9/11

So, this should have been published on September 11, and I have no good excuses for not having done it then. It's been over a month since I posted, and I thought 9/11 should be the next post. I already posted some of my thoughts on 9/11 on my Flag Day post, but I just thought I'd take a minute to explain a little more.

Many people don't want to remember 9/11. I am of the opinion that remembering that day is the best way to keep us from ever seeing a day like it again. Every year on or around 9/11 I watch a documentary film made by two French brothers simply titled "9|11". It was aired on TV and carried a warning about strong content. While some find it disturbing to have such a close view of the tragedy (specifically at the World Trade Center), I find it invigorating to see the actions of true heroes, and the miracle that these brothers were filming this historic event as it happened. To my knowledge, they still have the only known footage of the first plane hitting the tower. While not the kind of footage you ever want to shoot, the response of these firemen, and other emergency crews to dive right in to a "towering inferno" is an experience that I am grateful to have seen. It shows me: the worth of human souls; the goodness of simple people like you and me; the overpowering emotion of bravery in spite of doubt and fear.

A sidebar on the right of my blog here has songs I wish I'd written. Yellowcard has a song called Believe which is basically the story of a man who was saved by one of these heroic firefighters. It's truly an eye-opening song, lyrically, and it speaks right to me every time I hear it. How often do you cry when you listen to an emo-punk song? Me, only every time I listen to that one. It's that powerful. To close this post, I'm going to quote my favorite part of the song, which is the final bridge:

Wanna hold my wife when I get home
Wanna tell the kids they'll never know
How much I love to see them smile
Wanna make a change right here, right now
Wanna live a life like you somehow
Wanna make your sacrifice worthwhile

To all those who have played a part in the freedom I enjoy today, I thank you. I thank you for this priceless gift I enjoy, living in this amazing country.