Friday Night Lights
August 31, 2019
First Down Batavia
October 11, 2019
Have you forgotten?
Today marks 18 years since the murders of 911—I say murders because that’s what it was. In those 18 years that have passed, look at this nation—still at war, still fighting an ideology. Ideology’s are hard to defeat, but let’s look at us as a nation; every chance this country gets, it fights itself, it belittles our president’s and our leaders. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t just mean Trump, ever since political radio chose sides we have ripped on everyone, and now with help of social media it just became a blood sport. I get it, it’s our right to demonstrate, but to work against Obama for 8 years because someone didn’t think he was born here is a foolish waste of time, and to call Trump a racist ever 5 seconds is low hanging fruit.
So when you see the #neverforget today don’t fool yourself—as a collective nation we have forgotten. Take a Look around, our unity as a nation is nothing more than a dust trail behind the principles we were founded on. On that day all those years ago people jumped from an inferno to their death, towers fell, planes went down in fields, American Heroes were alive that day in the form of first responders that climbed up stairs to their death and passengers on planes took action. What did you do that day?
We were watching helpless while people lined up to give blood even though it was way more that they needed, people talked to neighbors, went and got their kids from school, and young men and women signed up to support their country. I think about our reaction and it blows my mind—I was invited to host a wreath ceremony in St. Charles the weekend after 9-11 and in the scope of things, it was a silly gesture—tossing a wreath in the Fox River but thousands of people showed up because we needed each other, and no one cared where you were from, what color you were, or your sexual preference. We were all just broken people leaning on each other because this country we love was gut punched. Americans we didn’t know—gay, straight, people of all color and religions were attacked and no one asked which way you leaned politically—that day we were all Americans.
Ask yourself this question: Have you forgotten?
RR
6 Comments
You are absolutely correct. I love social media for it’s ability to show people the good things happening and even ask for help when things aren’t so good, but I despise the fact that people choose to use it to rip on anything and everything. I’m a Trump supporter, but I keep my politics off social media and I find myself hiding posts daily from both sides of the aisle just because I can’t stand them. To each their own, that’s your right as an American, but free speech has been taken to an extreme and it’s a shame. I miss the days after 9-11 when everyone was just nice and had nice things to say and supported our government and our military and our first responders. My hope is that some day the good will outweigh the bad, but I fear it will end up the other way around if people don’t start showing more respect. You can have an opinion and still be nice, but people forget that and it’s sad. God Bless American and God Bless you for all you do! You’re a good guy who wants to do right by people and I hope you land back on the radio soon.
Thank you Ray for posting this reminder of that awful day 18 years ago today. The images will forever be in my head. The weeping this nation did that day and for days, weeks and many months after will be with this great nation forever. I have never forgotten. America needs to stand together no matter your political belief. I am not a Trump supporter, however, our country needs to unite as one again and stop the division within America. I love this country. I can only imagine how dysfunctional America looks to other countries. Shame on us. I have not forgotten. As little as this may seem, every day since 9-11 I have worn a small red, white and blue heart shaped pin on my shirt. It is my reminder of that horrific day. It is my reminder that there are still men and women out there defending and supporting our great nation.
Also, there is a campaign which started many years ago, RED shirt Friday’s, where everyone would wear red on Friday’s in support of Remembering Everyone Deployed. Many of us at work do it every week. Another small thing this nation can do together in support of one another.
God Bless you Ray for sharing this. I hope enough people read your post and reflect on it.
God Bless America.
Ray if I remember, you and John were on the air. They (Security). Had to make you leave the building. You both wanted to keep reporting.
Ray, as I stated, we have grown weak as a country… we tolerate the intolerable. And to me that is unacceptable. Over 3000 people died … for no reason other then hate…. the hatred of our Christian roots, the hatred of our way of life… I was making companion elbows that morning for a job in Algonquin… when the radio announcement came through… I immediately knew what we were in for.. I knew we were going to war… since then another 5000 men and women have lost their lives fighting a battle that I don’t know we can win… today I fly my flag at the school at half mast in honor of all those lost souls… I have not forgotten… I have not forgiven… and I’m still pissed off. God bless America
Good Morning Ray,
I was driving to work, at Great Lakes Naval Base the morning of 9-11-01 listening to the radio. I work for Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society on the base and at that time, our office spaces were just outside the Main Gate. I remember parking my car, walking inside and telling everyone we needed to turn on the TV because something just happened in NY. As we were watching, we saw the 2nd plane hit. I have been on this base for years and I will NEVER forget how eerily quiet it became and how bright blue & cloudless the sky was & void of planes for several days after. You could just feel fear, sadness, disbelief, in the air that day. As we left to go home, the base was ramping up security like I had never seen before in all my time here.
I too remember everyone being a little kinder, more patient, more tolerant of one another and we were all Americans, proud Americans. That solidarity no longer exists. It is all for one. How quickly we all forget that in an instant, life can change & on that day, it did for so many people. God Bless.
That sure sums it up in a nut shell Ray!!
We have regressed as a nation ever since! Absolute shame😪