Friday, September 12, 2008

9/12

Yesterday was a day of collective remembrance in our country. It marked a day of horrific losses, the day our lives changed. It was a turning point. Everything gets lumped into two categories, before and after. The day before 9/11, I was worried about finding a job. I spent my time alternating between online job hunting, and playing with my son. We read books, went to the park, watched tv and sang a lot of songs.
For me, Sept 12th was the day it all sunk in. I'd spent the night before wondering what it all meant. How much the world was going to change. Wednesday, we woke up to a new reality. For the first time in my life, I was fearful for our general safety. I was absolutely petrified for my son's future. What kind of world was he going to grow up in, and inherit from us? A world of clashing ideologies, terroristic threats, and fear?
I remember how suddenly patriotism was all the rage. Long before 9/11, we'd taught our son the Pledge of Allegiance. I remember the flags, everywhere. For a few weeks, Americans loved each other and it was good. But soon after, we started blaming countries and groups based on vague information we got from the news. We started hating again. Calling for war and blood. When we couldn't find the people responsible for that terrible day, we went after others, just plain eager to start a fight. Now don't get me wrong, I'm not for or against war, per se. Too long to explain.
All I know is that MOST people simply want to live their lives, and be left alone. Left alone to work, raise children, watch baseball, fall in love, worship their chosen deity and at the end, be able to look back and smile. Really, is that too much to ask? Doesn't everyone on earth deserve that much?
These are my thoughts on 9/11, jumbled as they may be.

3 comments:

Veronica Garcia said...

I remember that day very clearly. It was my 2nd day at my "new" job. 7 years later, I'm still here. And now, I have a son of my own to look after.

Great read. I couldn't have said it better myself. :)

Confessions of A Mississippi Mom said...

I tell you my faith human strength was restored after this date.. my family prepared for our family members to go off to war, it hit home then for me. not so much on 9/11 but months later when we knew that life would never be the same nor would be getting on plane... Do I feel safer now, NO ... I'm not racist but I \look at people from the middle east the same.

Chris said...

Ya know I can remember almost every detail of what I did that day. It was a day I worked late and I was watching GMA when the 1st plane hit. I cried a lot that day and I have cried many times since in the last 7 years because of the events of that day. There have been so many things both difficult and confusing that followed that day. Many that will never make any sense to me.