We asked one of us to write his remembrance of 911. As we read what we wrote, we realized that he nailed it exactly for us. All we can say is, “Thank you.” What follows is what he wrote:
I remember 911 like it was yesterday. I was awakened by my wife at work who told me to turn on the TV because the World Trade Center had been hit by an airplane. For the next 5 hours I watched in horror, like a moth fixated on a flame. I remember the rage I felt at those who so callously took lives of people who were just going about living their lives. I thought of Pearl Harbor, and I knew that this was an act of war.
In the meantime, the acts of bravery of New York’s Finest was on display for everyone. As atrocious as Al Qaida was, the heroism of New York’s Fire and Police Departments, and the stalwart leadership of Rudy Giuliani was a much needed blinding light of greatness. These and countless others showed the world that America would not be bowed on bended knee in front of Evil. They did the rescue and recovery magnificently. They made America proud.
At the time, I didn’t really understand what Islamo-fascism was. Over the next few years, I would. This was a war unlike anything previous generations had fought. There was no nation against which we could retaliate. There was just EVIL with all capital letters. The American war machine would soon be at the ready; and would be taking the fight to the enemy, now identified as Al Qaida, with some ass named Osama Bin Laden as the guy who did with 911 what Emperor Hirohito did at Pearl Harbor. The war was just; it was right; and it was initially fought well.
We are now creating a new chapter, which is a total disconnect from the 911 as it was previously understood. I will not sully the remembrance by going into this here and now. This isn’t the moment for that. I – we at Off-the-cliff.com – will dedicate this post to the Brave Ones – the American stalwarts who rescued not just the fallen, but all of America from a nihilism that could have overtaken us. I am forever grateful to Mayor Giuliani for his calmness; to George W. Bush for his calling a spade a spade and not letting anyone deter him from what was right and just. Kudos to all of Wall Street who saw us through a very dark and difficult time. I give special recognition to our airline industry which was given a heart attack and which – without any government bailout – managed to stay with it and survive. Kudos to the Boeing Company.
We can be a great nation when we remember who we are. We remembered in the days following 911. I still remember today.
God Bless America.
- Off-the-cliff.com