'Oh, That’s Right, It's 9/11!’

You know, you seem to hear an awful lot of that yesterday.  Hmmm, it seems that our retention span diminishes each year.  Remember where you were September 11, 2001?  I was driving to work, just pulling into the parking lot near my office at Auburn University , where I was formerly the Professor of Aerospace Studies (AFROTC…for those of you who don’t get out much).

How many of you know what yesterday was besides the anniversary of 9/11? Have you ever heard of Patriot Day?  Go ahead check out your calendar!  “Well, I’ll be…,” you’re saying. “When did that happen?” Now you’re thinking, “I wonder why it’s not a Federal holiday?”  Ok, are you sitting down?  Here it is…!

 

On September 4, 2002, President Bush used his authority created by resolution and proclaimed September 11, 2002 as Patriot Day. He has continued to make similar declarations every year since.  On this day, the President directs that the flag of the United States be flown at half-staff and displayed from individual American homes, at the White House, and on all U.S. Government buildings and establishments, at home and abroad. The President also asks Americans to observe a moment of silence beginning at 8:46 A.M. (Eastern Daylight Time) marking the first plane crash on Sept. 11, 2001.

 

I know…I know…you’re thinking that’s great, but wait a minute…why don’t we get a day off in remembrance of 9/11?  Well … Hello!  Let’s put things back in perspective.  On September 11, 2001, over 3,000 of our fellow citizens lost their lives due to terrorist acts executed right here in this country.

 

Forget about isolationism my friend…they know where we live and they like it when we’re scared and bad mouth one another on TV and on the radio. They think it’s funny that we take them so lightly. If I were them, I would!  Why not! Remember the phrase from that old movie titled It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad World ?  Yeah, that’s right…the big “W!”  Where Jonathan Winters keeps saying over and over again, “We’ve just got to get organized!…We’ve just got to get organized!”

 

Well…ok, when are we going to get serious about getting organized and realize that these fanatics are out to kill us?  How many more times do we have to view those planes flying into the World Trade Center.

 

Members of the www.MoveOn.org crowd had the answer.  Oh yeah…let’s see…! In the days following September 11th, 2001, they launched an online petition calling for a restrained and multi-lateral response to the attacks, which they say was quickly signed by more than half a million people. A petition!  Well, I know I feel safe, don’t you?

Or how about a nonbinding resolution passed yesterday by Congress commemorating the 9/11 attacks.  It had 12 "whereas" clauses — stating things like what happened the day of the terrorist attacks, who was affected and how terrorists have been targeted since then — and six resolution paragraphs establishing Sept. 11 as a day of remembrance, extending sympathies to families of victims who died and honoring those who have fought in Afghanistan and Iraq.  Well guess what, Rep. Dennis Kucinich, Democratic presidential candidate was the sole congressman on Tuesday to vote against the House's Sept. 11 commemoration resolution.

Ok!…How do you think we should observe Patriot Day?  And just for the record…I’m not suggesting we get another day off either!

 

“We’ve just got to get organized!” 

Comments

[beth]

I have mixed feelings about Patriot's Day. I just hate the thought that in 10 years it'll be an excuse to be off work and have a cook-out and no one will remember why we have it.

Or worse, it'll be added to another holiday or few.

I suppose they felt the same way about Pearl Harbor and that's hardly recognized any more.

[michael]

There are many unanswered questions regarding what happened on 9/11; including no mention whatsoever that concurrent with the airplane hi-jacking the USAF was in the middle of a national war-game excercise, which should have meant that it would have noticed abherent civilian plane activity more quickly, and responded more quickly as well. Additionally, it is clear today that GW Bush lied about Iraq having WMD's, and also used the 9/11 event to direct US anger towards Iraq, even though there is no evidence that Iraq was involved. Therefore, the USA invasion of Iraq is illegal, and the patriotism of every American soldier has been compromised. At the same time, as adults, every member of the military must evaluate the moral and legal implications of their actions. No one is making you kill anyone in Iraq, or anywhere else. It is your choice. My advice to you is to refuse to be part of the mass murders that are taking place in Iraq, and to advice your colleagues to do the same. It is Bush who should be on trial for war crimes now, not the Iraqis. They have been attacked without provocation. This is the legal truth of the situation, every other story is pure fantasy driven by a Republican oriented media, that earns its money through oil related advertisors, and is run by CEO's who want Republican created tax advantages. They do not care about the military, they only care about money. Even Saddam gave us better gas prices than the CEO's who now control the oil. Also, Bush has done absolutely nothing to improve the USA as a whole. He has done nothiong for the schools, for health care, for retirees, for the environment, for small businesses—nothing. All he does is wave the flag, say God Bless America, and the destroy our freedoms in the name of his slef created terrorism bullshit. One more thing, standing up to Bush and his thinnly disguised brutality and lies is the most patriotic thing you can do. I suggest you wake up, and start helping his government be replaced by honest Americans.
________________

Michael,

In reference to your comments:

"...All he (Bush) does is wave the flag, say God Bless America, and the destroy our freedoms in the name of his slef(self) created terrorism bullshit..."

That said, how would you label 9/11? Most honest Americans I know considered it an act of terror...! Thank you for your comments!

jd

[Bernie]

Well…ok, when are we going to get serious about getting organized and realize that these fanatics are out to kill us? How many more times do we have to view those planes flying into the World Trade Center.

(Quote)

The truth is:

- Our own abortion clinics kill a lot more of our babies than any terrorist group.

- Our own left wing militias (Street gangs) shoot more of us than any enemy comabtants.

- Our own drug dealers poison more of us than any nations chemical warefare program

- Our own sexual imorality infects more of us than anybody's biological weapons.

It would appear that our own godlessness is a bigger threat to us than anyone on the outside. Imposing this godlesness upon the Islamic world is only going to stir things up more than win anything. In the words of Pat Buchanan "They came over here because we are over there. Doing more of what makes them angry and doing it more openly and blatently will make our problem worse, not better. I burned my flag the day the "Rapist in Chief" AKA Bill Clinton became President and "Evil Emporor Bush" Has not given me any cause to replace it.