I won't claim to be able to buy into his head, but I think I know where he's coming from. I sat and listened and watched after 09-11 before, as people who probably couldn't tell how many stars were on the flag, wrapped themselves in it.
People chanted " united we stand" (and posted it here, after every message), when we are so far from united it's ridiculous.
People posted and chanted and sang aout trusting in God, when hardly anybody would recognize him or his works today. God bless the USA they said...funny how they'd never said it before.
Hypocracy runs deep; there is nothing different about today than yesterday, nor 09-10 from 09-11 last year. The politics changed a bit, the air certainly seemed a bit more somber for a night. But did the death of two thousand strangers suddenly turn us into different and better people? Or is all the incantation, chanting, and regurgitation simply part of fitting in?
Chest beating about burying a fireaxe in a man's forehead is all good and well, and one might even stretch enough to say it's good psychotherapy to reiterate such affirmations. But I believe the orional poster was stating that this is all it is. An affirmation, founded in emotion and machsimo. He is right.
After 09-11 (the first time around), flag companies sold out over night. Around here one couldn't hardly see for all the car flags, house flags, building flags, hangar flags. Now, I love my country and my flag, and I have pledged my allegience to it enough for many lifetimes and in many ways, but I didn't rush out to hang a flag in my car window.
Instead, I continued to volunteer for the community, to give blood, to vote, to obey traffic and public laws, do unto others, and all the rest of what comes with putting belief in the flag into practice. Much more critical than the piety of chanting "God Bless America!" is the act of helping Him do it. It's called being a citizen.
I don't disparage those who have feelings for this day; many do; certainly many here do. And that's okay. I do feel a great deal of contempt in general for the chic surge of emotion that follows this date, which represents nothing but chest beating and being part of the mass. It flies in the face of what these events really mean.
What am I going to do when someone breaks into the cockpit? Probably die. But not without resistance. Beyond that, who knows? I'll let you know, when it's over. Or Tom Brokaw will. What am I going to do to Osama when I get over there and get my hands on him? I would postulate about all the damage I'd do, but I'll never get over there, and I'll never get my hands on him. But I can get my hands on a ladel at the local soup kitchen; I can help. I can get my hands on a squeeze toy while they prick my arm to draw blood for those who need it. I can kneel in prayer for the soldiers, and the politicians, and even the children in foriegn lands who want none of this, but have to be there anyway.
Certainly God bless the USA. Tears still form when I hear the Lee Greenwood song, and I cannot listen without joining in. Can't help it. To this day I cannot pass a flying flag without it tugging at my heart, causing me to pause for one moment, being deeply impressed at the awful price that that design and that fabric has been purchased with. Most definitely God bless the USA.
Rather than surmise about the unknown and beat our chests into bloody pulps proclaiming our power and prowness in the so-called war against terrorism, let's remember that we have what we always had, and concentrate on making it better. We're not united. God Bless the USA, but let's remember that by calling on God to do that, we volunteer to be His hands and His eyes, and to share His heart. It's up to us to do those things. That can't be done by talking about it, but only by doing.
I believe the origional poster was commenting that these sentiments seem to run deep on the anniversary of a terrible travesty, but what about the rest of the year? Rather than spending a year crying about securities inconveniences, how about a year of working to find better ways to enhance security, and then writing letters and starting a campain to implement those measures? Rather than talking about how to defend the cockpit, how about taking a class, preparing, sweating and developing the abilities needed? Rather than talking about letting God do all the work to bless the USA, how about stepping out into the community to serve on the local ambulance, read stories to children at the local hospital, or pick up trash along the highway?
We are a nation devoid of faith. We talk, but faith isn't in talking. Faith is a verb. Faith is about doing. If we talk, we must act. If today truly means anything at all, it will be the motivation to get up and do something about it. Not a one of us can do anthing more valueable in this life than share ourselves. When today is done and the good feelings are ready to be folded and put back in a shoebox under the bed, think about it for a moment, and don't put those feelings away. Try wearing them for the next year, and using those feelings to benifit the world around us. There is no telling the good it will bring.
