Remembering the Moment

September 11, 2001 is a day that everyone old enough to remember, does remember.  I remember the raw emotion, watching the 2nd plane hit, watching the towers fall, and watching the Pentagon and field in Pennsylvania go up in flames and smoke.  I remember the people around me, the tears, the phone calls and the intense fear that we all began to feel as more and more things unfolded on the screen in front of us.

I was living in Buenos Aires, Argentina at the time.  In some ways that made us feel safer...the attacks are in America, we are not in America.  However, the 9/11 attacks spurred other terror cells to make threats against American buildings and people in many foreign countries, including Argentina.  Our school and embassy were threatened.  Our schools became guarded not just by security guards, but by guards with machine guns (loaded).  We had to sign in and out of school grounds.  And personal safety was always on the minds of our parents.

Where were you?  Are you still able to engage with the emotion that the day evokes for so many?  I was able to spend some time today watching the memorial services that took place in DC, New York and Pennsylvania.  I was moved to tears several times.  And though I didn't know, personally, any of the 2,977 victims that died that day, I am emotionally distraught over the pure evil that sparked such an attack, moved by the outpouring of love and support in this country, moved by the tears of family members, and moved by this thing called life that we so often take for granted.

As this 10th anniversary comes to an end I am thankful for my life.  I think of so many things that could have claimed my life thus far, and of how truly blessed I am.  Just last year on September 11th I was in a rollover car accident.  Not only did my friend and I walk away with our lives, but with no broken bones or chronic injuries.  Each life is precious, each life is important, and each life has a purpose.  This weekend has truly reminded me of this. 

Osama Bin Laden vs Martin Luther King Jr.

If you've been on facebook or twitter (yes I am still playing with it!) lately then you have noticed a trending in statuses; some celebrating the death of OBL, some with a quote from MLK Jr. referencing the need to NOT rejoice in the death of a single enemy despite mourning the loss of loved ones, others reference Obama drama (people felt he took responsibility for it/others think he did rightfully so), and lastly...other statuses mock all of the above while also, at times, expressing that the quote from MLK Jr. implies we should feel empathy towards OBL. 

I have a blog.  So I get to weigh in on all of this.

1.  I don't like Osama Bin Laden; obviously.  He, along with dozens of others people that are part of Al Queda, were responsible for 3,000 deaths on 9/11 and not to mention the deaths from their attacks on embassies and and the USS Cole.  Though this is true, Bin Laden is not the only one responsible, and his death will not get rid of terrorism.  In fact, our terror alert warning has been elevated. 

2.  When I woke up Monday morning and read about the celebrations that occurred around our country in the wake of Bin Laden's death I literally felt sick.  Weren't we condemning Afghanistan for their celebrations when they saw the devastation in our nation?  Weren't we claiming that they had NO empathy, were inhumane, and poorly cultured?  We, America, are all of those things.  Instead of taking Bin Laden's death as a anti-terrorism victory, we turned it into a disgusting celebration.  People have been comparing Bin Laden to Hitler for several reasons, and no, I wouldn't have celebrated his death either; the ending of his RULE; yes.  His death? No. I'm not saying I want Bin Laden alive; but I will not be brought to the level of terrorist mentality where I wish death upon others.  I have been severely hurt in my lifetime, and know SO many who have lost loved ones in acts of violence...none of which would wish DEATH in return.

3.  MLK Jr.'s quote is incredible...look at it yourself:

"I mourn the loss of thousands of precious lives, but I will not rejoice in the death of one, not even an enemy. Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that."

4.  Obama isn't my favorite person in the world; parts of his budget aren't great, I don't like Libya/middle east mess etc etc.  Though this is true, let's look at the facts.  Bush was president for 7 years during the search for OBL.  Obama has been president for little over 2 years.  Bush spent/wasted a lot more money on the defense department, whereas Obama spends (still too much) enough to get the job done.  Part of what their statuses said was that Obama was just trying to take away paychecks from military personnel, personnel like the Seals that killed Osama.  Obama wasn't trying to take away paychecks, nor was he trying to make there be an issue over budgets; the GOP had put riders (related to issues like Planned Parenthood) onto their budget proposals, making it impossible to compromise.  People need to get there facts right.  Oh and by the way, it WAS Obama's decision to kill Osama...as in he watched the events happen live.

5.  How messed up is our world that this is even a topic?  What a ridiculous mess of humanity that we respond to violence with violence.