This is and will always be the day that follows nine eleven. It has always been so.
How did you observe the day yesterday? Did you spend anytime remembering the events from that terrible day, now some thirteen years in the past? Did you say a special prayer for those who perished at the hand of pure evil or perhaps to those diminished and forever-saddened souls who remained behind, without a mom or dad or brother or sister or son or daughter or cousin or niece or nephew or aunt or uncle or grandparent or grandchild or fiancé or simply just a friend? Did you fly the flag? Did you think about the evil you believe may have left that terrible day, some thirteen days now in the past? Did you think, even for a brief moment, that maybe, like the poor innocents left behind, that perhaps evil remained as well? Did you think, even for a brief moment, about what your elected and compensated government is doing to recognize, confront, and destroy such evil? Or maybe, rather, you worried about all that is not being done?
I flew the flag. I said a prayer for the innocents taken and those left behind. I thought about the rising tide of pure evil that may be rising faster now than ever before. And, of course, I thought about all that I know this government is not doing to protect us, to protect this country.
Wasn’t that supposed to be one of the key functions of this government as expressed in the Constitution? Isn’t that their job?? Isn’t that one of the reasons why we give them so much of our money?? Am I a dreamer or just stupid?
Sometimes I dream about a real debate between John Kerry and Thomas Jefferson. Or maybe Hillary Clinton and John Adams- no, wait, make it Abigail. Or how about Obama and Washington? Maybe Susan Rice and John Jay? Harry Reid and Patrick Henry? Pelosi and James Monroe? Ruth Bader Ginsburg and John Marshall?
Sorry, I digress.
But one more digression. I also sometimes dream about administering a pop quiz, popped on those listed above who are still living, that includes both a citizenship and a constitutional test as given to legally immigrated folks and also to junior high students across this great land.
Who would get the best grade? Or, put more in popular vernacular, who would suck least?
Back to topic.
Perhaps you did not even remember or note the passing of nine eleven because of all the coverage of the Ray Rice incident where he knocked out his fiancée as evidenced by the video captured on the elevator. A terrible incident and one that happens far too often to too many people, women, children, and, yes, even men. It is impossible to escape the news coverage on this- it is 24/7 as they say.
And no matter your opinion or position that is maybe as it should be; I will not argue something so subjectively personal to each and every one of us.
In any event it is inescapable.
At least, in this case, no one was killed. Thank God.
But there were people, Americans, killed on nine eleven…two thousand and twelve.
You most likely know the name of Ray Rice’s fiancée yes? Do you even know any of the names of the four Americans killed two years ago, and one day, in Benghazi, Libya?
Allow me to help you with this.
Christopher Stevens.
Sean Smith.
Tyrone Woods.
Glen Doherty.
Where is, where was, all the hysterical coverage on that? Where was all of the investigating and celebrity commentary and main stream media outrage? Where has all the follow-up disappeared to after two years now? Why has absolutely no one, as in the case of one Roger Goodell, been called out on this? Why is no State Department official, up to and including Hillary Clinton, been held accountable if not responsible for the unnecessary and brutal deaths of four Americans on nine eleven two thousand and twelve?
Why has the president not been taken to task and pressed on this at all?
Where is all of the Ray Rice outrage?
Hell, where WAS any of the Ray Rice outrage?
Oh, I see. Completely different situations.
Really?
Not completely. The reason behind the outrage on one and the acceptance of the other is exactly the same.
It was the video.