A Decade Later...

A Decade Later...

It was a day of terror. It was a moment in country's history that has defined and shaped our entire culture and society. Everything we do these days has been by some type of affect from what happened on that fateful day. September 11, 2001 will forever be engrained in the minds of those who witnessed it and live through the hours of that day. The results of that day are burnt by a torch in our minds eye as if we are never to forget what happened that day. We can remember where we were, What we were doing, as well as the emotion and the fear that we faced.

Though it has been a decade since that day of infamy recalling, reliving, and seeing the results of that fateful day bring up visions of seeing almost hell itself all over again. Though it has almost been a decade the pain and the emotions still can be seen fighting its way to the eyes surface in every American as they fight back tears of that day. The fear and uncertainty still haunts us like a reoccurring nightmare. We, for the first time since Pearl Harbor realized that our oceans no longer protected us. We were truly vulnerable. Everyone felt the uncertainty of it all. Though they were our leaders they were still at the forefront humans and felt the same fear that we felt that fateful day. No bunker, no vast open secure ranch, and no climb of Air Force One could ever escape the fear that was felt on that fateful day. Our words would be matched with stuttering as we watched in horror as people jumped out of the still standing towers to their deaths, and there was nothing we could do to change it or help them.

Some of the greatest cities on the face of the earth were now modern day warzones. We had been attacked by a cowering faceless enemy. Everyday Americans became filled with a bloodthirst desire for revenge and justice. Workers at Ground Zero on 9/12 were yelling and chanting "Go Get em George!" Cries of "USA" became a standard at every professional sporting game. Flags were unable to be purchased. The militaries numbers soared with enlistments of young men and women looking to be apart of that gallant fight for justice of the horrid crimes that had been committed. It was impossible to anticipate the days ahead, the emotional, consequential, and spiritual differening aspects that would be involved in the coming years as a result of that day.

As we screamed for justice and reprisal against our enemies, our nation answered with a blistering show of military strength. President Bush's words of his comments at Ground Zero had Come to fruition "I hear you, america hears you, the world hears you and the people who knocked these buildings down will hear all of us real soon." And these words given while standing on top of the rubble of a fire truck soon became one of the greatest speeches during this decade. Shock and Awe became a household term. We had entered a new type of fight. It was a new uncertain war. Our government didn't care about the politics and banter between parties, they united together and sent us to fight a brutal, unrelenting enemy.

Ten years later the world has changed. American policy has changed. We are vigilant, prepared, and willing to defend our borders at all costs. Some inconveniences were gained to secure our protection and safety. But taking off our shoes at an airport as well as waiting a few more minutes in line for our safety is worth it. Ten years we had searched for the leader of a brutal, fanatical, bloodthirsty terrorist organization. We had searched for that face of our faceless enemy that had attacked us...and no longer is it a faceless coward but yet a dead one resting under the weight and might of the ocean as if the weight and might of the arm of the american fortitude laid upon it. Even though we were in the mid of a economic crisis, a poor job market, two wars, sliding wall street investments, and a poor housing market the death of Bin Laden gave America a sense of closure it had not felt since the end of World War II. People poured into the streets, pro war as well as war protestors alike. This had given America a much needed shot in the arm. We had completed an undertaking of great magnitude. It gave Americans hope that carried over into every aspect of everyday life.

A decade later from that fateful day, we truly as Americans have a lot to be thankful for as well as a lot to remember. We as a country need to remember the attitude we once held to not get frustrated in the face of adversity and trials but rather to work through it hand in hand with our fellow citizens. If we can work through this situation we truly could work through anything we face as a nation. No matter the circumstances we must come together. A decade later we have a duty as Americans to remember what happened on that day of infamy. It will be a day of remembrance, a day of mourning, as well as a day of progress. We must remember the atrocities that were committed but also to remember the advancements we have made as a country. The death of those people in the Pentagon, Flight 92, and the Twin Towers will never be forgotten. But through the days after America has become stronger, smarter, and experienced. We have the true fortitude to fight through any problem. We have stood hand in hand with our neighbors and held hope. A decade later the pain is still there, the scar on lady liberty is still visible but it has not crippled us. We have won not only strategically but also psychologically. As the lights from Ground Zero pierced the sky above only days after the aftermath of 9/11 showing the world that we will never forget and never will we give up, we too as a country have shown the world that ever so much more by the way we have survived and lived these past ten years. We have shown the world that "We are America, we will survive, we will advance, we will never give up, and we will be victorious."