We Americans are creatures of habit; so much so that often, we go through the motions without honestly thinking why. The most recent occurrence of our habits took place yesterday, on the fifteenth anniversary of 9/11. We shared our thoughts on one of the saddest anniversaries finding its way to our shores. Sorting through pictures, videos, first hand accounts, remembering the exact space in time we found ourselves recalling, as this horrendous display of devastation dominated our hearts and minds, sadly remembering those injured and deceased; then proudly stating we are all Americans. We do the same for Veterans Day, Memorial Day, Labor Day and the Fourth of July, we SAY we are ALL Americans. The special day is done, and suddenly as if a tsunami blanketed our souls, we forget the words we spoke about ALL of us being Americans, and rely on our default, claiming that NOT ALL OF US ARE AMERICANS IN THE SAME WAY.
It seems, many Americans prefer saying the right words, but acting upon those right words, is a bit more difficult an activity from which to participate. We don’t want to learn from history, that is too tedious a task, causing the act of reflection which is too timely, rather than, we prefer to react, to ridicule and to reduce any thing different from our own norms to be bad, villainous and of course Un-American. We become infuriated if a differing opinion is expressed, love it or leave it we say, denying any legitimacy to the those with an expression of opposition. Although all ethnicities, gender, sexual identities, and religions have fought for our freedoms, after the National holidays or memorials are finished, we would rather deny the fact, that yes indeed ALL Americans did their best and exclaim that if you AREN’T like me, you AREN’T a real American.
I just read a Conservative blogger’s page where he displayed caskets of our Military draped in the American Flag, then referencing Colin Kaepernick’s protest regarding the National Anthem. The blogger stated, correctly that we don’t know the color of skin, the religious affiliation, (he of course left out that we don’t know their sexuality, nor gender), but to his point, we don’t know, nor should we care. HOWEVER, the reality is that WE DO CARE about differences when these people are alive. Another holiday or memorial will arrive, we will become on nation, it will end, and once again…
