On September 11, 2011, the American people will come together in remembrance of one of the worst tragedies to ever bestow our great nation. The nation we, the American people, equally love with every moral fiber of our being.
While each of us feel saddened by that days horrific event, it’s the lessons we walk away with that will shape the years to come. What has transpired within the decade since that fateful day very well may have negatively affected the United States more than the tragic event itself.
There has been more erosion of civil liberties and freedoms in the U.S. since 9/11 than pretty much any other time in American history. For one, a new set of arguably unconstitutional “laws”, acts and Presidential Directives had been set in motion resulting in losses of privacy and freedoms formerly guaranteed under the constitution for two hundred years.
Recent studies suggest the U.S. ranks behind 9 nations in overall economic freedom. Factors measured include property rights, business freedom, fed government spending in wrong direction, and trade freedom. Yes, we are still very fortunate relative to many places in the world. But if we remain too apathetic under the moral fabric of extreme “Patriotism”, we may no longer be able to call ourselves one of the top 10 free nations soon.
Likewise, according to a widely recognized rating called the Global Peace Index, the United States of America now ranks eighty-second in overall peacefulness. The study, conducted by The Institute of Economics and Peace, measured factors such as transparency of federal government and corruption, how this overall affects educational and other infrastructures, level of violence and crime within, as well as external relations with military expenditures and wars.
Yet, the ministry-of-propaganda still spins it with a heart and soul-wrenching “fighting for our freedoms and security”. Some statistical data suggest we are each twelve thousand times more likely to die of cancer than a terrorist attack, eighty seven times more likely from a drowning.
This horrific attack happened in some fashion. That we all know. But whether it indeed was some flat out “hijacking by Islamic fundamentalist”, or at least partially plotted within to fuel war profits as investigations and indications suggest: Does it matter in principle? Either way, why?
Many other nations, including China, are loosing faith in investments of any U.S. bonds, mainly DUE to the U.S. relying too much on it's "powerful military" to meddle everywhere in international affairs. Our heedless spending on military and wars has weakened the value of the dollar.
And is the value of the American dollar worth any of those young men and women's lives? No.
If anything good comes from all this, we learn that the U.S. is not the world leader that can afford to play perpetual global cop. We cannot continue some global crusade in the name of imposing ideals of freedoms and democracy onto third worlds, when it’s the cost of that very same aggressive foreign policy pulling our own freedoms and democracy down with them.
We need our brave and honorable men and women in uniform to be in our homeland to handle the increasing numbers of disasters such as hurricanes, earthquakes and flooding. Not to be put into harms way elsewhere under reality of political unrest, both here and abroad. While international terrorism has always been a threat, going on a 16th century mentality of rage to “avenge our people” does not serve to protect us from such
While parents of kids in public K-12, as well as private schools and universities across America are being asked to bring in basic school supplies to educate our next generation of do-gooders, we have to stop and think of where the budget cuts should really be. Perhaps within our over-bloated MIC, as well as some socially irresponsible corporations not paying their taxes.
At least five of our Founding Fathers and several Presidents warned of the disastrous rise of misplaced power that could result from the increasing negative influence of the military industrial complex. Even general-turned-president, George Washington, warned of “overgrown military establishments” stating they were antithetical to republican liberties. Another general-turned president, Dwight Eisenhower also warned against the MIC in his legendary 1961 farewell address.
“Patriotism”, it seems, should be looked at more as being able to see our country as it is, not merely as we think it stands. To be able to take a humble look-see, and do something to help change its direction. If not for ourselves, for our future generations. To see through the origins of the deep militarism and imperialism that are tearing the U.S. apart and leading it toward mediocrity and bankruptcy.
If we continue to wrap the American Flag around the innocent blood and souls of our people…our young men and women in the deception of “fighting for freedom”, we just might bury western civilization as we know it today. If we respect God, our country, our flag, and what our Founding Fathers warned us against, we will push for non-aggressive intervention.
Yes, we will all raise our beautiful flag and remembrance and honor of those that were killed, the victims’ families, the firefighters, nurses, doctors, EMTs and every other first responder at that tragic scene. And when we honor our troops, rather than use rhetorical slogans that pull at too many heartstrings, let’s honor them more compassionately with prayers for their safety, as well as their overall emotional and physical well-being. Let's come together with a stronger moral fabric than that.
Thought provoking quote: "No Nation could preserve its freedom in the midst of continual warfare"
- James Madison-
Sources:
- 2011 Index of Economic Freedom
- Robert Greenwald, Unconstitutional: The War on our Civil Liberties, 2004, Amazon
- Global Peace Index: Signs of our Times
- Jim Manzi, National Affairs: Keeping America's Edge, 2010
- Webster Griffin Tarpley, Synthetic Terrorism: Made In USA, 2005, First Edition
- NSC Study: "Bigger Threats than Terrorism"
- Rogue Columnist: Misplaced Power
- Eugene Jarecki, "The American Way of War", 2008, Free Press
- Relevant article by this author
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