16 Years Forogtten 

Posted on by beautybeyondbones

You know what is terrifying?

The fact that most high school seniors were born after September 11, 2001.

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Yep. Seniors in high school. Did not experience 9/11. Many were born after the terror attacks.

My mind. Can’t. Comprehend.

It’s been 16 years.

The slogan has been and always will be: 9/11: Never Forget. 

Never Forget the 3000 lives that were lost that day in the towers. The 343 NY fire fighters who lost their lives, including the fire house chaplain, Fr. Mychal Judge who was hit by falling rubble while giving a victim last rites. The children who lost parents or loved ones that fateful day.

Never Forget that our country was viciously attacked in a calculated, and cold blooded way.

But you want to know the sad truth?

We have forgotten.

I remember right after the attacks, there was a shortage of American Flags across the United States.

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A shortage. Every store was sold out. Because people were hanging them outside of their homes, car windows, mailboxes, cubicles, – you name it. People were even spray-painting their lawns the American Flag. There were candle light vigils and patriotic concerts.

Everything was God Bless America.

Now a days, we can’t even get our professional athletes to stand up during the National Anthem at sporting events, for crying out loud.

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Photo Credit: CBS

We’re fighting to remove “Under God” from our pledge of allegiance.

We’ve got pop stars proclaiming that they “hate America” and openly disrespecting our country and the flag – and encouraging others to do the same.

Not to mention the complete farce people – and the media – have made of President Trump and the first family.

This was not the America of 16 years ago.

The America, 16 years ago, stood up for itself. The America, 16 years ago, was not afraid to draw a definitive line between right and wrong, and enforce consequences for offenders.

Now a-days, we can’t even call someone by their God-given sex, without the threat of offending someone or being the target for public shame – or even worse – getting labeled as part of a “hate group.”

Somewhere during the process of the “Snowflaking-of-America,” we’ve completely forgotten about the day we were attacked, not once – not twice – but four times: Twice in NYC, Once at the Pentagon, and Once in Pennsylvania.

I was walking along the West Side Highway in New York City today, and the next thing I know, the road is closed, and literally 1,000s of motorcycles are parading down the avenue. There are helicopters and police escorts, and for literally 25 minutes, hundreds and hundreds of bikes, bedecked with American Flags and patriotic swag caravanned from Ground Zero to midtown in honor of the anniversary of 9/11.

These people remembered.

These people were not afraid to raise our flag with pride and reverence.

These people were showing respect, and God bless them for it.


Why is forgetting 9/11 such a crime?

Because it makes us take our freedom for granted.

It makes us forget that our freedom is actually a gift. People have died for our freedom. It came with a price.

So the next time you’re stuck in line at airport security, just remember that 9/11 is the reason you’re having to take off your shoes. And belt. And jewelry. And getting a pat down.

Why? Because on September 11, 2001, hijackers got on airplanes and attacked the United States of America.

But we stood up for our country.

We made a vow never to forget.

And it’s time we started acting like it. 

It’s time we start respecting our elected officials and work to cooperate together instead of demonstrating hatred and anger and an uncompromising spirit through violent protests and marches.

America, 16 years ago – came together when the chips were down. We united.

America today – we’re hostile with one another: venomously divided, – and violently defensive.

I don’t like it. I don’t like it one little bit.

And I get it, our country is far from perfect. There are still some serious issues – racisim and sexism just to name a few. But cooperation is a two way street, and all sides have a role to play. So that with our freedom, and with a cooperative spirit, we can continue to make progress against these issues in a county that allows us the freedom to do so.

Maybe this hurricane is falling on the anniversary of September 11, as a God-facilitated catalyst for our country to come together.

Because quite honestly, we’re at a breaking point.

Maybe this emergency is just the situation we needed to set aside our differences, and come together as a United nation. The United States of America. One nation – under God, indivisible, with liberty, and justice for all.

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303 thoughts on “16 Years Forogtten ”

  5. I love the articles about the babies born to victims of 9/11. Men and Woman born to live for their parents’ legacy.

    This is why, while I am all for black lives matter but so do blue lives.

    As a military vet and janitor at Target, I have known so many young men and women who made the choice to put their lives on the line by joining the police force.

    My friends are not racists, my friends fight for justice and deserved to be honored. – Blue lives matter.

    Liked by 1 person

  8. If I can figure out how; can I repost on my blog? As Meatloaf says in one of his songs, “You took the words right out of my mouth.”

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  9. There’s no fair comparison for time…given we skew our perceptions over any period of time. The importance of giving an event or experience its significance is categorized by those recalling it. These days significances are seemingly assigned by recency😔

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  10. I remember.
    Every year, I remember.
    I’m not American but I grew up there. And my father and I watched the attack live, half way across the world. And we lost friends and relatives in there.

    Permit me to just say this; America is at a cross roads. It appears to have forgotten who America is, and so is busy fighting to define who is American and who is not. The problem is that not many Americans are feeling American anymore. And there is fear.

    From way over here, it seems like America does not need to be told to close in – hunker down – America needs to remember who America is and what they stand for.

    From way over here, it is clear that America’s greatest resource has always been it’s people. People who, for a time, refected the spirit of God – a God who cares for ALL of his children, a God that demanded ALL of his children to…be humble before each other, and before him.

    The crisis, it seems to is, over here, is that Antics has forgotten it’s own, starting with the poor of all colors, of all religions. It’s forgotten it seems, how to use it’s wealth.

    It’s not a good look from way over here and I can tell you that in Africa, we are suddenly looking elsewhere.

    The problem is – America is not alone, so please to hear attack in my words.

    When we write our new Constitution just a few years ago, America was a model. Now we look out and are afraid.

    Is this what lies in store for us?

    We have 48 different people in a country the size of Texas. Maybe. This is repeated all across the continent. And we still see you.
    The world can soften up.

    We are praying for us all. And on this day, I stand with you and remember.

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    1. Haha! I wrote this so fast, my phone couldn’t keep up – I trust you can make the corrections. Certainty do NOT read attack in these words, only concern. Got begins and ends with Love.

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    2. Hi Kreemer, thank you so much for remembering. This is such a powerful perspective. I’m sorry that you lost loved ones during the attack. My heart goes out to you. Such a tragic day. Yes, let us pray for the world indeed. Hugs and love xox

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  11. 9/11 was a shocking event that gave the Western World a wake up call. There were those in the world who wanted to destroy our democratic form of life where we enjoyed relative freedom. Like you say, Western democracies are not perfect. But we can go further back than that. America led the world in the freedom fight during WWII and was looked up to and respected for moral leadership. Today it is the enemy within. Godless secularism has done in the West what Hitler and others tried to do but failed because of the moral leadership in evidence primarily from the influence of the US at that time. The West is in decline, not because of attacks from without, though those are real, but from the godless forces white anting the West. When we step outside the circle of God’s protection He will let us go our own way until we learn the difference between destructive evil forces and the protective force of heaven. Hopefully we will wake up before He allows another civilization to come to the fore. Whatever happens though, God is in control. He is not dead! 🙂

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  14. A powerful post!
    Although sometimes forgetting is not disrespectful but it’s a part of healing and having faith still. Peace begins with forgetting, holding on to hurt only causes more chaos.

    Much love to you,
    N

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  15. I am a proud Scot, living in Scotland, but I have also lived and worked, and taken holidays in the USA. I have family who have taken this great country as their own, and I say, well done to them, and to you for posting such a well written and thought out response to 9/11. We will NEVER forget. Believe it!

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  22. I was 12 when it happened. I watched it unfold on the television all morning long and couldn’t really comprehend what was happening. I’d never heard the word “terrorist” before. I do remember that I turned to my dad and said something like, “Fewer people were killed at Pearl Harbor, right? And we went to war after that.”

    I know I’ll never forget.

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  24. It’s sad, but many of us have forgotten 9/11. Now, we blame natural disasters on President Trump. We look for “trigger warnings” in anything that might upset us. There was no trigger warning on 9/11. No one prepared us for what was going to happen that day. But you’re right – we came together as a nation and vowed not to be defeated. Now, we’re more divided than ever. It’s said that “a house divided cannot stand.” I hope we don’t end up falling as a nation the way those towers fell. Towers can be rebuilt; it’s a little more difficult to rebuild a nation.

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  25. Amen, AMEN to your message. Just as we Coloradans vow to never forget those who put their faith on the line during the tragedy at Columbine High School so many years ago, we Americans cannot have too many reminders about the privilege of our freedom. “Patriot Day” needs more attention – and respect.

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  26. “Blessed are those who mourn”

    The miracle of grief is the discovery that healing is offered to us by the Father. What is important is not the truth that we have lost, but to become again part of a creative whole.

    We do not forget. We discover that we are stronger than we knew, and renew our capacity to love.

    The costs of ignoring that gift – the gift of our ability to love – does not require remembrance of 9/11. It only requires us to open our eyes to all those that society has failed – the pitiless, unremarked epidemic of poverty, ignorance and violence that drowns the gentle and weary.

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  28. You make some interesting points. I can’t agree with all of them, but I think some of the ‘protests’ are going to hurt the traditionalists and I am hoping that in the end inclusion will cover all ethnic groups and orientations and that shouting and hate stuff will go away. It is weird, and very sad, that on 9/11 this year, there is such suffering from the hurricane, and no obvious remembering of the shock of those attacks – and all the subsequent terror acts.And, I think we who believe in a loving God and righteous have to get to know him much, much better, and be better witnesses to him, and open our hearts to those who are different to ourselves in whatever way. The clock does not go back.Even if we think life would be better if it did. Thanks for sharing your life and thoughts here.

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  32. This is a great post and I look forward to reading more.

    I also want to thank you for actively reading on my site. I really appreciate the support! Your site gives off a very professional vibe. Would you be interested in mentoring a newbie blogger?

    Like

  33. 16 years ago I was in the mental hospital and watched the news live on TV as the towers fell, doped to hell on some Haldol kinky shit. . Course it was prophesied long time go in your bible book Isaiah, but you probably never read that. It’s just prophesies goin down like they was written, but you seem to think it’s more that. Why? you’ll worry yourself crazy. I mean, what if they had built your mansion in heaven in Florida–and your yacht, too? What now? Not me. I just follow the reader like in first grade Nat the Rat. One page at a time. One prophesy at a time. Lots more to go. But you say you’re Christian, so you probably know all that. Whoopeedooo. I don’t give a …

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  34. Thank you for writing this. Its stunning to me to think that most high school seniors were born after 9/11! Oh my gosh, really??!!! You’re right . . . we are forgetting. And we cannot forget.

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  36. I was born after 9/11, and it breaks my heart to learn about it. I can’t imagine what it would have been like to live though an attack like that. But I’m glad there are people who talk about it — we must learn from our history, or be doomed to repeat it.

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  39. It’s the same thing that happened with Pearl Harbor. We get comfortable. We forget. And then, it’s only when something happens and disaster strikes we are rattled. We seek answers. We seek hope. You’re right, we’ve lost something.

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  41. Yes, we have forgotten. Perhaps not the hero’s, because there are a lot of NYPD/NYFD shirts and hats still worn. But we have forgotten that sense of unity we had. Congress, assembled, singing God Bless America on the steps of the Capitol. Everyone comforting each other. And now…….sad.
    Two side notes — elected officials need to respect each other, as well as the electorate should. And “snowflaking” is, unfortunately (IMHO) a term that part of the problem, and should be retired from the language. Just another piece of the problem.

    I remember that day, vividly. Every clear, dry, blue sky autumn day, every time I see a plane bank, I remember.

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  44. You hit the nail on the head with this one. As someone who doesn’t remember the 9/11 attacks but has heard lots of stories about it, it makes me sad that people take our freedom for granted. It was hard won at great cost. Not everyone lives in America, and not everyone gets to enjoy the life we have. We ought to be grateful and seek unity, not be divisive and bashing America. I love your blog. You are amazing! Thanks for being great!

    Liked by 2 people

  46. God bless America! It is not my home, but I stand with you! Canada had become divided to. It is sad to see what is going on in both sides of the border and around the world really. Thankfully these are things that do not define me because Christ lives in me. Let’s not forget to let our Lights shine.
    Blessings!
    KEEP THE LIGHT ON!

    Liked by 1 person

  48. I don’t know what to say on 9/11, I see your side and than I see the millions of people who are slaughtered afterwards in the name of Terrorism, who don’t know where America is but are being killed in name of safety.

    I believe, the whole political lagoons in the world, made us hate each other. Else I and you have no issue with each other. It’s the big shark in the name of defence industry and insurance companies who rob us.

    I would say this mayhem should stop, since where is the WMD? Where are the threats? Even the conspiracy theories wrt 9/11 are getting more and more clearer than it was before.

    The media played much more role in further destroying our trust upon each other. And has resulted in one killing the other, the person killing don’t know why actually he is killing and the person killed also don’t know why he is being killed.

    I hope you won’t find it offending my comment !

    With much peace and tranquillity across the world 🤗

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      1. Unfortunately, the media at your end, potrait a different picture as compared to this end of the world.

        At your end, it’s the terrorist who came and did all what was not imaginable. Called a war on terror, but those guys who did are gone, for the people in Iraq, Libya and Afghanistan it’s 9/11 every single day. And they don’t know why they are paying the price.

        The result now, those who got killed unfairly wanted a revenge for those killed whenever they see American. They uprooted their peaceful lives completely.

        So now it’s the never ending thing, since each generation on both sides will bring more hatred towards each other. The one killed by your soldier will bring revenge, whereas the one killed by these people his comrades will try to take the revenge of their fallen one. And the people back home like you, will say terrorist still exist, since one of yours are killed.

        But who won actually the defence, insurance and allied industry with the Govt officials in the pockets.

        I am always against the democratic system, because one of the reasons, any leader comes into power, is through spending huge amount of money on elections. Who pays those?

        If he puts his own money, or from someone else, is he mad to leave this money just for the sake of country. Some returns needs to be made. And this return will be on account of taxpayers like you and me.

        Sorry for the long comment, don’t want to bring negativity in your post, but thought someone needs to raise voice for the less spoken one. Since I reside in this part of the world, which is surrounded with war torn countries and countless women, children and old are suffering under open sky and paying for this so called foolish war which is a joke in my eyes, by making an artificial war to fill their pockets and nothing else.

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  49. You are so right, my daughter was twenty-seven DAYS old and all I could think about was what on earth had happened to our world because as Americans we NEVER had to really worry abut anything like that, we really felt safe and secure and just happy going about our lives and that day destroyed that but as Americans we always pulled together and always loved our country and each other in the moments that really mattered and any differences were put aside (except for a very few hate groups), but now, like you mentioned, people are so divided and are ready to attack based on nothing more than a difference of opinion and those who do not love our country and will not stand to honor our flag have no business being here and are a disgrace to those who gave their lives that day.

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  50. Great reminder to not forget the tragic events deeply interwoven into our story. For my generation, this was the first exposure to any sort of foreign threat to our country and a shocking introduction to terrorism. Beyond the physical threats to combat, 9/11 publicized the spiritual threats of evilness over which only the love of Christ can prevail. Thanks for sharing!

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