January 19, 2007
Two-hundred thirty-one years ago, a small group of people got together and decided that they were tired of tyranny. They were tired of fear. They were tired of abuse and oppression. They made a decision that effected many more, forcing the others to make a choice. Maybe they would have made it on their own, but probably not. Too many of us choose to wait until decisions are forced on us. It's easier to ignore it and hope it goes away. The decision that those few people made generated a new identity. A new pride was born. A brand new country. Large cities have more people on City Council than were involved in that original decision, but the result was the United States of America. We've been tenacious and aggressive in our growth and progress. We had the French and Indian War, the Mexican War, but until the Civil War we really never had a battle on our own turf. That was long ago, and we've never experienced anything like the rest of the world has.
I am sorry for my ignorance at what it has been like in other countries. I am sorry for not understanding what it was like for my friend Noe to have to leave his home in the face of execution. I am sorry for being so pampered. Please, don't think that this means I don't have concern or respect for what is going on in other places. As long as I've been alive, I've believed in the back of my mind that wars happen in other places... not here. On September 11th, 2001 that all changed.
Our country has risen to a position of influence arguably faster than any other power in recorded history. We might have limited real "inventions" that are really associated with us, but we are the kings and queens of adapting. We learned that part from our West European heritage. We take what is known, and we make something better. As a world influence, a symbol of our impact was attacked. A set of buildings that house over 50,000 people was hit during work hours. I've frankly not lived in a lot of towns that had that many people. That's like wiping out everyone I've ever known or even met. The ripple of impact ran faster and wider than a nuclear strike. This approach was brilliant in its distruction and impact. The entire country shut down. The entire world went into alert. Any friend of the USA found themselves wondering if they would be next by association. We've been arguing in country about sending our people to die on foreign soil for causes we don't understand. I wonder if it would be better received if they were dying on our soil, like all the people associated with 9.11. About 3,000 people died in that attact. They weren't soldiers.
Heroes were created on that day. Real heroes. Not people that were trained or decided to be heroes. Real heroes. The kind of people that who just went about their lives, and then reacted to a horrible situation. They didn't have the opportunity to pick up a stick and hit the bad guy. They were heroes by helping those around them. They made decisions, and helped each other. May whatever higher power there may be in this life bless those wonderful people.
Lawyers often show pictures of a crime scene in an effort to make the jury so angry that they will desire to take vengeance on anyone they see... in hopes that it will be the defendant. Maybe that's what we feel. Then again, maybe we are sick and tired of going places and hearing about how we deserve to die because of whatever we've done. And I know, we've done a lot...
Imagine this: there are two bullies on the playground. They arise as leaders on the playground after ganging together to get rid of another bully. At the time, they both agree that the third bully is horrible. After that one is gone, they turn on each other. Who is going to influence the rest of the playground? They gather their friends around them. They start putting rocks and stones in piles, and they have their followers try to make the rocks and stones into something more powerful to use against the other bully. Unfortunately, they are both doing the same thing. Friends are made during the fight for playground supremecy that aren't real. Words are spoken, promises made, gifts are offered. The rocks aren't thrown, the improved sticks aren't used, but one of the bullies falls. He can't keep going. The other bully goes quiet. There are no other bullies. She forgets the friendships she had made earlier during the struggle. Many of those friends learned what the bully taught them. They were angry at being abandoned when they were no longer considered necessary. The friends rose up. Now they are bullies on their own right. The original Bully has to deal with that now.
We've only been around for a short time with respect to recorded history, but we've had a lot of influence. The Middle East (and I hate that it is so called, given the fact that the entire human civilization was essentially born out of this area) has been around for a long time. Their conflicts have been long and constant. We are just another battle. I know that others (friends of mine) consider this entire action to be internationally illegal. I am not going to put my thoughts and beliefs into that. I can only say that it is too late. We are vested in this. We can't leave with the current state of affairs. We have to make things right. There are people who are counting on us.
I know that I'm not particularly well informed on these things. I just know that I was taught that when you start something, you finish it. Things come up, but you make it right. Whatever it takes...
Yeah, I just watched "World Trade Center"
I am sorry for my ignorance at what it has been like in other countries. I am sorry for not understanding what it was like for my friend Noe to have to leave his home in the face of execution. I am sorry for being so pampered. Please, don't think that this means I don't have concern or respect for what is going on in other places. As long as I've been alive, I've believed in the back of my mind that wars happen in other places... not here. On September 11th, 2001 that all changed.
Our country has risen to a position of influence arguably faster than any other power in recorded history. We might have limited real "inventions" that are really associated with us, but we are the kings and queens of adapting. We learned that part from our West European heritage. We take what is known, and we make something better. As a world influence, a symbol of our impact was attacked. A set of buildings that house over 50,000 people was hit during work hours. I've frankly not lived in a lot of towns that had that many people. That's like wiping out everyone I've ever known or even met. The ripple of impact ran faster and wider than a nuclear strike. This approach was brilliant in its distruction and impact. The entire country shut down. The entire world went into alert. Any friend of the USA found themselves wondering if they would be next by association. We've been arguing in country about sending our people to die on foreign soil for causes we don't understand. I wonder if it would be better received if they were dying on our soil, like all the people associated with 9.11. About 3,000 people died in that attact. They weren't soldiers.
Heroes were created on that day. Real heroes. Not people that were trained or decided to be heroes. Real heroes. The kind of people that who just went about their lives, and then reacted to a horrible situation. They didn't have the opportunity to pick up a stick and hit the bad guy. They were heroes by helping those around them. They made decisions, and helped each other. May whatever higher power there may be in this life bless those wonderful people.
Lawyers often show pictures of a crime scene in an effort to make the jury so angry that they will desire to take vengeance on anyone they see... in hopes that it will be the defendant. Maybe that's what we feel. Then again, maybe we are sick and tired of going places and hearing about how we deserve to die because of whatever we've done. And I know, we've done a lot...
Imagine this: there are two bullies on the playground. They arise as leaders on the playground after ganging together to get rid of another bully. At the time, they both agree that the third bully is horrible. After that one is gone, they turn on each other. Who is going to influence the rest of the playground? They gather their friends around them. They start putting rocks and stones in piles, and they have their followers try to make the rocks and stones into something more powerful to use against the other bully. Unfortunately, they are both doing the same thing. Friends are made during the fight for playground supremecy that aren't real. Words are spoken, promises made, gifts are offered. The rocks aren't thrown, the improved sticks aren't used, but one of the bullies falls. He can't keep going. The other bully goes quiet. There are no other bullies. She forgets the friendships she had made earlier during the struggle. Many of those friends learned what the bully taught them. They were angry at being abandoned when they were no longer considered necessary. The friends rose up. Now they are bullies on their own right. The original Bully has to deal with that now.
We've only been around for a short time with respect to recorded history, but we've had a lot of influence. The Middle East (and I hate that it is so called, given the fact that the entire human civilization was essentially born out of this area) has been around for a long time. Their conflicts have been long and constant. We are just another battle. I know that others (friends of mine) consider this entire action to be internationally illegal. I am not going to put my thoughts and beliefs into that. I can only say that it is too late. We are vested in this. We can't leave with the current state of affairs. We have to make things right. There are people who are counting on us.
I know that I'm not particularly well informed on these things. I just know that I was taught that when you start something, you finish it. Things come up, but you make it right. Whatever it takes...
Yeah, I just watched "World Trade Center"