A Country Divided
As we honor the lives of those lost in the most destructive act of terrorism on the United States, we are reminded of how this country came together and stood together in solidarity against the evils of Al Qaeda (a militant Islamic terrorist group led by Osama bin Laden). Over 3,000 lives were lost on the morning of September 11, 2001 when four teams of terrorists hijacked jetliners departing from Boston, Newark, New Jersey, and Washington, D.C. Two planes were flown into the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York, one into the Pentagon building near Washington D.C. and one plane crashed in Pennsylvania.
It is documented that approximately 4,400 American troops have died in Iraq and nearly 1,700 in Afghanistan as a direct result of America’s “war on terrorism”. According to other sources it is estimated that nearly 919,000 people, including coalition troops and civilians have lost their lives as a result of terrorist’s attacks on 9-11. In addition to the human lives lost, hundreds of thousands are injured or disabled in some capacity. These attacks severely damaged both the U.S. and foreign economies. Global stock markets dropped quickly, approximately $40 billion in insurance losses, travel and entertainment stocks fell, tourism in New York City plummeted, and the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, as well as additional homeland security spending is nearing the $5 trillion mark.
Following the terrorists attacks, Americans shared a common bond. We were all united in protecting our borders and our freedoms. We stood as one. All ethnicities came together for the love of this country and to fight against the senseless acts of terrorism that took so many innocent lives. Ten years later, as we commemorate the lives of those who gave the ultimate sacrifice, that feeling of Americans being one did not permeate through the airwaves nor was it detected in the faces we saw on TV. As the American flag was raised and all the speeches given; there was something missing as we shared once again the pain of the family members who lost a loved one on that dreadful day. America is not One America any more. We are hopelessly divided as people within this country and it is painful to watch, read and hear our differences broadcasted every day.
Throughout the years America has always skirted the issue of racism that is without any doubt the elephant in the room that no one wants to acknowledge. The ugly fangs of bigotry and racism directed at President Obama are so overtly dispatched over all media airwaves, tweets, emails, facebook, and even in television interviews with representatives of congress. Yes, the veils of denial and masks of this country’s Achilles heel cast a somber cloud over a country divided. It is time to look this 300 year old problem right in the face and stare it down.
America should be ashamed of allowing this kind of behavior to exist in the 21st century. And we should be ashamed of ourselves for not speaking out against the blatant attacks of racism against President Obama. Where are the news conferences? When is Black America going to say, “Enough is Enough”? Congressional representatives Maxine Waters, John Conyers, Jr., Hansen Clarke, Emanuel Cleaver II and others went to several cities to call the President out on the jobs crisis that is truly not of his making; then surely they should have stood up against the total disrespect of the office of the President of the United States two years ago. Long overdue.
Category: Publishers Message
