10 years ago. Tough for me to imagine it has actually been that long. Even tougher for me to realize that 10 years later, we are still fighting for our freedom.
Everyone I know always says they remember that day and where they were and what it meant and their reactions when they heard the towers had been hit. I had a different reaction.
I do remember where I was when I found out. I was in middle school, in Mr. Gordon's class. I'm pretty sure we got called to the auditorium and they announced it, but I do not remember if they let us watch the coverage or not. I remember being at home and seeing my mother's reaction, and then I knew it was serious. Until that moment, I had no idea how serious.
Honestly, the first thought that went through my mind was "what is the World Trade Center?" I had no idea. I knew it was in New York, and that was about as much as I knew at the time. I didn't realize the gravity of the situation, and it didn't sink in for some time that actual human lives were lost.
I look back and wonder if that makes me a bad American. No, it doesn't. I was a 12-year-kid and a pretty ignorant 12-year-old at that. As with today, I was much more familiar with sports than I was with news and politics, so why would I know what the World Trade Center was?
However, the point of this post is not to look back at that day. I want to focus on today.
I can't remember the last time I cried. I can't even remember the last time a tear welled up in my eye. For some reason, I seem to be void of the ability to cry.
But while watching the Ground Zero dedication today, it happened. You don't realize how many people were affected by this horrible tragedy until you hear the names. Until you see the loved ones that lost a husband or wife, father or mother, son or daughter.
Then later, while watching opening day of the NFL season. Every field, a full-sized American flag was unveiled. On every NFL team, every player, every athlete walked up and put one or both hands on the flag, standing side-by-side with firefighters, police officers, and other heroes.
We sometimes put athletes on such a high pedestal, like they are of a different species than us. Watching those athletes stand next to those true heroes, it was so very clear that regardless of our position, our standing in this country, we all have one thing in common and that is that we are all Americans. And on a day like today, that is really the only thing that matters.
There is so much more I could say, like banishing Bud Selig from baseball for life for not allowing the Mets to wear FDNY and NYPD hats tonight because of some stupid regulation, but I'll keep my mouth shut on that.
I would like to address one more thing that caught my eye today. I normally don't really acknowledge facebook statuses, because it is somebody's own personal opinion and that's fine. But one caught my eye this morning that really pissed me off. I won't name names, but if you are reading this, you know who you are.
It said, "i think i'm going to unfriend everyone who i see post "never forget" or its variations today." My initial response was, are you kidding me? Some of these people that we are not forgetting are the ones who GAVE THEIR LIVES so you could continue to say whatever the hell you want online.
Now I have never had a problem with you before, but for a day like today you really need to think before you post. That may have just been some little thing, you trying to be funny or whatever, but I don't really think this is an occasion worth joking about.
So I will say it loud and proud...
9-11-01, NEVER FORGET.
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