Lessons of 9/11
In the years since the September 11th Attacks on the United States, many things have changed. We are not the country we were on September 10th, every news commentator and politician will tell you so. There are things that have changed in everyone's lives from the mundane to the rare, but things have changed. September 11th, 2001 will go down in history as one of those moments everyone who was alive will remember where they were when they heard that the World Trade Center had been hit by two passenger jets. For another generation, I liken it to where were you when you heard the Kennedy was shot, or that Pearl Harbor had been attacked. For myself, I liken it to when I heard that the Space Shuttle Challenger exploded, or when I heard that John Kennedy Jr. had died. I will always remember where I was when I first saw the Twin Towers ablaze in smoke and fire. I knew, before anyone had told me that we were under attack by terrorists. I think everyone in the country knew.
Now, five years later, on the eve of the anniversary of the September 11th Attacks, we begin recalling those who lost their lives and the strugle and tragedy of the day. However, there are some in this country that wish to use this anniversary, as they have used every other anniversary of the Attacks for political gain. In the wake of the Attacks, President George Bush vowed that he would capture and punish those who were responsible for this heinous act. Five years later, we are still waiting to see Osama Bin Ladin's head on a silver platter. Instead of forging ahead with a manhunt of global proportions, we have invaded a country that posed no threat to the United States of America and had nothing to do with the Sept. 11th Attacks. However, our leader stands before us, stating that the two are intertwined and we cannot win one without winning the other.
President Bush stands at his podium and warns the people of a new kind of fascism and declares that we will not bow to the enemy. But, lets take a look at our lives now: In the wake of the September 11th Terrorist Attacks we have seen our rights and privilages shrink. We can no longer bring liquids or drinks on an aircraft (yes, it may seem like a small thing now, but just read on). We are subject to searches at airports, seaports, bus stations. Our library records can be accessed without us knowing it. Our phone calls can be listened in on without a warrent. Where we surf on the internet is monitored. There are lists for everything in this country and I guarantee every citizen is on a list somewhere.
Since President Bush took office, this country has made a sharp right hand turn. People think that it has a lot to do with gay marriage, and abortion and stem cell research. But, it doesn't. It has to do with the tyranny brewing in our own country. President Bush talks at length about defending the Constitution of the United States, yet he walks all over it. He doesn't have a dialogue with the citizens of this country, he threatens them. The mainstay of his re-election campain was: "If you vote for Kerry, we will be attacked and your lives will end." What are people to think when their leader says things like that? Of course people are going to vote for someone that offers protection from the evil forces that want to ruin our way of life. But, lets be realistic: The Attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon and Flight 93 didn't affect our way of life, it was what President Bush did after that affected it. Look at what we have lost in the five years since the attacks. That is precisely what the terrorists wanted. They wanted to see us loose our liberties. Sure we still live in The United States of America, but what freedoms do we really have?
There was a time back in the 1920's when several nations were in a deep depression. The people of these nations looked to their leaders for help. In our country, we looked to Franklin Roosevelt to lead us. He gave us hope and ecouragement. In Italy and Germany, the leaders there didn't offer hope, they offered scapegoats. The offered fear to the citizenry and they ate it up because they were tired of starving. Today, in this country, we are eating it up. We are so hungry for a leader, we will stick with the one we have because he says he will protect us. But, he also says that anyone that defies him is the enemy.
As we approach the next election in less then two months, we need to look past the scare tactics and look at our lives. Are we better off now then we were five years ago? Is your child learning what he or she should in school? Are you able to pay your bills on time? What is the quality of your life today? If you honestly believe that the quality of your life is better then it was before September 11th, 2001, then you are in a minority. President Bush and his cronies don't offer solutions, they just offer more of the same. They will scare people into the voting booth. If our country is to survive, we must make sure to send a message to President Bush that we don't scare that easily.
Many people died as a result of the Attacks of September 11th. We cannot forget them or what they died for. They didn't die for a war based of false pretenses. They died for their loved ones, for their country and for people around the world who believe that democracy is the best type of government there is. We must remember them and mourn them and we must never forget what their deaths' mean.
Now, five years later, on the eve of the anniversary of the September 11th Attacks, we begin recalling those who lost their lives and the strugle and tragedy of the day. However, there are some in this country that wish to use this anniversary, as they have used every other anniversary of the Attacks for political gain. In the wake of the Attacks, President George Bush vowed that he would capture and punish those who were responsible for this heinous act. Five years later, we are still waiting to see Osama Bin Ladin's head on a silver platter. Instead of forging ahead with a manhunt of global proportions, we have invaded a country that posed no threat to the United States of America and had nothing to do with the Sept. 11th Attacks. However, our leader stands before us, stating that the two are intertwined and we cannot win one without winning the other.
President Bush stands at his podium and warns the people of a new kind of fascism and declares that we will not bow to the enemy. But, lets take a look at our lives now: In the wake of the September 11th Terrorist Attacks we have seen our rights and privilages shrink. We can no longer bring liquids or drinks on an aircraft (yes, it may seem like a small thing now, but just read on). We are subject to searches at airports, seaports, bus stations. Our library records can be accessed without us knowing it. Our phone calls can be listened in on without a warrent. Where we surf on the internet is monitored. There are lists for everything in this country and I guarantee every citizen is on a list somewhere.
Since President Bush took office, this country has made a sharp right hand turn. People think that it has a lot to do with gay marriage, and abortion and stem cell research. But, it doesn't. It has to do with the tyranny brewing in our own country. President Bush talks at length about defending the Constitution of the United States, yet he walks all over it. He doesn't have a dialogue with the citizens of this country, he threatens them. The mainstay of his re-election campain was: "If you vote for Kerry, we will be attacked and your lives will end." What are people to think when their leader says things like that? Of course people are going to vote for someone that offers protection from the evil forces that want to ruin our way of life. But, lets be realistic: The Attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon and Flight 93 didn't affect our way of life, it was what President Bush did after that affected it. Look at what we have lost in the five years since the attacks. That is precisely what the terrorists wanted. They wanted to see us loose our liberties. Sure we still live in The United States of America, but what freedoms do we really have?
There was a time back in the 1920's when several nations were in a deep depression. The people of these nations looked to their leaders for help. In our country, we looked to Franklin Roosevelt to lead us. He gave us hope and ecouragement. In Italy and Germany, the leaders there didn't offer hope, they offered scapegoats. The offered fear to the citizenry and they ate it up because they were tired of starving. Today, in this country, we are eating it up. We are so hungry for a leader, we will stick with the one we have because he says he will protect us. But, he also says that anyone that defies him is the enemy.
As we approach the next election in less then two months, we need to look past the scare tactics and look at our lives. Are we better off now then we were five years ago? Is your child learning what he or she should in school? Are you able to pay your bills on time? What is the quality of your life today? If you honestly believe that the quality of your life is better then it was before September 11th, 2001, then you are in a minority. President Bush and his cronies don't offer solutions, they just offer more of the same. They will scare people into the voting booth. If our country is to survive, we must make sure to send a message to President Bush that we don't scare that easily.
Many people died as a result of the Attacks of September 11th. We cannot forget them or what they died for. They didn't die for a war based of false pretenses. They died for their loved ones, for their country and for people around the world who believe that democracy is the best type of government there is. We must remember them and mourn them and we must never forget what their deaths' mean.