On the morning of September 11,
2001 the City of New York arose as usual with the bustle and fast pace of the
day. At 8:46am a plane crashed into the north tower of the World Trade Center.
Michael Walters, A freelance photojournalist walking nearby stated “All of a
sudden there were people screaming. I saw people jumping out of the building.
Their arms were flailing. I stopped taking pictures and started crying.”
Three thousand miles from this
event being witnessed by Mr. Walters I woke up and began gathering my stuff for
school. I walked through the hallway of my home grabbed my backpack and started
for the back door. I heard a commotion of the television screen my Dad was
watching and turned back to look. My Dad often watched the news and my first
thought as I gazed at the screen was that a storm was happening somewhere in
the world. As I stared at the strange sight on the screen I asked “What is
that?” “That is the world trade center being blown up” He answered solemnly. “I
don’t understand” I replied, but my Dad said nothing, his eyes fixated on the
screen. I turned and went out the door to catch the bus, puzzled and unaware of
what I had just seen. I kept wondering to myself “What is the World Trade
Center? Where is that located?” I had no idea.
There was an eerie feeling
surrounding the school that day. It was hard to understand but I felt a knot in
my stomach the entire day. Something very wrong was happening today but I
didn’t understand what or how it affected me except that it was making me feel
horribly depressed. I entered my history class and my teacher like everyone
else that day was solemn. She turned on the TV and we watched in silence. I
still didn’t get it. What was happening? I thought to myself. Why was everyone
acting like this was the end? If this really was the end of the world as we
knew it I knew I felt sad but couldn’t cry. I was too shocked at the footage I
was watching. I asked myself “If this is the end, why are we sitting here
watching a TV, and not going anywhere or doing a thing? Did the United States
Government even know that people over there are dying?"
I soon was called by my teacher to come up to his desk. He told me that my mother was at the office and I was leaving. I immediately obeyed and went to the office and was greeted by my sister first who was beside herself with sheer terror and she hugged me sobbing. My mother then came over to us and she walked us to the car and took us home. When my sister was able to speak I asked her all my puzzling questions and she retorted to me that “The World Trade Center in New York was attacked by hijacked planes!” in a matter of fact tone. I was too mesmerized by her facts than to be annoyed at her smart answer. Why were airplanes attacking the buildings in New York? It seemed all too fantastic to be real. “Will they attack us here?” I asked. She didn’t know. Now I knew why there was that frightened and solemn feeling around all day. The unknown is the scariest when. Everything around you seems chaotic, uncertain, and the answers are dismal. I could see on the news feeds that many fire fighters and police men were out helping everyone they could, but I couldn’t understand how the CIA nor FBI wasn’t able to detect such an attack happening. I had always viewed them as supreme and able to detect just about anything. This experience in my life didn’t bring me any confidence in those government agencies. In fact, it did the opposite. The experience and the years that followed brought more questions and uneasiness as the event was discussed, but no answers were really absolute. All the news reports that followed the event made it seem that no agency had a clue at the planned attack. For me, their uncertainty didn’t seem to bother anyone. Most coverage seemed more interested in the response of President Bush and then all the focus was on the upcoming war that would soon commence. All the efforts people were making to retaliate to the enemy was being called Patriotic actions.
I soon was called by my teacher to come up to his desk. He told me that my mother was at the office and I was leaving. I immediately obeyed and went to the office and was greeted by my sister first who was beside herself with sheer terror and she hugged me sobbing. My mother then came over to us and she walked us to the car and took us home. When my sister was able to speak I asked her all my puzzling questions and she retorted to me that “The World Trade Center in New York was attacked by hijacked planes!” in a matter of fact tone. I was too mesmerized by her facts than to be annoyed at her smart answer. Why were airplanes attacking the buildings in New York? It seemed all too fantastic to be real. “Will they attack us here?” I asked. She didn’t know. Now I knew why there was that frightened and solemn feeling around all day. The unknown is the scariest when. Everything around you seems chaotic, uncertain, and the answers are dismal. I could see on the news feeds that many fire fighters and police men were out helping everyone they could, but I couldn’t understand how the CIA nor FBI wasn’t able to detect such an attack happening. I had always viewed them as supreme and able to detect just about anything. This experience in my life didn’t bring me any confidence in those government agencies. In fact, it did the opposite. The experience and the years that followed brought more questions and uneasiness as the event was discussed, but no answers were really absolute. All the news reports that followed the event made it seem that no agency had a clue at the planned attack. For me, their uncertainty didn’t seem to bother anyone. Most coverage seemed more interested in the response of President Bush and then all the focus was on the upcoming war that would soon commence. All the efforts people were making to retaliate to the enemy was being called Patriotic actions.
It has taken me years to
understand what I know today about the events of that horrific morning of
September 11th, 2001. I still do not know everything. I do not think anyone
without classified security clearance knows, and even then I am uncertain. The
fact that is clear about that morning is that America was forever changed and
affected by that day. One of the greatest and most profound adjustments that
have come as a result of that day was our collective definitions and
understanding of our fundamental beliefs and values. The one I want to focus on
if our collective definition of Patriotism.
The Oxford dictionary defined
Patriotism as “the quality of being patriotic; vigorous support for one’s
country. For me, the grey area of the definition lies within its’ definition
when it says vigorous support. What does support entail? How are your actions
defined as supportive? For me, the citizen who Pledges his/her support to the
constitutional rights of the people of America and does everything in their
power to protect and stand up for those liberties is a Patriot
During the birth of America the
colonists never used the word "patriot" to describe anybody who was a
“loyalist”. At that time a "loyalist" meant somebody who was
"loyal" to the government in London and to King George III.
Traditionally, in our history books the men who signed the Declaration of
Independence betrayed the governing force at that time and were considered
traitors. Gary Clark, who is a writer, gave a profound description of the
events that led to the founding of the constitution.
They conspired, both in secret and
later openly, to overthrow and revolt against their government with the aim of
throwing it out and establishing a new and different governmental system. In
doing this, they were branded as traitors and seditionists by their
government... but they did it anyway, despite the risk. Eventually, after their
government had fired the first shots, they took up arms against their
government and began killing its policing agents, who were the armed force
enforcing the oppressive dictates of their government.” (Clark)
This description is a powerful summary of the
greatest patriotic acts of their time. Their actions were traitorous against a wrongful
governing force and their actions brought peace and prosperity for many people.
For me, this is an example that can be used to compare and measure one’s
actions in order to know if they are Patriotic.
These brave, determined, and
courageous men risked their own selves for this cause. They put their
reputations, their families, properties, even their lives at risk as they
fought the great oppressive government of that time. That is what makes them
true American Patriots! Their sacrifice is amazing! Gary Clark’s description of
the historical events that led to the independence of the United States helps
me to understand that at that time those men felt it necessary and acceptable
to take a stand and defend their rights against the existing power of
government at that time. I wonder if men like that exist now.
Today, there is a man who has
taken his own measures to inform the public of the governments’ questionable
acts against the liberty of the common man. Edward Snowden recently embarrassed
US President Barack Obama with his revelations of massive surveillance programs
they use. On a Fox News report it indicated that Snowden left his position in
Hawaii and on May 20 went to Hong Kong to begin issuing a series of leaks on
the NSA gathering of phone call logs and Internet data. The report continued
“The White House dubbed Snowden a traitor to his country and warned both Russia
and China that their relations with the US might be damaged by their refusal to
extradite him. ‘We expect (the Russians) to look at the options available to
them to expel Mr. Snowden back to the United States,’ White House spokesman Jay
Carney said.”(Williams and Smolchenko). Are we now in the business of punishing
a man for informing the nation of the questionable acts of its government? If
this information helps us know what to do about our current government if it is
doing things that violate our liberties; then according to our own US history,
Edward could be a Patriot. He is not guilty of blowing up a tower in New York
full of innocent people. However, I think he could be considered a patriot of
our time for opposing powers that violate the right and freedoms of the common
people.
I bring this to light to pose the
question: Do we as a people need to question and examine our current power of
government? In order to ensure that our liberties and rights are not being
violated or taken from under our noses I believe we should always question and
remain informed of our governments practices. After all, the United States
government was formed by the people for the people, not to be governed by
anyone but the people themselves. I fear that in our day and time that it will
be necessary to be like our forefathers in 1775. I feel it vital to the
salvation of our fundamental principles that we be ready to be labeled traitors
if necessary in order to protect our freedom. Such labels help governments to
thwart opposing powers. I wonder if that is the case with Edward Snowden. Is he
a traitor or a patriot? Do you feel that questioning the government’s actions
is traitorous or patriotic? Abraham Lincoln once said “We the people are the
rightful masters of both Congress and the courts, not to overthrow the
Constitution but to overthrow the men who pervert the Constitution.” After the
events of September 11th, and the lack of information that fallowed, and now
the labeling of Edward Snowden as a traitor for informing us of the
government’s practices that are questionable makes me feel skeptical and
suspicious of out government.
These events lead me to ask, what exactly do we need to defend and
protect; our current government or ourselves and our way of life? The U.S.
Government was designed to be a patriot organization for the people. However, if
it is failing to do so, and its structure is not serving its purpose and
standing for the public good then we must be the patriots to defend our
liberties. Therefore, I define Patriotism as the actions of a patriot; who is a
defender, a defender of the constitutional rights of the people!
Works Cited
BrainyQuote. Xplore, n.d. Web. 26 June 2013.< http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/g/george_washington_2.html>.
"Mystery as Fugitive Snowden Vanishes in Moscow." Fox News. FOX News Network, n.d. Web. 26 June 2013.< http://www.foxnews.com/world/2013/06/24/mystery-as-fugitive-snowden-vanishes-in-moscow/>.
"Patriotism." : Definition of in Oxford Dictionary (British & World English). N.p., n.d. Web. 26 June 2013.< http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/patriotism>.
"Veterans United Network." Veterans United Network. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 June 2013.< http://www.veteransunited.com/network/10-most-powerful-quotes-about-911/>.
"What Is an AMERICAN Patriot?" What Is an AMERICAN Patriot? N.p., n.d. Web. 26 June 2013. <http://www.liberator.net/articles/ClarkGary/AmericanPatriot.html>.
