Its 9/11 again. The anniversary of one of the few times in this nations short, sometimes brutal, but always undeniably glorious history that we have been attacked by a foreign power on our native soil. There are a lot of opinions out there about who is to blame and the hows and the whys of it all, but nothing changes the what. On Sept. 11th, 2001 over 3000 Americans died just going to work, or sight seeing with no idea what was ahead of them that day. In the hours that followed more died; this time knowing the dangers but still duty bound to serve and protect, to save what could be saved. They bravely went into the heart of danger to bring safety to others. Americans just like me and my family. Maybe yours, too. That was 13 years ago today. And the families of those who died, whether tragically or heroically, are still grieving for them. Men, women, children, mothers, fathers, sons, daughters, even nieces and nephews, aunts and uncles, friends and family that can never be replaced. In that interim Ive heard condemnations over Americas involvement in the middle east and the number of deaths suffered in Iraq and Afghanistan and Libya and wherever else. I heard the other day that America is now being criticized globally for hypocrisy due to reactions over ISISs executing an American being greater than reactions over the ongoing brutality and deaths perpetrated against so many middle easterners by ISIS. And it may even be true. I know it is for me, though I reject the label of hypocrisy. The fact is that right or wrong, Im an American. And America is like my family. All Americans, even the assholes, the crazy uncles, the overly religious extended relatives that you only see at holidays and they send the entire time telling you whats wrong with the world and especially the way youre living. All of them. They are my family. And I will defend each and everyone of them with my last breath - except the pedophiles, keep that shit in Bangkok. So yes, I am more outraged by the death of one American at the hands of militant religious extremists than by the wholesale slaughter of dozens of their own people. And yes, in fact, I do care far more about the 3000 American lives lost in the 9/11 attacks than over all the foreign deaths that have occurred since. And I am damn proud of it. Just like Im proud to be an American. Right or wrong, good or bad, regardless of what what I may think of the Government or its current policies on any given subject; the fact is that I still love this country and all that it represents. There are still more people trying to immigrate here than any other country in the world. Thats not a coincidence. And I love the American people. Brash, boisterous, nosey, intrusive, optimistic, xenophobic, altruistic, smart, funny, fun loving, opinionated, obnoxious capitalistic, greedy, heroic, self indulgent Ameicans. They are my friends, my neighbors, my family. Flawed and imperfect theyre all beautiful. Just like this great nation. Share this if youre proud to Tobe an American, too.
Posted on: Thu, 11 Sep 2014 20:46:12 +0000