This will be the only time I’m on tumblr today.
I can’t risk a bunch of teenagers reblogging pictures of what happened 10 years ago. I can’t look at that, that kind of cavalier public memory, so inconsiderate of those of us who were there. Because I was there and I never need to be there again.
My generation will be defined by 9/11 forever. It created the world we struggle to survive in now. It was the genesis of our wars, of our economic collapse, of our culture wars, of our internal rift over the definition of “American.” The men who crashed those planes that did accomplished their goal; 9/11 was the beginning of the decline of the American empire.
Perhaps we should have never been an empire. It’s unclear, exactly, how much we actually intended to be one. We are still Great. We are still Good. I was, am, and will forever be proud beyond words to be an American. I will never give up on my country. I will always believe, and I will always hold my head high. Those planes could not destroy that, they could kill my pride and my fierce, fierce love for my country. But they could kill many other things, many other people, and they did. And for that I will never forgive them or anyone who, in any moment of weakness, could agree with them. There is no version of that thought that is right. Ever.
I pay my deepest respect to the victims of that day and their families, thousands of them. I pay my deepest respects to those who gave their lives to rescue, or try to rescue, even one person. I pay my respects to every person in this country who lives with the trauma of that day, on their bodies or in their minds or both. I love them. I love all of them. I give my love to everyone who hurts because of that day, everyone whose life changed that day. I accept the same love given for my wounds. I thank everyone who sends love for it.
10 years ago, on a day as bright and blue and warm and gorgeous and perfect and serene and calm as this day, our world exploded, then crumbled, and belched a cloud of ash that lingers and darkens our lives and our souls to this day. I won’t forget that day. I won’t forgive that day. And I can’t celebrate that day. But to my fellow Americans: I love you. I am with you. May you find peace, today or a day in the future. Join me, to fight to make America Great again, to make us Good again, to fulfill our endless potential. I love you, America. Forever.
(via therationalamerican)
