Reflecting upon the 14th anniversary of September 11, 2001, it no longer seems to have the same meaning that it did 14 years ago. Back then America didn't seem as diverse as it is today even though in reality nothing has really changed. However, there have been several groups that have begun to stand up for what they believe in and the rights they believe they are entitled to. It seems as though those same people though have forgotten a few things since then.
Whenever I see a video of someone standing on or burning the United States flag I wonder how many of these same people who are desecrating the American symbol of freedom understand how many people have sacrificed their lives to give them the freedom to do so. Whatever happened to the respect we had for law enforcement and the Soldiers? In America we believe in life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. For most of us our rights end where it becomes offensive to another. For those of us who respect others we tend to obey the unspoken rule of don't discuss religion or politics unless you are aiming to start an argument or in the company of people who share your point of view.
When I look back at the events that happened on September 11, 2001, I remember sitting in my high school German class when the planes crashed into the twin towers of the World Trade Center, The Pentagon, and the field in Pennsylvania. I remember being sent home from school early that day. However, that day changed my life forever. Before that day I had never considered joining the military but that is what made me passionate about joining. I remember when President Bush announced that we were sending troops to Iraq and Afghanistan. I remember in December of 2003 hearing that Sadaam Hussein had been captured in his hometown of Tikrit, Iraq. However, we were far from done with Iraq and the following year I joined the Army and 1 year later I found myself on my first deployment to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Only to come home from Iraq in December 2006 and hear that they were executing Sadaam Hussein.
Many times I have I asked myself "What we really doing in Iraq?" If you look at what we did we liberated the people of Iraq from a cruel dictator. However, they were no more free than they were the days prior to his capture. We attempted to bring the American concept of freedom to a people who would never value or appreciate it the same way we as Americans do. The majority of people in Iraq are Muslim and are subject to their religious laws which may trump any laws a dictator may make.
