AMERICAN

Today is September 11, 2008. The seven year anniversary of the most horrific attack on the United States in modern history. This is a day of remembrance and prayer for those who perished on this day in 2001. I do my best to remember how we were as a nation on September 10, 2001 and what we became on September 12, 2001. We were a divided nation prior to September 11, 2001. We were a nation divided along political lines, religious lines, ideological lines, race lines, income lines and gender lines. We saw each other as “the other person”. We didn’t have a grasp of who we were. How could we, we were too busy going about our daily routines, reinforcing an ideological sphere of existence. On September 12, 2001, things had changed. We had changed! The lines that had once separated us had vanished and we were all on the same side. We weren’t Republicans, Democrats, whites, blacks, Hispanics, gay, straight, Christians, Jews, Atheists, man, woman, rich or poor. We were Americans. Our collective thoughts and beliefs had merged into a oneness. An act of terrorist barbarianism had brought us together as nothing else could. It was a time of hope. Sure, we were attacked, but that attack opened a portal of insight for us to see the beauty in what was possible. It allowed us to see each other for what we were: Americans. We were “our brothers keeper”.

After every great calamity that has befallen our country, we have always joined together for a better tomorrow, a better future. After the Revolutionary war, our nation came together to pursue hope, prosperity and freedom under a document that has propelled this nation of free people to greatness: The Constitution. After the Civil war, our nation came together to pursue hope, prosperity and equality through the abolishment of slavery. After World War I, our nation came together to pursue hope and prosperity with the Industrial Revolution. After World War II, our nation came together to pursue hope and prosperity through the dreams of the Greatest Generation. Through all of the aforementioned calamities we survived to pursue a dream: The American Dream. A dream that doesn’t have anything to do with what your religion is, or your political party, or your gender, or your race, or your station in life, but what you want to become. A dream of the future. On this day, September 11, 2008, I am compelled to wonder what have we to show for the calamity that befell us seven years ago. Have we seized upon that opportunity to make our country a better place? A better place not for us, but for generations to come. Have we thought not of ourselves but of our children? Are we still “our brothers keeper”? The terrorists who attacked us September 11, 2001 did it to accomplish two goals: 1) to inflict fear into our consciousness and 2) to divide us. On September 12, 2001, we, as a united America, proved that they didn’t succeed. They didn’t divide us, they brought us together. It wasn’t fear that we had in our consciousness, but hope and love. We were at the precipice of another opportunity for our nation to do great things. Have we done great things since that day? Have we continued to “be our brothers keeper”? Have we sought to leave this earth better than we found it? Have we thought of others and not of ourselves? Have we made sacrifices for the betterment of future generations?

On this day of remembrance, I mourn for those that lost their lives on that tragic day seven years ago and for our nation. I mourn for this nation and the opportunity that we have lost. I believe that we have lost the unity and love we had on September 12, 2001. I believe that we have failed to remember that “we are our brothers keeper’. We have fallen back to where we where on September 10, 2001. A nation divided along political lines, religious lines, ideological lines, race lines, income lines and gender lines. We see each other as “the other person”. I know this because of what my personal experiences provide me. Every day I get emails from all types of people telling me how “bad” someone is. These emails are usually directed at someone who is sacrificing their life to make this world a better place for our children and future generations. These emails are usually misleading and false, but the people sending them don’t know that, I believe. They are just sending them because they fear the “other person” or group. I see division in our country on the television, in the newspapers, on the internet and in our churches, synagogues and mosques. I see all of this and can’t help but wonder: did the terrorists succeed? Have they divided our country? Do we live with fear? Have we forgotten what we were on September 12, 2001? Have we forgotten that on that day, were weren’t Republicans, Democrats, whites, blacks, Hispanics, gay, straight, Christians, Jews, Atheists, man, woman, rich or poor. We were Americans! Americans united to “be our brothers keeper.” As Americans, we may not be able to change the world, but we can change our world.

Each night before I go to sleep, I offer up this prayer to God: “God, I pray for truth, love, honesty and wisdom to make this world a better place for my children. I pray for peace and goodwill for all of mankind.” I don’t pray for only those who have the same beliefs that I do. I pray for all of the people in my community, state and country. I pray for all of mankind. I do this because I need God to give me the strength and will to “be my brothers keeper”. I know that I can’t change the world, but I believe that I can change my world. This is a difficult task, but I pray for the strength and guidance to do it. I ask that you too remember to pray for everyone in your community, state and country. Don’t just pray for those people who have the same beliefs as you. Pray for all of mankind! Be your brothers keeper! On this day, September 11, 2008, pray that you will not let another day go by that you have to live in fear or be divided. Pray for the strength to be “your brothers keeper”. Offer a hand to those who seek to divide us and keep us in fear and remind them that we are all Americans. Remember that if you are your brothers keeper, then you must sacrifice your personal desires to the benefit of future generations. Remember that if you are your brothers keeper, then you are not a Republican, Democrat, white, black, Hispanic, gay, straight, Christian, Jew, Muslim, Atheist, man, woman, rich or poor: YOU ARE AN AMERICAN!

May God bless you and God Bless America!

Is that what you believe? Why do you think they attacked us? Why attack us?

Do you think it is because they fear our freedom?

I foresee a ribbon magnet on your SUV.

No debate here regarding if they "fear our freedom". Why would anyone fear freedom, unless you are some government that knows that freedom will bring about your demise. Can you think of any government such as that? I didn't use the word freedom in any part of my paper. Although, I did point out that "others" will use fear to accomplish a cynical goal.

My point is we have to look at 911 as a symptom...

Look at what is happening now in our political system. We actually have approximately 50% of the American people wanting a know nothing liar of a politician and a religious extremist to become the two most powerful people on the planet...

911 happened primarily because of our actions in the Middle East and especially the establishment of bases in Saudi Arabia, giving Bin Laden an excuse to use attacks as a political tool of his own to gain power in his world...

We cant come together in the way you describe as long as we have tens of millions of people who actively pursue a government in direct violation of our constitution...

It is a complicated mess, but your overall desire to see harmony isnt bad, just a bit naive given the disastrous positions of some folks...

I have done extensive research on the Middle East (Life and Times of Sir Richard Francis Burton, The History of the Middle East, the Quran, etc.), and I totally agree with you on the fact that they don't want us in their land. It's a point that most people seem to miss. I understand why THEY attacked US, and I understand that they will continue to do so as long as we occupy their land. My point isn't to side with the fear monger, it's to illuminate the obvious: we need to realize truth and come together as a nation to make a better place for our children and future generations. I may be naive, but I am a quick study. If we continue to attack the people on the "other side" then we'll just be attacking the "other side". I believe that we need to frame it in a way that eliminates the "us and them" and focus on the ours...such as our children, our future generations, our nation, our common interests.