Six Years Later...

On a day that is unfortunately brimmed with the political game and my life therein, this will definitely not be politically motivated at all. It's motivations come from a different inspiration. This will also not be very long either. I do not plan to dwell on this too much, but it's getting to the point of the mundane. There's something too regimented about this day, too solid. I don't think my brother should be remembered in that way. Not just remembered, but rather memorialized. This is something that should live on throughout just a simple day. October 12th is October 12th. It isn't the year 2000 anymore. It's 2006.

Okay, I lied. I thought I wasn't going to get political because I didn't want this to extended through anyones attention's span, nor should this be about politics, but I look at the world circa 2000 and look at it today, in 2006 and it's still a ball of confusion. Racial politics still dominate the world views, but this time it's another race. Politicans still promising the talk, but it all sounds the same. They're still concerned about things they need not to be concerned about, the things people are concerned about and if they are there's little they do about it.

But I won't drag this out. It's just tiring, trying and highly unfortunate that my brother was killed and there has been little result to amend for his death, for the sake of my family and for those who will find themselves in harms way. And another year passes by... one more year later. Six years later.

Who Really Has Forgotten?

In response to other letters I have read over the last several months, I am exceedingly weary of these new-age patriots challenging my memory and my allegiances. I cannot speak for these individuals who often feel the need to ask, “Have you forgotten?” because I dare not hold on to whatever ideology they push, but attempt to formulate my own opinions using my very own God-given sense and rationale that I’ve been blessed to have. No, I cannot speak for these individuals but I lost a loved one to a terrorist attack that is over five years old. In case they cannot relate, this is a pain that does not go away. It’s the type of pain you don’t willfully wish upon another sentient human being. As for those who do, I’m sorry, but I strongly question their humanity, if not, their sanity. I certainly hope they’ve never felt the type of pain I have.

You think because I know we don’t need to torture a human being to get information they may or may not have because I know with all the taxes I pay we have a military and government competent enough to obtain this information otherwise, that I’ve somehow forgotten of what happen five years ago?

You think that because I don’t think that suspecting anyone of a particular race to commit a terrorist action is a worthy idea because not only is it simplistic criminal investigation, but awfully bad judgment that something that happened in 2001 slipped my mind? What should we start profiling white males for sexual assault crimes and for being white supremacist while we’re at it?

You think that because I don’t agree with going to war on dubious motivations, which are probably as applicable if not better suited for many other nations, makes me feel especially more secure and cozy when I tuck myself in at night that a five year anniversary has seemingly gone unnoticed?

Sorry, I’m not the one who’s forgotten.

Why should I feel any safer? Others may want to gleefully exclaim that we have not been attacked in five years. Perhaps they would rather forget about the daily attacks in Iraq? But I guess that’s too typical of an argument. Or maybe they don’t remember that while we’re not directly attacked, just about everyone else in the world is? But I guess everyone else isn’t as important as us. Might have they not noticed their own response when they’re slapped in the face? Rather A, they stomp the shit out of their attacker, B, back away or C, put your guard up, expecting another strike. That’s the expected response for someone who was just hit; to expected it again, of course you are going to be on guard for another. So before someone wants to congratulate the president on a fine job he’s been doing, do not forget that we’ve already been struck. The damage is done.

Before they judge me on my memory skills based on a difference of opinion, maybe someone should ask them to describe their state of mind on September 10th, 2001. Blissful ignorance? Willing carelessness? Or severe negligence. On the days of September 10th and before, no one who wants to call someone on their memory all the time had a care in the world about problems of terrorism. It was these same people who were more concerned about removing our commander-in-chief than his response to terrorism that killed Americans. Yes, exactly. They were more concerned about the impeachment of the president than they were about terrorism, and they know it. Funny how this is their exact claims that their opponents are doing now, the only difference is it was true then, but they forgot about that.

It’s these same people that seemingly want to casually forget that President Bush had nine months to make a definitive response to terrorism. The USS Cole was attacked less than a month before the election. I am extremely confident that even before the ink was dry on the court decision to put him in office, before his foot stepped on the carpeting of the Oval Office, one of the first decision he had to make was what was he going to do about the Cole attack? His response? I’m going on vacation. That wasn’t under my watch so it’s not my business. As much as it probably wasn’t accurately either of those two, it might have well be because there was absolutely no response the attack on the USS Cole. The only response about anyone relating to the issue was to handout the job of Baghdad mayor after our invasion to former Ambassador Barbara Bodine.

And now these same people want to ask President Clinton why he didn’t do enough about terrorism. All the while, they forgot to ask President Bush why he didn’t do enough about terrorism on September 12th, 2001.

So since I’m constantly asked, here’s my answer: No, I have not forgotten what terrorist did to us. Why? Because I can never forget what they took from me personally.

Now it’s my turn.

Have you forgotten?

Have you forgotten that terrorism existed before September 2001?

Have you forgotten that we are not a nation of identical-thinking minds?

Have you forgotten that justice actually means fairness, impartiality, especially in the way people are treated or how decisions are made?

Because if you are interested in justice, then how in the world could you say the defense of their rights is not important? Because if you don’t, then you should know that is not justice you seek. It’s vengeance. And when you want to justify the denial of rights of another human being then you’re simply justifying vengeance. No, I do not support these individuals who commit these ugly and horrified acts. I want them punished. I want those responsible for the death of my brother punished severely. I just know, in this ‘war on terror’, as great as this nation proposes to be, we do not have to resort to their tactics to win a fight. The thing that will cling to me until my last day, every time I think about these crucial issues, on the forefront of my mind is the loved one I lost. No, I’m sorry, I can never forget this. It’s just too bad our president has.