A couple years ago, I was perusing the used CD section of a discount store and saw this disc:
It was released in the summer of '02 and was Bruce's first album recorded with the E Street Band since his "Born in the U.S.A." days. I picked it up for a few bucks and had a listen. Most of the tracks were influenced by the 9/11 attacks (Springsteen is originally from New Jersey). However, there were quite a few upbeat songs to be found on it as well. I listened to the track "Empty Sky" as I drove to work this morning. Two of my other favorites from it are "Further On (Up The Road)" and "The Fuse". Without question, it's one of my all-time favorite CD's. I remember listening to many of the tracks for the first time while I took Brandy for a walk with my headphones on.
As far as my story for that day, well, I basically slept through the madness. I didn't have to be at work until 2pm. I turned on the telly at about 11am. Both towers had already fell, but there was still a lot of smoke. I sat down, got the scoop, and then took a shower. I figured it would pass and took Bran for a walk. All these deaths were occuring thousands of miles away, but in my subdivision, all was quiet. When something like this happens, I usually move pretty fast towards acceptance and then move on. In this world, many things "good" and "bad" can happen. Such is cause and effect. But by remembering that life never ends, I can have peace always.
Time passed and the president decided to invade Iraq, a country that had nothing to do with 9/11 (virtually all the terrorists from that day were from Saudi Arabia). I was firmly against it from the start and three years later, the rest of the country is starting to catch up to my views. Many times more innocent people have been killed in the invasion of Iraq than were on 9/11.
I don't think our civilians' lives are worth more than theirs. But Bush continues the madness. And more violence is just creating more terrorists, not less.
I went to Famous Dave's on Saturday and noticed a bumper sticker which sums up my feelings exactly. It said:
January 20, 2009 The End of an Error
Let's not give up hope.
5 comments:
It's absolutely crazy how many times we hear soldiers say, "Yeah! Bomb Iraq!! Let's get em' for what they did on 9/11!!!"
I tend to just stare at them and then say, "You don't even know what you are fighting this war for.... Iraq had nothing to do with 9/11, you moron."
It's outrageous.
I was in the parking lot at Duncan Donuts and got really panicy for no reason at all at the time of the first plane hitting the towers...
I couldn't figure it out and then when I got to work we got a call from one of our photographers telling us what happened...sometimes, I'm weird like that. Just ask Kyra.
Being from CT it hit a little closer to home-most of my family lives in NY right over the river from Manhattan and I had a cousin who worked in the city. We couldn't get in touch with her for a while and we were very worried. Luckily, I didn't know anyone who was killed, but I know people who had friends who died-it's hard to help them erase those memories.
Do you two know each other in real life?
I was at work when it happened I can remember we all went down to the rest. on the first floor and watched it unfold on CNN it was sureal.
Brian: If you're talking about Kyra and I, no, we've never met.
"In this world, many things "good" and "bad" can happen. Such is cause and effect. But by remembering that life never ends, I can have peace always."
I agree. In my world I try to find or create a smile or two each day. Global warming, events in the Middle East, famine, poverty...I do what I can in whatever small way it may be. Last month I began sponsoring a child through World Vision, I recycle, I volunteer at a crisis centre...and then I try, as you, to find personal peace.
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