Where I was 9 years ago and my thoughts about 9-11 today....
I'm thinking back where I was when I heard that the Twin Towers were tumbling down. I was sitting in my home office, on Waterman, wondering by my cell phone and home phone was ringing off the hook. I hadn't left for Austin, Texas yet...I was still a potter but already moved into glass at that time...I had two dogs...and a huge house with a huge yard to take care of.
Then I answered my cell, it was a friend telling me to turn on my TV. I did…I was shocked…then I was pissed…then I was very sad…then I went right back to pissed. The extremists really didn’t do their job. This was an act of terrorism…to inspire pure terror in the hearts and souls of Americans. What it did do was breed a sort of bigotry on both sides of the fence…start another senseless war….and create a deep seated anger within many people.
I NOW think of the relentless terrorism happening in Israel. I NOW think of the Russian Beslan school siege or the massacre of over 300 people, mostly children…I also think of what is happening to the women and children in South Africa. I think of all the loss and sadness resulting in Northern Ireland and England It is my hope that the future generations think of an IRA as Individual Retirement Account instead of Irish Republican Army first. That the future generations do not forget history but move beyond it.
Terrorism without borders has been happening for centuries. Look at the Catholic Church’s reign of power brokering…ya know all the war mongering-gay bashing-witch burning-woman subjugating-folks that dress in black. They were their own ecclesiastic institution for combating/suppressing heresy. For those that believe that the CC is an enity of white light and fuzzy bunny thoughts…read the Malleus Maleficarum . It will raise the hair at the back of your neck. In my worldview, heresy is simply questioning authority and that does not involve torture of any kind. The CC’s bout of bad behavior is slowly coming to a close in the age of information and the number of people coming forward telling their stories of molestation.
Geez, at least the Vikings were honest about their intentions…rape, pillage, and burn.
No…I do not forgive even my fellow Americans for such acts of brutality like the Omaha Courthouse Burning on September 28, 1919. Will Brown was killed, mutilated, and then burned on the courthouse lawn. Nor do I forgive the Timothy McVeigh-Terry Nichols-Jim Jones-David Koreshes of the world. I am also puzzled by all the anti-abortion violence. That one just makes no sense to me…pro-life and killing don’t equate.
I am not at war with Islam or even the creepy Vatican dudes….I now have an extreme distain of the zealots, fanatics, and martyrs of the world. 9-11 has opened my eyes to the fact that terrorism is without borders…that Americans, be it pro or con, can be some of the most generous people on the planet…but we also can be some of the biggest assholes as well. It’s that flip side of the creation-destruction coin. I’m not saying that we always follow adult behaviors…we don’t. As a rule, most Americans treat people as they would like to be treated…well, on good days that is. My government…well, that might be a bit different …that why I’m a strong supporter of WikiLeaks, ACLU, and free journalism. It just keeps the honesty flowing, if you get what I mean.
There are atrocities committed on a daily basis and 9-11 was one of those atrocities. I think it’s our job as Americans not to commit any atrocities and try to prevent future ones happening. How that is done coast to coast or pole to pole…damn if I know…but I can wish and make my opinions known to my elected officials. What I can do is work towards this goal by not going postal…not flipping one of my fellow drivers the bird. All humor aside…by simply caring about my family, friends, and neighbors…by the willingness to help where help is needed…by not closing my eyes or turning my head when somebody needs help…by not bulling nor being bullied…by not taking the path resistance if it isn’t called for…and learning to walk away when my ‘assistance’ isn’t needed. There is a very fine line between needed assistance and perceived assistance.
Off to clean my garage...that's how I'm spending my day!
~Moon