9/11 - 21 Years Later

It was 21 years ago today when our world changed forever. In the initial aftermath of 9/11, we were left feeling shocked and frightened. We didn't quite understand what was happening. Nor did we know how extensive the attacks would be. 

As the day unfolded, we began to hear the stories about the tragedies and the heroics. It was quite hard hard to digest. So many emotions were running through us. I remember simply feeling numb. I was waiting to wake up from this nightmare. But as the day went on, as much as I tried to deny it, I was fully awake...

Today, we now have a generation of young adults who were too young to remember the impact of that infamous day. Many weren't even born yet. I assume that most of them are, at least,  aware of what happened. But there seems to be an emotional disconnect with them.

Amazingly, American pride has somehow become controversial among "Generation Z". Simply displaying your American flag can now generation calls of bias and divisiveness. What was once a source of unity has somehow been transformed into a political lightning rod. How did this happen?

Just this Friday, one of our local high schools canceled "Red, White & Blue Day" because too many people found it offensive. That's right, a display of American pride is now offensive to some Americans. The event was supposed to serve as celebration of American pride as well as a remembrance of the events of 9/11. It was scheduled to occur during the school's Friday night football game. It was ultimately changed to a Hawaiian themed night. I'm not really sure how Hawaii ties into a Friday night football game in Pasadena, Maryland. But there you have it.

The community immediately responded by organizing a makeshift parade of cars, trucks and motorcycles. Each proudly displaying American flags and other patriotic decorations. The assembly gathered at a large open lot and then proceeded to drive past the high school football field with horns a-blowin'. While some of the Hawaii crowd might have been annoyed, The First Amendment was on full display for them to witness....

I can't quite wrap my head around all of this. Even if the sight of anything that's red, white and blue does somehow bother you, why do you feel the need to cancel it for so many others? After all, this is America, a country where individual freedoms were once celebrated. But today, there's an immediate rush to shut down any opposing views. This cancel culture has to stop.

So many people, of all backgrounds, have fought and sacrificed to make America what it is today. And yes, it is great. I give the ultimate thanks to members of our military and the first responders who do so much unsung work that most people never know about. These are real American heroes.

The images of 9/11 still haunt me to this day. I will never forget how I felt. I fought back the tears when I toured Ground Zero several years later. The personal stories from the survivors were heartbreaking. But the resolve that America showed in the aftermath was extraordinary. While I hope that we never experience anything like it again, I wish there was a way to harness the emotion that we all felt on that day. 

Today, perhaps more than ever, we need to find a source of unity that brings us together as a country once again. We can certainly disagree. and we will. Who knows? Maybe we can find an amiable middle ground. But somewhere along the line, we need to find a way to once again celebrate the place we all call home. 

kw