Poetry Session #5

I REMEMBER

I remember when I was in undergrad on a typical day that went bad. It was still morning and I was checking my e-mail in the computer lab.

I remember the chain e-mail around ten in the a.m stating there has been been a plane hijacking and there were hostages, so please pray for them.

I remember heading to my first class an hour later and being one of only five people there. The professor didn't even show up, something wrong was going on and we were not aware.

I remember a classmate walked in suggest that class was cancelled as a matter of course. She said that everyone was to stunned by the attacks in New York.

I remember rushing home to my dorm wondering what could have possible occurred to upset the norm.

I remember getting home to see my roommate glued to the T.V. The events on the box were so intense that he didn't even see me.

I remember one- no two planes hit one- no two buildings. I felt a rush of emotions but was too numb to be in touch with my feelings.

I remember it was like watching a movie with a familiar plot and then to our collective horror and shock the buildings dropped. All those citizens, firefighters, and cops. It was like time stopped.

I remember the screams, the tears, the dust, the bodies, the blood, and the fears. I knew this day have aftershocks that would knock us around for years.

I remember predicting how things were going to go about from here on out. This country would be determined to inflict and endure anything in order to regain its clout.

I remember when the culprits were being named. Foreign, Muslim, and brown was enough to get patriotic hearts inflamed. Nothing would ever be the same.

I remember my roommate and I likening these events to “The Siege”, but this time there was no Denzel Washington to help when the rights of a minority would be aggrieved. At that moment I thought about American born Japanese.

I remember being assured that we would be going to war in order to payback these attacks with devastation multiplied by four. But I didn't fully appreciate what was really in store for our young men and women doing tours.

I remember in the face of such pain no soothing words would avail. We would follow a path of force ans stay the course. Cooler heads would not prevail.

I remember the fury of the debates. I remember the consensus to go on the offensive and the hate for those few who said, “Wait!”

I remember the mistakes that were taken for granted, because granted, emotions were still raw. In seemingly quick succession there was a nearly unified expression, followed by projections, faulty connections, threats, and finally "Shock and Awe!"

I remember not truly the widespread and long lasting devastation that one day could cause. I remember us holding to flags and buzz words instead of addressing our flaws.

I remember lost freedoms, renditions, water boarding, terror alerts, two wars, and the rampant Islamophobia being troubling to me. Even in the era of Obama I remember that Osama is out there somewhere still hiding, still plotting, and still free.

-Noface

As Secure As The President Of The United States?

I see the above picture (after knowing the story behind it) and can't help but wonder how safe is the First Black President of the United States really is. I mean, come on! With all the threats on this mans life, these "uninvited guests" just walked in like they were supposed to be there and the secret service just let them do it. It is simply disgraceful. I just don't want there to be a day when people will look back on this incident and see it as a sign of a failure in security that ultimately led to our President being harmed (or worse). WHITE HOUSE SECURITY DETAIL...YOU NEED TO DO BETTER!


-Noface
Photo Courtesy of the Associated Press

Checks, Balances, And All That Jazz!

Why can’t more Senators and Representatives (from both wings of political thought and the bird in between) present their arguments for or against something with the thoughtfulness and conviction of Arlen Specter (R-Pennsylvania)? I'm not saying that I agree with all of his views, but I admire how he expresses them and how he (claims) to listen to and debate the opposing views of his colleagues. If the House and Senate had more people along with that of political reasoning and independent thought, we'd still have vigorous debate, but we'd also have a lot less the foolishness (and phony outrage?) that we are treated with every day.

Here's Specter on MSNBC's "Morning Joe" showing his support for Obama's plan for the reduction of nuclear arms and the need to sometime buck the party line in the interest of the nation and his state:

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

It refreshing to know that there are still politicians out there who still try to maintain independent thought despite the leanings of their political party. I'm curious, what are the names of some other politicians that who stay true to themselves (politically) no matter what their friends and opponents say? (Obama is an obvious choice so he doesn't count)

-Noface