Topic of the Day

Remembering and Supporting

My husband and I went to see the movie Vantage Point last night and on the way home it resulted in much conversation (as they usually do with us). I won't give away anything about the movie but let's just say it brought up memories and discussions about 9/11. Now, I'm sure there are people who think that this topic has been run into the ground, but I say that's crap. In all of my life 9/11 is probably the single most horrifying, heart breaking, devastating and captivating thing I've ever seen or experienced. It shakes me to this very day.

As I was saying, we watched the movie, which obviously brought up the issue of terrorism or we wouldn't have been discussing 9/11. We were remembering when it happened. Our first anniversary was 9/9 of that year. Because it was our first, we went away for a few days. We came back late on 9/10. We were beat and slept in a bit. The kids were gone. We woke up and turned the TV on, I was dressing. My husband hollered for me to come see what was on. It was showing the first plane.

Our first thought was what a horrible accident. We couldn't figure out what could have happened for a pilot to hit that tower. We felt bad and just assumed it was a freak, tragic thing, (which it was). However, a few short moments later the other one hit. In that instant we both knew that it was not an accident of pilot error or something. We knew it was on purpose. And we knew many people were dying as we watched. I remember slumping in the chair, unable to move.

As the time went on and more knowledge was discovered and released to us the real horror of what happened hit me with the force no greater than those planes themselves. I watched the buildings fall, including the Pentagon being hit. I heard of those heroic passengers who saved the White House. I saw injured, filthy, frightened human beings run in terror, unable to believe the magnitude of what was happening to them. I saw people jump from floors so high up survival wasn't an option, and I understood their helplessness. I saw families on the streets with signs, pictures, hoping to find evidence that their loved ones had survived, probably many knowing with a sickness that they hadn't.

These images of my fellow humans: citizens, firemen, police, volunteers and heroes are with me to this very day, still raw with pain. I didn't know anyone lost in 9/11 but I still feel the pain of this country's loss.

We have begun to heal, fight back, rebuild and regain hope but I can't forget the horror. I can't forget the devastation of realizing that it actually happened right here my country.

And the dying didn't stop there. We have since lost many in the war that followed. I won't go into my political beliefs about, though they are strong in me. We are still losing people right this minute because of that one act of terrorism.

Here, my point begins to emerge. You do not have to support the war to support our troops. You don't have love what the president has done to love your country. The people who died on 9/11 (all of them: WTC, Pentagon and that Virginia field), had no choice in their deaths and it is a sadness that will live forever. In response to that sadness our men and women in the military have risen to the occassion of defending our country and put their lives on the line by going to the Middle East and fighting, killing and dying for the love of this country. I am honored, in awe of, proud of and having nothing but respect for them. To be willing to die for this country is beyond honorable.

To condemn the war is your choice, to condemn the honor that these soldiers deserve by doing what they are doing is to desecrate our country. And as hard as it for some to think it, if we pull out of the Middle East right now then those soldiers deaths will have been in vain. And it would be saying that there is no honor in there fighting and dying, that it was useless. I say that's crap. They and their loved ones deserve the pride in knowing that their deaths were for us, for America. We all wanted and want to stand up against terrorism but the soldiers over their are the ones who are walking the walk while we talk the talk. They have our backs. And no one should make them feel anything less than proud and appreciated and loved for their sacrifices and the sacrifices of their loved ones.

I give my thanks to them and I hope you do too,
Sissy