9/11 Should be Just Another Day

"We will never forget"

What are we supposed to remember?  The death of thousands of civilians, hundreds of first responders, and dozens of military?  That is good thing to do, as life is a precious and fleeting thing.

What are we supposed to remember?  The displays of uncommon valor and courage by American Citizens?  Flight 93 - citizens voted to fight terror with resistance and saved thousands through such a choice.  Compassion in New York as people funneled downtown with supplies and to offer their labor.  In the Pentagon where military and civilian climbed into a burning building to save others.

What are we supposed to remember? Each individual has there own connection; I remember watching the second plane hit the tower on live television.  I thought it was a replay of the first plane, but I then realized the other tower was on fire.  At this moment I knew the "accident" was a deliberate attack, and I will remember that moment forever.

This year, however, my social media pages filled with posts about how I should "remember 9/11" and prepare to eradicate terrorists.  I was told to invoke the memories of the past and prepare to confront evil once more.  A remembrance turned war propaganda.  A good friend of mine put it best:

Oh dear. Which one is it? "Remember the Maine!" No, no that's not it. "Remember the Alamo!" No, not it either. "Remember the Lusitania!" No, no, that's not right. "Remember Pearl Harbor!" Doesn't seem correct. Oh, I know! "Remember 9/11!" That's it!
Maybe, just maybe, if we spent some time learning from these events instead of remembering them we wouldn't add to this list in the future.

Can you hear it?  The shout of the drill sergeant? The Political Commissar on the loud speaker?

That's it boys!  Fill yourselves with rage and fury!  Press forward and do not think about it!  Thinking will only have you question your orders!  We can't have that now, can we!  FORWARD!

Admittedly, when I look back, this call for "action," ah hell, who am I kidding, this call for war has always been there, and at times has been deafeningly loud.  It was the drum beat that helped us go into Afghanistan.  On October 26, 2001, we traded liberties and freedoms in a clamor for safety through the Patriot Act.  Songs have been written, poster created and shirts printed - "Are you guys ready? Lets Roll"

I am older now, hopefully wiser, and undoubtedly more aware.  I served my country during a time of war, having the great honor to wear the uniform with pride.  I sweat and I bled in the dust that is the Iraqi Desert.  I now have sons of my own, and I occasionally have the great privilege of seeing the world through new eyes of childlike wonder.  I continue to grow and continue to reflect daily on all that is around me.

I volunteered to enlist in Military Service.  I did so because I felt that it was my duty, as a single man in time of war, to put myself on the line so that others did not have to.  It is a bunch of patriotic chivalrous platitudes to some, but I honestly believed it, and still do.  Looking back, 9/11 played some role in my decisions, but thankfully was not the only influence.

Through my experiences I have come to realize that defender and avenger are two very different things.  To defend: to fight in order to keep someone or something safe : to not allow a person or thing to hurt, damage or destroy someone or something.  To avenge: to harm or punish someone who has harmed you or something or someone that you care about.  I am a defender, and as such, I have turned away from calls to avenge those lost.  I will always commit myself to defend my country and its citizens, but I grow weary of this avenging work.

As I watch news outlets and fellow citizens tell each other that "90%" of Americans think ISIS/ISIL is threat to America, and the images of personal remembrance are intermixed with the demagoguery for continued and protected war, I cannot help but think that 9/11 is being conjured up so that we can go forth and be AVENGERS OF OUR FALLEN CITIZENS!

This leads me to my conclusion:

In order for us to remember 9/11 as a remembrance; a day in which each person can reflect on what that day meant to them individually, and allow a country to reflect on itself collectively (and not as a call to action to cause more death in the name of those who died), 9/11 should be just another day.