nine thirteen

It has been two days since the anniversary of the horrible tragedy of 9/11. Pundits and politicians have cackled, cajoled and called upon true Patriots to remember, recall and repute the actions of the terrorists. They have also stood upon their soapbox demanding and defining the values of true Americans and easily pointing fingers to those they seem less American, less red white and blue. We have raised our flag, had vigils, and sworn in unison, never again. Sarah Palin and Glenn Beck held a rally in Anchorage asking true Patriots to come and gather, at anywhere from $75 to $250 a ticket (not sure where the proceeds will go), and every news channel on television has played back video from the awful day. And now it is two days hence.

The first responders, those still alive, are still suffering from some horrendous health care issues, for responding to the fires and calamities in New York City. Many of these brave men and women are still being denied full coverage or correct care because the Health Insurance Cartels are playing business as usual and first saying no before considering the situation. (Bottom lines to Share Holders take precedent to Patriotism). The salaries of the first responders are still less than enough to help their families and non of them live the same kind of life the Financial Institution’s boys and girls live. And Ann Coulter is making tons of money speaking at Neo Con conclaves, shouting that the widows of the dead from the 9/11 disaster are a bunch of whiny spoiled brats.

George Bush has left the room but his reputation of starting a war to find Bin Laden remains, with no one finding the declared public enemy number one. We didn’t go into Afghanistan immediately because Dick Cheney wanted to rob the Iraqi’s of their oil and created a false alarm by insisting there were weapons of mass destruction. Both men are writing books and have hit the lecture circuit, both men reaping the rewards (in spite of committing heinous and unpatriotic crimes to the citizens of this nations and in particular the 4000 plus dead troops and the thousands of young men and women who have come home with physical and mental distress). Perhaps Mister Bush and Cheney could contribute some of the income from their books of fiction to aid the health of the first responders and sick Vets? The Republicans don’t want to talk about the past, the Democrats do an imitation of a dance to recall the past, and more and more time, resources and bodies fall into a war a seemingly bottomless pit that was supposedly created to make America and this world safer.

And now in the face of disrespect for what happened on 9/11, we have once again NOT come together to solve the problems that led to 9/11, but have decided to divide our will and drive. We have become divisive and dismissive finding scapegoat and culprit for all that is wrong in America. We refuse to try and solve problems because that might motivate some people to take responsibility for THEIR actions or inactions, and we point fingers away at others for fault. We use 9/11 in political ads, we use 9/11 to explain our religious fears, we use 9/11 to fight the rights and powers of the Constitution, we use 9/11 not to heal but to hurt.

We all prayed, recalled, rallied and cried on 9/11/10. We all felt the pains and sorrow of those who died that day. We all rung our hands and shook our hearts. And now two days later what are we doing to remember the lessons learned from that tragedy? We talk of burning the Quran, not permit cultural centers to be built, threaten anyone who seems UnChristian thus UnAmerican, and we continue to fight in two wars with no happy end in sight. It is 363 days until September 11, 2011 wonder how much different we as Americans will be? Wonder how we will honor that day when it comes again?