Tammi's World

September 11

This post began as a spewing of my intense anger. My anger at what happened on September 11, 2001.

To me it is as if we as a nation were raped. Raped and violated. Thugs, evil personified, figuratively drug us until a darkened alley and violently took our innocence. Violated the sactity of our freedom. On a large scale made us afraid.

Over the past 5 years our lives have had to change. We are at war. It's a long, bloody and violent war. Our liberties have been compromised. Our freedom has become less than it was before.

But as I worked on that post I ran that fateful day through my mind. Over and over again. Oh, please do not think a day goes by that I don't think of what happened. That I don't see the horror as fresh as the day it happened. I do. Every. Single. Day. But this, this was different.

New York City

The Pentagon

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You see I spent a great deal of that morning on the phone with a friend of mine. She lives just outside of Washington DC. She was in traffic trying to get to her babies. Her boyfriend worked at the pentagon. She was describing to me the sights, sounds and feelings in our nation's capitol just hours after a plane had crashed into what we THOUGHT was our most secure building. Afterall - that is the heart of our military. Who in their right mind would attack the Pentagon?!?!

The Pentagon

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Guess we know now.

The Pentagon

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I have a friend whose birthday is September 11th. He's retired Air Force and spent more than a couple of years working in the Pentagon. Those were his friends that died that day. Died without the opportunity to defend themselves. Died because of a hatred that is unimaginable. Well, it was unimaginable to me then. Now? Now I get it. I get it because my hatred towards them is almost as strong. I say almost because I do not have it in me to attack innocents. I do not have it in me to kill just to "make a statement".

Shanksville PA

New York City

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But our enemies have no such reserve. In fact - they thrive on the fact that most Americans do. On that fateful day in September they attacked the heart of this nation. Finacially and militarily. They attempted to attack the very seat of our government. Their goal? Terror, chaos and the hope that eventually we would turn on ourselves. Did they achieve their goals? I don't think so. Honestly. Oh, in those first hours, days even there was chaos. But it was an organized chaos. People working together. What about the terror? Are we afraid? Not to the level they wanted. We are not "terrorized". We fly, we continue to gather and move and live our lives. What scares me is the turning on each other. I see it. Every where I look. What happened to those days of our beautiful Stars and Strips wafting in the wind every where you look? What happened to the pride you saw on the faces of your neighbors. Pride in being an American.

The Pentagon

New York City

Click to enlarge

Like so many American's, that day will be a day I never forget. That day was the beginning. The beginning of what, it is still up to us to decide.

One thing I loved was the patriotism that ran amok throughout this country for the months after that day. Every where you looked there were flags, flown proudly. Every where.

I remember thinking THAT must have been what it was like during WWII. Everyone pulling together, fighting an enemy, doing what they had to do support the cause.

I honestly don't think there are many sights that move me more than seeing Old Glory waving free and proud in the wind.

Many lives were lost or changed forever on that fateful day five years ago. Please take the time to read the beautiful tributes that have been written for all 2, 996. Say a prayer or send a thought for all those children who lost a parent, lovers who lost that special someone, parents who lost their babies.

And please - for the love of this great country and the freedom we all cherish so much - never forget what happened. Never forget what we lost. Never forget - they came HERE. We owe it to ourselves and future generations to do all we can to make sure they never get the chance to do that again.

Posted by Tammi at September 11, 2006 12:01 AM | TrackBack