I don't care about your 9/11 story. I don't want to know where you were when you found out. I already know where I was and I don't need to hear about how you were fearful or distraught 2,000 miles away from the devastation. I don't care about your insincere but obligatory city resolution commemorating the ten year anniversary. I don't care about your so-called heartfelt speech just to make it on television. I don't want your email about the tragedy (that more than likely will have a donation button on the bottom).
I don't care.
I do care about the $3.3 trillion dollar cost 9/11 has inflicted upon this country. I do care about the implementation of the so-called Patriot Act and the demise of our civil liberties. I do care about our willingness to torture fellow human beings in the name of an undefined war on terrorism. I do care about the unrestrained growth of our military industrial complex. I do care about the fearmongering of an otherwise peaceful religion. I do care about the politicization of the fear narrative.
I do care about about the 2996 people who died on 9/11. I care about their stories and the stories of their families. I care about the people who were working in the buildings that morning. I care about the firefighters and police officers and other emergency responders who valiantly served their unknown neighbors with the danger staring back at them.
I do care about the 1762 Americans that have died in Operation Enduring Freedom. I care about the 948 from the United Kingdom and other allied countries who have also given their lives in Afghanistan. I care about the their families and their ability to continue living in face of tragedy.
I care about the innocent civilians who have perished in both Afghanistan and Iraq - as well as the countries who we send drone attacks in the name of this war on terror.
I care about the 4474 American soldiers who gave their lives in Iraq despite it having absolutely no role in 9/11. I care about the 318 who fought along side the United States. I care about the wounded in this horribly covered media laden war. I worry and yes I care about the strength of families to cope and grieve for their loss.
I care about the thousands of Iraqi civilians who also lost their lives. And I care about the untold and innumerable displaced families.
I care about the people suffering from the ill effects of the air at ground zero. I care about their health and well-being.
I care about the injured soldiers, mental or physical, and their recovery process. I care about the toil it takes on their support network.
I care about those who have taken their own lives as a result of serving our country.
I care that it has been ten years since the day of the attacks. Yet, our country, nay, our leaders have been unable to move along in the grieving process and push this country in a forward motion. I care about whether we have actually become paralyzed by fear itself and allowed terrorism to accomplish its real goal.
I do care.