In Remembrance of the Fallen

There isn't a New Yorker that I know of, that will not shed a tear today. Whether it is while they are alone, or surrounded by others, also joining in mourning. Today is September 11th. A day that is forever seared in our hearts and minds, a day that America found out that terror can and will visit itself upon our shores, a day that we remember the fallen.

It also happens to be a Tuesday, the same day when the heinous tragic act of terrorism took place. I remember that day of eleven years ago as clearly as if it were yesterday. I can still feel the air of that morning, I also still feel the slight panic I had from running late for work, knowing I had a ten a.m. project meeting. The worst is I can still smell the odor that lingered in the air from the aftermath.  

Here we are eleven years later and I still can't bring myself to go downtown. I had an opportunity to go recently for a family function, during the drive; once we got past Varrick Street, I held my breath. Though the skyline has changed permanently, in my mind's eye it is all still the same, making what my eyes actually see hard to digest. Still when I look to the city from New Jersey, I search for those two towers, in a city I once called home, and still so many years later I am distressed to see they are gone from my vision. I suppose it is the same for many of those who were there or have a connection to the Towers.
 
Normally, on this solemn day I retreat. First within myself, then, from the world outside (read previous post: Remembrance). I take this time to reflect, cry and remember.  I remember my friends, coworkers, the people I stood next to on the elevator, whose name I never knew, and the countless faces that no longer grace us with their presence. I hear the sound of the whistling hiss that ran through the air, sounding like a missile before the ground shook for a second time when the South Tower was hit. This year I want something different, this year I want to say thank you,..again.

I want to thank those courageous first responders, who willingly, without concern for themselves, came into the fire while we ran for our lives. I want to thank the firefighters, police officers and EMS that acted out of bravery, to save the lives of strangers. I want to give thanks to the soldiers who stood guard, and those who went to far off lands, in order to fight in two wars for our nation. I also want to thank those brave passengers, who took it upon themselves to give their own lives, rather than be used to cause further carnage on American soil. All of the above mentioned, were willing to pay with the ultimate sacrifice,..their lives for our FREEDOM.

A lot has happened since that day eleven years ago. I got remarried and had another child, a daughter who is still too young to understand what occurred on this day, in the not so distant past.  She will learn from me of its' significance and of the exemplary acts of courage that followed, from school it will be another piece of American history.

The only thing that I can hope for is that during this election year our politicians can take a moment from the rhetoric, and pause to reflect as well. The spirit of the day in America, following the attacks on the Towers and the Pentagon and the crash of Flight 93, was that of a united front. We were one, we were shell-shocked, but we were not defeated, because to defeat the American spirit, you would have to eliminate all of us. We draped ourselves in Red, White and Blue, not in Republican or Democrat nor Independent. The voices of the people resounded in a thunderous chorus, sounding off as one. To paraphrase one of my favorite poets, Dylan Thomas; we will not go gently into that good night! We will rise up, for united we stand, and united we were on that warm September morning and the somber days that followed. 

We sometimes need to remember this, especially at a time when our nation is tearing itself apart during a Presidential election. Rather than divide, we need to remember the thread that holds us all together, the thread that keeps us tethered to a flag, a nation, an ideal; that of Freedom and Democracy for all.  I for one will wrap myself in Old Glory,and  in the true tenements that established this country. It is our ideals that others despise, it is viewed by our enemies as our arrogance, but it is not arrogance, but pride. Although we are not perfect, we have had many failings in our history, but we have always held onto the ideal that freedom is a precious right of all citizens. 

This is still a nation that many come to seeking that freedom, and opportunity for a better life. We are and have always been a nation of immigrants, a diversity that strengthen its people, making us stronger and always the beacon calling others to want what we have. So rather wallow in my grief, I will rejoice in my freedom, my pride and my nation. For what other country could produce so many heroes, that came from all walks of life, and selflessly stood together to save their brethren, regardless of the cost to themselves. 

 

In Remembrance to the 2,977 Lives Lost on 9/11. 

To the families, my heart is still with you. 

We will never forget

To my friends, I miss you

Farah Jeudy    Joey Maio    Christopher Scudder

The Elephant in the Room

I would be remiss, if in my blog I did not talk about the "Elephant" in the room, the Presidential election of 2012. Although I know the rule of thumb is to never discuss race, religion and politics with neighbors, family or friends at a dinner party, but sometimes you just can't avoid it.  Although I will not be discussing in this blog post my own political affiliation or choice, it would remove from the point I will be trying to make, there is a possibility that it may pop up; so my apologies ahead of time.

Recently, I came across a photo (see above), and it struck me that tensions are high this year, higher than it has been in years. I have seen fellow bloggers go off their main course of topic in their posts, dedicating it to the end of President Obama or the ruin of the GOP. There has been misinformation, misleading ads on both sides of the fence, some to the point of causing this woman nausea. At times it is shameful, distasteful but this is what American politics has come to. Regardless of where you stand, personal attacks are never warranted when the discussion of the state of our nation and how it is to be governed, is concerned. 

In 2008, we were a country at the precipice of the worst economic free fall it had seen in over 75 years. We, the American people had been clueless as to how serious the situation was, today we have not yet recovered. Is it wrong for us to have expected more? No, but it was foolish to think that in four years all things would be back to normal. The reality check is this, we will never have the economy of the past again, because we (collectively) partied like it was 1999 and when we got the bill were shocked that we had to pay for it.

The continuous deregulating of banks and Wall Street, was only going to bite us in the proverbial ass. Deregulations, that admittedly occurred by both parties. The out-sourcing of jobs; and you know what I am talking about if you ever dialed customer service and had a chance to speak with "Chuck" from Mumbai; jobs that once upon a time were always here. This too cost us, and again was contributed to by both parties. 

For years, I have been balking about the disappearing middle class in America. Today the middle class seems to be the "go-to" word of the  political pundits. The shame is in order for us to remain a society with more than two classes, we the people need to start playing a more active role in our politics. Not by bashing one another, but rather by finding a way to compromise across the aisle to benefit all, not just one. Yet, we seem to be stuck in the mire of being right and see compromise as a weakness instead of a strength.

Last week I watched the RNC and I listened to the speakers, and the candidates, some said things that struck me as good, some that struck me as poor, point is I listened. Listening is the key, and it is my fervent hope that those that were elected to serve listen too. 

This week was the DNC's turn to talk to America, and tell us their platform. The pundits were talking about how the Obama/Biden ticket has lost its' hype and luster that it had in 2008. I find this statement to be a sad commentary. I, for one am not looking to go back, and most definitely not back to four years ago, when we were falling apart and bleeding at the seams.

I could make an argument for President Barack Obama, and why he should be re-elected. There are many things that his administration has accomplished that I benefited from. "OBAMACARE" (another word I despise, it's Universal Healthcare), had it been in existence in 2002 when I was first diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, might have prevented me from being in a wheelchair today. In the same breath I could make an argument for Governor Mitt Romney, mostly because he was the architect for the healthcare system that now exists, and his business acumen might be beneficial to this nation, but I won't make either. 

The decision that we make when we go to the polls in November is for your own self. It is a decision that should be made intelligently, weighing the pros and the cons of both candidates. This means we have to go to work and become informed. If you are a Democrat, make certain that your ideas and ideals are what your candidate supports. If you are a Republican, do the same. What we cannot do and most definitively should not do is separate the country. 

What I mean by this is we are not a nation of Blues and Reds, we are a country of diversity. To make us into two is defeatist, it takes away from who we are as a nation. I have stated this before, but it bears re-mentioning; on September 12th in 2001 we were a nation of Red, White and Blue. Street after street were draped in our flag, showing a nation's pride at a time when we had been under attack. Should it only take another heinous act of terrorism, to bring forward our Nationalism? We, the people, are just that, people, people who stand united for one Nation, under one flag. Not people for Red or Blue alone. If we keep this in mind no matter what the outcome we should be able to look at one another the following the morning, and remember whatever happens, we are in this together. I say this because regardless; there is no better nation on this earth that I would want to call home. To quote a song; "I am proud to be an American!"

No matter what comes about, I have faith in this great nation of ours. We are a nation that was built on an idea. Think about that, we did not come from Kings or Queens, the country and highest office of the land was not bequeath to one family or one group. It was a group of those who were defiant and decidedly took hold of an idea, the idea of freedom. We are still a young nation, and we have had our share of bad moves and mistakes, but we weathered every storm we faced, only to stand together as one. Defiant? Yes. Resilient? Yes. Everlasting? I believe so. No matter what; to quote Vice President Joe Biden, "It is never a safe bet to bet against America or its people!"

If you are an regular follower of my blog, you know that I have to sign off with a quote; and I do not want to disappoint, so here it goes: 

"Let us not seek the Republican answer or the Democratic answer, but the right answer. Let us not seek to fix the blame for the past. Let us accept our own responsibility for the future. "~John F. Kennedy