Patriot Day Should Be a Memorial Day

September 11^th 2001, also known as 9/11, became the day we would never forget when four airplanes, manned by terrorists of the Al-Qaeda Islamic extremist group, crashed into the Twin Towers, killing and injuring over 3,000 people. One of the planes hit the Pentagon and one was on its way to the White House before it crashed in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, after the passengers and crewmembers aboard tried to stop the plane. There were no survivors on any of the planes.

Everyone can remember where they were and what they were doing on that day. Not since the assassination of President Kennedy or the Pearl Harbor Attacks, has there been such a devastating and terrible blow to America.

In a way, the attack on 9/11 was worse because it was innocent civilians who died that day. They were not soldiers, or trained military personnel and they were not major public figures. The people who died that day were ordinary people, living their lives and going to work. People who had families and loved ones, those from different nationalities and different pasts. They were the people of America, before they were killed by suicide terrorists, Islamic extremists, who for some reason believed that they should kill and murder for their religious beliefs and hate America.

After the attacks, the country was stunned and went into mourning. Life seemed to stop and freeze in time with no sure direction. People were confused and scared, although many brave people stood up to help those in need. Those brave people were the firefighters, police, nurses and doctors--anyone and everyone who helped during that horrific time.

Everyone was united after 9/11 and everyone declared their support for America with flags, stickers, ribbons, bracelets and pins. 9/11 united the country from its grief to stand and stay strong in a time of need. There was no question that Americans supported America and its way of life.

However, for the past seven years, what had once united us has been used to divide and almost destroy our country. After the attacks, America pledged revenge and the wars began shortly after. We sent our troops into Afghanistan to fight and die, in order to catch the one responsible for the 9/11 attacks, Osama bin Laden--who remains at large to this day. We invaded Iraq to depose Saddam Hussein, an apparent supporter of terrorism--but the wars are still going on.

It is said that to support our country and its troops is to support the war. To be patriotic we must lay down our freedom and take up arms against terrorism, which has taken away so many people's freedom. Although, some argue war is not patriotic at all and that war goes against our country's principles.

So, how do we choose what is patriotic? How do we know what is right?

Mahatma Mohandas Gandhi says in a famous quote, "For us, patriotism is the same as the love of humanity." Gandhi would be a good example to use because he really did understand the meaning of patriotism. He was the leader of India's fight for independence.

Mark Twain said this about patriotism, "The government is merely a servant-merely a temporary servant; it cannot be its prerogative to determine what is right and what is wrong, and decide who is a patriot and who isn't. Its function is to obey orders, not originate them."

There are many other quotes about patriotism and its meaning but these two quotes stand out most because they came from people who were valued for their thoughts and observations of the world around them.

Whether we agree with the opinions of patriotism from others or not, it should be known that most (if not all Americans and people living in this country) support America. We should never doubt it and to question that support would be to undermine the people's loyalty and most of all--their trust.

Turning 9/11 into a war argument or a question of patriotism is wrong. The people who died during those attacks should be remembered as they were, citizens and people of America and their deaths should not be made the subject of political debate and government surveillance acts.

Changing 9/11 into Patriot Day changes its true meaning. The day we were united on 9/11 was because we were united as a people and a country, standing together against the attacks that had torn our everyday lives apart. We weren't being patriots, fighters, or even liberators--we were being what we always were, ourselves in our own country. Many people, from many different backgrounds, religions and ethnicities, call America home. We don't need to be reminded to be a patriot. We are all patriots just by living in America, the place we've chosen as our home.

"We Will Never Forget". These four words remain in our minds and hearts as a remembrance for all the people whose lives were taken on September 11^th, 2001. Let us remember them in a moment of silence to honor their lives, not with flags or slogans or commercial statements but with the dignity they deserve.

Make 9/11 a Memorial Day.
--For all the people of September 11^th and their loved ones.
May you be at Peace.

Sources:
September 11^th Attacks, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/September_11,_2001_attacks, Wikipedia.org
"Peter's Quotations: Ideas For Our Time", by Dr. Laurence J. Peter, Bantam Books, Inc. © 1977
"Gandhi", by Louis Fischer, The New American Library, Inc., © 1954
"Patriotism Quotes", http://www.wisdomquotes.com/cat_patriotism.html , Wisdom Quotes.com