It was 2001, and I was a senior in high school. Anti-social by nature, I was somehow coerced into joining the marching band. Due to playing piano for ten years already, I was put in percussion. I was actually on a team, with friends, and it was awesome. At the end of summer, just after band camp, I got my driver's license. For the first time in my young life, the world finally felt normal.
In mid-September, a group of murderous extremists sought to take that away from me. And they did, at least for a little while.
My most vivid memory of that beautiful September day ten years ago was watching the National Guard mobilize at the armory across the street during after school band practice. I saw something that day that I never thought I would ever see - trucks and troops swarming in the middle of the street. It was a scene out of a summer blockbuster, and it was happening. And it was real.
I'm not from the most quiet town, but it certainly never falls victim to earthquakes or supervillians. But that day, we were all victims, scared shitless by a faceless group of people that lurked in the shadows. They accomplished exactly what they wanted to. For about 24 hours.
On September 12, 2001, a sea of red, white, and blue splashed all over the world. Our enemies became our friends, and our friends became our brothers. The entire world stood up and delivered one enormous "Fuck you!" to those that sought to instill it with fear and hatred. We were all united under the declaration that we were all humans, and no one was going to take that away from us.
Looking back now, I can see that it didn't take long for those feelings to fade. Arab Americans became targets of hate crimes, and Arab nations became targets of war. American citizens can now have their phones tapped without warrants and it often seems that the Geneva Convention no longer applies. Our enemies are larger than they've ever been, and our friends tend to screen our calls and press ignore.
Perhaps I am still burdened with the youthful idealism of a 17 year old. What happened to my united planet? What happened to the world that had simply had enough? I like to think it's still out there somewhere, buried in the rubble of its potential, and some day, when we least expect it, it'll show up on our door to rub our faces in its greatness. I hope I live until that day. But I'm a pessimist by nature, and know that even the Highlander will never see it.
In May, 2002, I became one of the first graduates to enter this new world, from the Parkersburg South High School Class of 2002. We were the Patriots. It seemed fitting.
In mid-September, a group of murderous extremists sought to take that away from me. And they did, at least for a little while.
My most vivid memory of that beautiful September day ten years ago was watching the National Guard mobilize at the armory across the street during after school band practice. I saw something that day that I never thought I would ever see - trucks and troops swarming in the middle of the street. It was a scene out of a summer blockbuster, and it was happening. And it was real.
I'm not from the most quiet town, but it certainly never falls victim to earthquakes or supervillians. But that day, we were all victims, scared shitless by a faceless group of people that lurked in the shadows. They accomplished exactly what they wanted to. For about 24 hours.
On September 12, 2001, a sea of red, white, and blue splashed all over the world. Our enemies became our friends, and our friends became our brothers. The entire world stood up and delivered one enormous "Fuck you!" to those that sought to instill it with fear and hatred. We were all united under the declaration that we were all humans, and no one was going to take that away from us.
Looking back now, I can see that it didn't take long for those feelings to fade. Arab Americans became targets of hate crimes, and Arab nations became targets of war. American citizens can now have their phones tapped without warrants and it often seems that the Geneva Convention no longer applies. Our enemies are larger than they've ever been, and our friends tend to screen our calls and press ignore.
Perhaps I am still burdened with the youthful idealism of a 17 year old. What happened to my united planet? What happened to the world that had simply had enough? I like to think it's still out there somewhere, buried in the rubble of its potential, and some day, when we least expect it, it'll show up on our door to rub our faces in its greatness. I hope I live until that day. But I'm a pessimist by nature, and know that even the Highlander will never see it.
In May, 2002, I became one of the first graduates to enter this new world, from the Parkersburg South High School Class of 2002. We were the Patriots. It seemed fitting.
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