felt and properly justified following the attacks. Obviously, if the terrorists had enough hatred of us on their minds to kill our fellow Americans, then it is only fitting to return the favor. Right? Let us not take this out of context. Hatred, unlike the anger felt, was due to the attackers. The anger was from not being able to do anything to prevent the attacks. The hatred felt towards the Muslim community and Middle Easterners in general at the time following the attacks was justified. If it were WWII again, where would the hatred have been applied? The Japanese, the individuals that attacked us. So, as much as it is wrong to hate, we clearly had reason at the time.

Lastly, we remember the greatest feeling at the time. Unfortunately, it came at a price. Unity was across the country accomplished, at least for a period time. True as it was, Boston Red Sox Fans love New York Fans and Democrats and Republicans joined hand in hand to make a stance against the attackers. The terrorists wanted to change America. Well it did. There were more flags flown, more ribbons pinned on, more patriotic songs written and more unity amongst Americans. Unity is a great thing, especially for a country like ours. I hope we get it back, but with out the price we paid before. The ones that perished on 9/11 would not forgive us.

Remember, we are not alone. The ones that gave their lives that day still are with us in various ways. Remember who they are. They are loved ones and strangers and neighbors and fathers and mothers and sisters and brothers and sons and daughters and aunts and uncles and more true than not, they were Americans. They still exist in our hearts, on memorials, on flags, on shirts, on granite, and on plaques. Remember this of the ones lost in New York, Washington DC and in Pennsylvania on that fateful day, they will always be Americans.

God Bless America!