Five years ago, America got the hardest kick to it's pride in ages. The horrors witnessed that day will be the earmark in history that this generation will carry with them for the rest of our lives.
But there was a silver lining. In the aftermath of a national disaster, people finally came together in order to offer their aid. People were proud to be Americans again. Patriotism was at the highest levels I had ever seen in public. Flags were becoming harder and harder to find...something that had never happened before. There was anger. There was confusion. There was alot of hatred wrongly created, but importantly there was Hope. Hope, that if we opened our eyes we could see the faces of those in this world that hated us enough to try and take us down a peg.
The first reaction to something like this is almost always "Somebody will pay for this." Collectively we mourned with this thought brewing in the backs of our minds. We knew that someone wanted us to hurt, and it was time to clean house. Security was dramatically increased everywhere we feared another possible act of terrorism. We went to war. A war that is going to continue to be fought. Both abroad and at home.
They (terrorists) did what they knew would make us second guess everything we do in the future. In a way, by making it harder for things to happen again, they have us on full alert constantly. The country that feared nothing, now has to ensure itself constantly. We suspect everything now. This is where they got us. Yes, we struck back. But we still haven't gotten all of our targets, and we won't. Again they laugh, as the most advanced military on the planet can't find a bunch of cave-dwelling sadists with chips on their shoulders. We lose sight of the mission, and the world watches us stumble.
Like introducing a virus, they created a serious question of doubt of our own strength. Fingers started pointing to people outside of the terrorists. People in our own country. Saying that it was the President's and our own government's fault for letting this happen.
It was you too.
The United States as a country is quickly losing ground with it's own people. Our economy is shot, because our priorities are not in order. Greed follows tragedy like a vulture trailing the wounded. We'd sooner act so rediculously irrational and waste precious time, funds and understanding on trivial and meaningless material things (SUV's, over sensationalized jewelry, music, technology, etc.) than get shit right immediately. It's not your job...
If I told you that you had no choice in how much you were going to spend on that gas, to power that oversized H2, you'd be pissed. But you do it anyways. Everytime the gas shoots up, you swear. And yet you find yourself dropping at least fifty bucks putting fuel in your car. Every single day, billionaires get more money lining their pockets by taking advantage of you all, and they don't care. What we spend (now) on gas in a few months, could fund all the testing in the world to find a better fuel alternative. But we're told differently. The collective desire to look good, be trendy, and have it convenient too, is so incredibly stupid when compared to neccessity. Commercialism dominates all outlets of this economy now. And you've sold your soul for an Ipod. "Common-sense" has left the building.
Why did this seemingly reminiscent look-back on 9/11, turn into an angry rant? Because this morning, I realized just how bad it has finally gotten. Very few people care. People here have gotten too comfortable being uncomfortable. This morning, as I got into my car, I saw no other flags on my street but my own. None displayed in the other neighborhoods I passed along the way. I didn't see another flag until I was a mile a way from my school. I was livid. Five years ago, something so tragic brought out the patriot in us all. Five years ago, you couldn't be out of sight from a flag. And now, like a fad past it's trendy peak, the flag seems to have been forgotten again. Only in this country does a banner represent every one of your rights. You have the right to speak your mind, absolute freedom-to do whatever you wish, even to have the right to burn it. And only a few honor it?
"But the media has been talking about it for weeks now..." The information that this country's media focuses on is a whole other part of the problem. I remember being told that a good journalist is non-objective. I have an opinion. I've formed that by reviewing both sides. But now, you accept news from a corporate owned, mildly entertaining, windbag that's got a cable show, trying to spin you into following his lead. Just report the damn news!!! And don't follow up a story on some tragic event, with a tale of pandas being born or some lame human-interest piece. They don't balance out. My day doesn't get brighter after hearing something like that..."That's horrible news...well, at least there's a new panda at that zoo in somewhereelse, Wa." I'm sick of the bullshit.
Am I a hypocrite? Yes. I drive my large car, I have a cell phone, I enjoy my music, and I use a computer. But- My car was built in 1963 using American Steel, it gets damn good gas mileage and is tough as hell too. I conveinience myself with a cellphone because it comes in handy when there are people I need to reach or emergencies to call in. And my music- My prefered music station was an independant outlet that was bought out for more corporate radio. And as far as the computer goes, this is my connection to the world outside of Kansas. If I were to make these points in public, I'd probably get arrested.
I commend you if you actually read and understood all of this. It is my hope that you did your part today and everyday to portray the ideal life of an American citizen and not live your life by being bought out. There is a need for change, or like all other great empires before us, we're doomed to fail. -Richard W. Hoffman