This Sunday marks the 21st anniversary of the attack of American Freedom from the terrorist group called al-Queda.
Once again, I look around the current state of our country, and quite frankly, think to myself, “My God! My God! Oh how we’ve forgotten.” (And trust me, that’s not using the Lord’s name in vain. That’s an honest plea to my maker.)
I look around and see political discourse in every facet of our society. I see a country, state, and yes, even county, full of hatred, pride, disregard to our fellow men.
Oh how I long for the days of the Clinton administration. And boy or boy is that saying something.
Sure. The Clinton Presidency was full of conflict, but how is that we’ve reached a point in society where a sex scandal had more decency than the 8 a.m. morning Memphis broadcast? What happened to decorum? Decency? Professionalism? Empathy? Hope? Comradery? Where did my country that existed on September 12, 2001 go? Where are her people?
What happened to them? How did we let this happen?
Because we sure don’t resemble that version of our country anymore.
For just a little while, it seemed the whole country forgot about the color of skin, political parties, socioeconomic status and simply looked at one another as fellow Americans- brothers and sisters cloaked in red, white and blue. We truly became a nation united, as one, against tyranny.
I miss that country. I miss her people. I miss their bravery. Their boldness. I don’t miss the terrorism. Yet, somehow it seems we’ve developed the ability to terrorize each other. We sit behind keyboards and make bold strokes when we know the person on the other side of the digital interface can’t react to us in person.
It seems 21 years truly can make people forget. Well, I won’t. I won’t allow the memory of that fateful day pass by without remembering tragedy of a generation, of a nation and of a people.
This Sunday, remember to take a moment and reflect. Remember that day. And perhaps the following Monday as we head back to school and work, we can look at each other the way we did 21 years ago. As fellow Americans.
