September 11, 2001: Patriot Day
So I've been wondering all week what to say about today... It's special day, a holiday (though that sounds a little too carefree), but you simply don't treat it the same way as "Have a good Memorial Day" or "Happy Thanksgiving". I've been wondering all week: "How DO you recognize Patriot Day?" I know someone who thinks it's gotten a little diluted... He thinks Patriot Day has become a sort of second Veteran's Day, and I tend to agree. It's not to remember those fighting in the war... I mean, we should be... At all times! Today is to remember, specifically, September 11, 2001 and what happened that day and what happened because of it. So... How DOES one recognize Patriot Day? Some people recount their memories of what happened... To be honest, I really don't remember a whole lot of specifics. I remember waking up like every other day... I don't remember what made me go to the TV, though, but I remember that once I got there, I was glued to it and nobody got anything done. I grabbed a blank tape and stuck it in and pressed Record... I've got five or so 6-hour tapes from that week. Other than that, there's not a whole of things for me to recount... I was probably too young to feel the true impact of what was going on.
But after much deliberation, I found some quotes from President Bush that I wanted to share. To me, I think he's just as heroic as any other person that day. The emergency crews and people who risked their lives to rush in to help the people inside the buildings are just as heroic... But I think people overlook the President. He's the one who rallied us all and immediately took initiative to finish what the terrorists started. He wasn't going to let this go unpunished... He didn't balk or second-guess himself back then, and he never has even after all these years of war in Afghanistan and Iraq. I hate to politicize today, but there's a video on NewsBusters that shows clips of the towers, of speeches and of news anchors. At the very end? Lots of quotes of people who were rallying behind the decision of President Bush. Everyone, even the mainstream media, was in complete agreeance with President Bush. We needed to make these people pay! That's all changed now... Because, if you watch the video, you'll see the man say it yourself... One of them said that Americans have a notoriously short attention span. Yes... Yes we do. We've forgotten everything. Everyone is now so quick to accuse President Bush of wanting oil... Of pursuing his own agenda. He knows that's a lie... Those of us who haven't forgotten knows that's a lie. He said in his speech to the country that day: "We will make no distinction between the terrorists who committed these acts and those who harbor them." We went to Afghanistan to get the people who did this... They fled to Iraq and were habored by Saddam Hussein. We took him down along with Al-Quaeda. They're now fleeing back to Afghanistan... We're following them back. After all these years... After everyone's seemed to forget September 11, 2001 and the REASON we're over there? He's still leading the war against all this negative press and opinions... Because everyone's FORGOTTEN.
Here's the video and transcript of the President's speech to the country that day:
Good evening. Today, our fellow citizens, our way of life, our very freedom came under attack in a series of deliberate and deadly terrorist acts. The victims were in airplanes, or in their offices; secretaries, businessmen and women, military and federal workers; moms and dads, friends and neighbors. Thousands of lives were suddenly ended by evil, despicable acts of terror.
The pictures of airplanes flying into buildings, fires burning, huge structures collapsing, have filled us with disbelief, terrible sadness, and a quiet, unyielding anger. These acts of mass murder were intended to frighten our nation into chaos and retreat. But they have failed; our country is strong.
A great people has been moved to defend a great nation. Terrorist attacks can shake the foundations of our biggest buildings, but they cannot touch the foundation of America. These acts shattered steel, but they cannot dent the steel of American resolve.
America was targeted for attack because we're the brightest beacon for freedom and opportunity in the world. And no one will keep that light from shining.
Today, our nation saw evil, the very worst of human nature. And we responded with the best of America -- with the daring of our rescue workers, with the caring for strangers and neighbors who came to give blood and help in any way they could.
Immediately following the first attack, I implemented our government's emergency response plans. Our military is powerful, and it's prepared. Our emergency teams are working in New York City and Washington, D.C. to help with local rescue efforts.
Our first priority is to get help to those who have been injured, and to take every precaution to protect our citizens at home and around the world from further attacks.
The functions of our government continue without interruption. Federal agencies in Washington which had to be evacuated today are reopening for essential personnel tonight, and will be open for business tomorrow. Our financial institutions remain strong, and the American economy will be open for business, as well.
The search is underway for those who are behind these evil acts. I've directed the full resources of our intelligence and law enforcement communities to find those responsible and to bring them to justice. We will make no distinction between the terrorists who committed these acts and those who harbor them.
I appreciate so very much the members of Congress who have joined me in strongly condemning these attacks. And on behalf of the American people, I thank the many world leaders who have called to offer their condolences and assistance.
America and our friends and allies join with all those who want peace and security in the world, and we stand together to win the war against terrorism. Tonight, I ask for your prayers for all those who grieve, for the children whose worlds have been shattered, for all whose sense of safety and security has been threatened. And I pray they will be comforted by a power greater than any of us, spoken through the ages in Psalm 23: "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me."
This is a day when all Americans from every walk of life unite in our resolve for justice and peace. America has stood down enemies before, and we will do so this time. None of us will ever forget this day. Yet, we go forward to defend freedom and all that is good and just in our world.
Thank you. Good night, and God bless America.
I was, to be honest, stunned and touched when I watched the NewsBusters video and I saw clips of the international reaction... EVERYONE was shocked at what happened. It looks like the entire world stopped that day, which is really touching. But... It still seems that everyone's forgotten why we're still fighting. We're now the bitter old country that's just angry all the time. They've all forgotten that President Bush said we'd get them and those who helped them and that everyone completely agreed. That's all we've ever done over there. It's better we get them over there than let something like this happen again. It's the duty and responsibility of a President to protect his country from people like these, and it's the responsibility of the military to make sure we are victorious and that means going to THEM and finishing them off. Anything less is competely unacceptable.
My mom found a really great quote in a book she has about September 11, 2001... It's about the difference between heroes and celebrities. This from a little book written IN 2001... Any similarities to people right now is purely coincidental, but I think it speaks wonders for back then AND the people who are running to take George W. Bush's place as Commander in Chief today. Just think about it... I'm sure certain names come to mind when you read this:
The hero is known for achievements;
the celebrity for well-knownness.The hero reveals the possibilities of human nature.
The celebrity reveals the possibilities of the press and media.Celebrities are people who make news,
but heroes are people who make history.Time makes heroes
but dissolves celebrities.-- Daniel J. Boorsten
Applies back then... Applies right now. I don't think it's appropriate to point anyone out in this post, but I think you can make the connections yourself. I think President Bush is just as much a hero as anyone else that day, and that's who I decided to talk about today. I mean... Nobody is any less a hero, but those brave folks are always remembered when you mention September 11, 2001. But with all the flak being fired at President Bush these days, I think someone needs to recognize what he's done, too, and the fact that he's always done exactly what he promised us all on that day... And we all agreed with him.
As President Bush said in his speech to Congress on September 20, 2001:
Great harm has been done to us.  We have suffered great loss.  And in our grief and anger we have found our mission and our moment.  Freedom and fear are at war.  The advance of human freedom -- the great achievement of our time, and the great hope of every time -- now depends on us.  Our nation -- this generation -- will lift a dark threat of violence from our people and our future.  We will rally the world to this cause by our efforts, by our courage.
We will not tire, we will not falter, and we will not fail.