There are things I remember about September 11, 2001.
Fear of terrorism is not one of them.
I do not remember 9/11 as the day I forgot the words of Franklin Roosevelt. Fear is the enemy of democracy, not terrorism. My risk of death from the stupidity of a drunk driver is far greater than it is from some unknown Muslim boogey-man trotted out by neocons to scare the crap out of little old ladies and dumb-ass bubbas everywhere.
Strike them first is not one of them.
I do not remember 9/11 as the day we should accept the insane proposition that an illegal, unnecessary and massively mismanaged occupation of Iraq will keep radical Muslims from bringing their death and destruction by terrorism to American soil again. Our great wealth and power is incapable of even keeping our kids safe from crappy Chinese toys. Our military has no chance of immunizing us against terrorism.
Faith in a fake cowboy is not one of them.
I do not remember 9/11 as the day a king was crowned. The fake cowboy who called himself president could not even muster the fortitude to excuse himself from a room of school children after being told America was under attack on September 11, 2001 but has acted as though he were crowned king in the years since. Faith in George Bush is a suicide pact with a man incapable of real leadership and a betrayal of our democratic principles.
I remember hope.
I remember the human tragedy that unfolded all around us on September 11, 2001 by way of television screens and internet sites. I remember the suffering of the victims. I remember the disbelief as the towers collapsed.
Most of all, I remember my hope for a better world where my children might see less tragedy and fewer victims.
My hope has been severely tested by the spittle of a human who occupies the White House and his friends. But, it has not died.
I force my hope to stay alive despite every obstacle and bomb thrown at it by those who believe 9/11 brought us fear, the right to strike first and blind faith in George Bush. I will continue to force it to live because I must and because I remember hope on 9/11.
Crossposted at DICTA