At this point it is seemingly impossible to avoid the massive build up to the anniversary of that thing that happened. That thing that has apparently been permanently burned into the lexicon of American History. Whether we like it or not, it is going to be rubbing elbows with Paul Revere, the "shot heard around the world", the assassination of JFK, landing on the moon, etc., etc.,



Americans seem to enjoy wallowing in this rather perverse celebration of massive death at the hands of a rag-tag group of malcontents. A group that specifically intended the outcome that our country chooses to perpetuate.



They wanted this event to be permanently etched into the American psyche. And it happened.

They wanted September 11th, 2001 to be forever associated with terror and death. And it happened.

They wanted us to go into knee-jerk mode to help fuel their recruitment drives. And it happened.

They wanted to die for a cause that would allow them to live in infamy. And it happened.



You will not be able to avoid what has already begun. You could bury your TV, avoid all of the print publications, turn off your radio....but you'll still have your neighbors.



And your co-workers, and your family, and your mailman, and your meter-reader. They will suck you into conversation. They'll ask you where you were. They'll ask you if you knew anyone. They'll ask you if you are going to watch that movie about that I-beam that is wandering around from town to town on a flatbed truck making appearances at your local State Fair. Right next to the stand where they sell deep-fried Milky Way bars.



It's already begun. The stories about the kids who were born days after 9/11 where their Dad was killed. The stories about the old lady who lost her husband. The stories about some farmer who saw the hole that that plane in Pennsylvania made. The stories about the stories.



To be clear, we should not begrudge the families who lost friends and loved ones their time to reflect. For most it is likely to still be a very raw and tender set of feelings as that day arrives. But that's just it, this day should be left to them. To allow them to remember those they lost. But that is not what has happened. This country uses that pain as a way to justify wallowing in jingoist, saber-rattling reflection. To get lost in this weird violent nationalistic and xenophobic pornography.



We want to never forget, we want to remember, but not because we want to remember the tragedy of those who perished. No, we want to remember to justify the hot, seething hatred many in this country have for those people. Because this country wants to continue to insist those 19 assholes were speaking for everyone else who kinda looks like them or has a similar accent.



And anyone who will take 5 seconds to think about it knows its beyond fucked up. They know that every god-damned thing we do to enshrine this event is exactly what those fuckers wanted us to do. The smart thing to do, the thing to do that would actually emanate from a true sense of pride would be to brush it the fuck off and just move on. To stop dwelling. To no longer allow it to dictate our politics and our policies. To stand up and decree that this country isn't some pathetic daisy that will just wilt and buckle. But those of us who realize this are going to be deemed "insensitive". We have a "lack of empathy".



Well, fuck no, I have empathy. That's why I want us to fucking just stop. JUST FUCKING STOP IT NOW!!! Let's pull up our god damned big-boy pants and focus on the stuff that is breaking and falling apart NOW!



