It is September 11, the day when I leave my TV and radio off and avoid mainstream news and commentary about the atrocities committed on American soil 13 years ago.
That is because I don’t want to hear or read about the 3,000 innocents that were “lost” that day — when they were murdered.
I don’t want to hear or read about the “tragedy” of 9/11 — when it was an atrocity.
I don’t want to hear or read about the atrocities committed on that day described merely as “the attacks” — when those attacks were carried out by particular people.
I don’t want to hear or read of those particular people described as “extremists” — when they were barbarians radically motivated by a particular ideology: Islam.
I don’t want to hear or read merely that “terrorists” flew planes into buildings — when they were Muslim/Islamic terrorists and/or jihadists.
I don’t want to hear or read about September 11 described as “Patriot Day” — when it remains the blackest day in our nation’s history.
And I can’t bear to hear or read about September 11 as a day for volunteerism — when it is a day only to remember that our nation was viciously and violently attacked and 3,000 innocents were murdered; a day in particular that we should demand that our so-called leaders identify our enemies who made that day possible, name the ideology that motivates them, and take whatever action is necessary to utterly destroy them and their state sponsors.
I won’t continue to belabor here the various ways that many Americans try to evade and whitewash the facts about September 11, 2001. While on this day we should think and speak out about these issues, we should also remember and celebrate the people who were murdered on 9/11 and especially how they lived — without licking our wounds and wallowing in self-pity. Toward that end, I’ve posted below links to a few stories, a video and commentaries I produced about these people and their loved ones and 9/11, from its immediate aftermath to this year.
- Tim Haviland, 9/11 Casualty, ‘Absolutely Loved New York'
- 9/11 Firefighter Swung for the Fences
with Family and Friends - Remembering Laura Marchese, 35
- Capturing a Terror-Filled Day
- The Firefighter Seen 'round the World
- Finding Solace By The Sea
- Retired Firefighter's Values Reinforced Since 9/11
- Video: Veterans & September 11 Memorials
- Paying Respects to WTC Victims
- Mourning On the Green
- America Attacked for Her Values
- Changed By 9/11