September 12

Yesterday was the 13th anniversary of September 11. It was a very scary day in American history. Many innocent lives were lost. Children lost parents. Husbands and wives lost one another. Our nation cried.

Kourtney was in the third grade and I rushed to the school to pick her up. As a mother, I was thinking that schools could be the next target.

Then came September 12. Our nation united and consoled one another. American flags graced nearly every home on every street in America. We didn't care if you were black or white, gay or straight, Atheist or religious. We were Americans. Period.

Where did that American spirit and unity go? 

We're back to hating anyone who isn't like us. If another person's lifestyle and choices doesn't match yours, they're unworthy of your compassion. 

With as many people that were killed on 9/11, I'm sure there were many homosexuals, Atheists, and the list goes on and on in the variety of people that were senselessly killed that day. Now that you realize that they weren't all like you, is it still a sad tragedy? To me it is. Not everyone is like you.

Yesterday as I sat on Kourtney's front porch having my morning coffee, I purposely scanned her street, both sides, both directions. Do you want to know how many American flags I saw flying from homes? Two. Only two.

Where has the love and unity that we felt on this very day 13 years ago gone? 

Why is it that when someone is killed, whether it be they were shot by a police officer, in a car accident, etc that race becomes an issue? Why can't it be that a human was killed. It's the human condition, not the black, white, Asian, Mexican, insert your race card here condition.

And hate crime? Crime of passion? Those terms make me laugh. 

It's the human condition folks.

So my question is this: why remember the ugly things that happened on September 11, 2001 if we're not going to move forward and continue in the unity and love that we felt on September 12, 2001?

Why does it matter to you what color, sexual orientation, or religion (or lack of) is? If they're not hurting you and yours, mind your own business but care for them. 

We're all human. We all come off the assembly line pretty much made the same. Sure there are birth defects. We all come in different skin tones. But we are HUMAN.

It's the human condition.