September 11, 2009

Eight years ago was one of the scariest days in my life.  When I woke up to go to school, I had no idea that the world would change that day. 

That's how it is with these things though, I suppose.  

The uncertainty that was felt that day and for days after left me reeling.  It left the whole country reeling. 

I wasn't alone in not knowing why this had happened or what it meant.  That fear and utter loss was an experience shared with the rest of the country.  There was no way I could have known, waking up for school on September 11, 2001 that this day would be one we all collectively remember. 

How were we to know, waking up to go about our business, that this day would shape the public consciousness.  How were we to know that this day would become a rallying cry for our current occupation of Iraq (which for the record, had NOTHING to do with the attack on September 11, 2001) and would be said in hushed tones to admonish those who would criticise the (then) president. 

Eight years later, what are we to think as we go about our day?  Today, most people are deeply concerned for their future and for good reason.  Our economy is in the toilet and we continue in an occupation of Iraq.  Today when the "war" is over there and not over here, where the majority of the people joining the military are doing so out of financial duress as the funding for public education was slashed and the promise of education was dangled in front of young people hoping for a better future - just sign up and you can go to college and get a good paying job.  The burden of that day, eight years ago is seared into our collective consciousness, but the true price is being paid by the young people going to serve their country.  Most of us have gone back to our daily grind and will take a "time out" to remember 9/11, but what does that mean if we wake up on September 12th and go back about our business?