Remembering 9/11

September 11, 2011 2:59 pm mneptok analog

On the decade anniversary of one of the most horrific acts ever perpetrated by humans against other humans, I would like my fellow US citizens to reflect carefully upon these words, spoken by George Washington in his farewell address to the nation when voluntarily relinquishing the Presidency in the grand tradition of Cincinnatus:

Observe good faith and justice towards all nations; cultivate peace and harmony with all. Religion and morality enjoin this conduct; and can it be, that good policy does not equally enjoin it – It will be worthy of a free, enlightened, and at no distant period, a great nation, to give to mankind the magnanimous and too novel example of a people always guided by an exalted justice and benevolence. Who can doubt that, in the course of time and things, the fruits of such a plan would richly repay any temporary advantages which might be lost by a steady adherence to it?

11 Responses

  1. iheartubuntu Says:
    September 11th, 2011 at 16:04

    Wow, excellent quote for today!

  2. mneptok Says:
    September 11th, 2011 at 17:21

    I wish I could claim authorship. But I am nowhere near the sage that Washington was. But his wisdom is something to which we should all aspire.

  3. A Decade Gone | One Mom's Balancing Act Says:
    September 11th, 2011 at 17:28

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  4. Kelly Miller Says:
    September 11th, 2011 at 17:28

    I’m pretty sure Americans committed the worst act of inhumanity when they dropped TWO atomic bombs over Japan. US patriotism has no place in remembering the events of 9/11. Why not just remember these people as individuals instead of playing the old U.S.A. uber alles card.

  5. mneptok Says:
    September 11th, 2011 at 17:38

    Kelly, meet Godwin.

  6. G Says:
    September 11th, 2011 at 17:51

    What I learned from 9/11:

    1. The lives of American civilians (2977 dead at WTC) are worth more than the lives of Arab civilians (98,000 dead in Iraq alone)

    2. Flattening buildings where businesses live (WTC) is more important than the flattening of an entire city where people live (see New Orleans, still in ruins)

    3. Institutional terrorism has better PR than grassroots terrorism (God bless America)

    4. There is no tragedy so monumental that it can’t be made worse by a Toby Keith song.

    I think the attacks were unspeakable crimes, but they need to be seen from the proper perspective. The death toll was no worse than three average months worth of fatal traffic accidents in the US.

  7. Kelly Miller Says:
    September 11th, 2011 at 17:59

    Well you got me there. I just don’t think it’s necessary to turn every emotional event into an orgy of patriotism.

    Patriotism is just the modern form of tribalism, which has been the root cause of most inhuman acts throughout history.

    It’s just not really necessary and makes you look somewhat brainwashed.

  8. mneptok Says:
    September 11th, 2011 at 18:03

    Kelly,

    I suggest you read the quote more carefully. You seem to have an utter failure to comprehend the sentiments.

  9. Claudio Says:
    September 11th, 2011 at 18:45

    “One of the most horrific acts ever perpetrated by humans towards another humans.” Where were you during the rest of the human civilization history?

    Or do you actually mean, one of the most horrific to have been televised live?

  10. mneptok Says:
    September 11th, 2011 at 20:10

    So I guess anyone that got a university degree in history wasted their money, because if you weren’t there it didn’t happen. Is that what you’re saying?

  11. Remembering 9/11 – GNOME Blogs | ENA news Says:
    September 11th, 2011 at 20:52

    […] Excerpt from: Remembering 9/11 – GNOME Blogs […]