For all American’s our world came to a sudden and terrifying stop at 8:46AM on Tuesday September 11, 2001. For on this date at this time America was attacked, this was the fifth time since 1776 that American blood stain her ground by forces of foreign countries. This attack was different then any attack America had ever seen. The attackers were not of a single country, they didn’t focus on military establishments, they did not care about their lives. Their only care was to shed as much innocent American blood as possible. The 19 terrorist used box cutters and airplanes to commit the deadly attack on American soil. When you add up the cost of what the 9/11 attacks cost both in human life and financially they say that number comes out to approximately $2 trillion, I believe that you can not place a dollar amount on a human life. The cowards blindsided America and her people but was one thing the terrorist did not count on, America pride and our resolve. When the American dream and spirit took multiple punches to the face and groin area and America was forced down to one knee, America did not fall. As we have in the past, America reached down deep and found the power of freedom to puts us back on two feet. While all the eyes of the world witnessed the brutal attack America faced the world also witnessed the American pride. Within minutes of the attacks firefighters, police, and paramedics ran into the doomed buildings of the World Trade Center, emergency service workers worked quickly to save the Pentagon, and the passengers of Flight 93 fought back forcing the plane to crash in an open field in rural southwestern Pennsylvania, sacrificing their lives so that others may live. Volunteers rushed to all three location to help however they can. When the sun rose on September 12, 2001 America stood proud and loud. When the world wiped the sleep from their eyes the day after the attacks and turned the attention back to the United States they found a country standing strong, they found the United States of America united! American’s were flying flags and standing proud. For the first time in many years Americans seen themselves as one. It didn’t matter what state or neighborhood you lived in, it didn’t matter if you was white or black, it didn’t matter if you believed in God or if you was an Atheist, we were Americans and in the words of President George W. Bush, “We will not tire, we will not falter, and we will not fail.”
Attribution by chris_ford_uk
With the 10 year anniversary of that dark day in American history less then two months much media attention is turning towards current events involving 9/11. The media is talking about how some citizens have filed a lawsuit over the 9/11 WTC Memorial. Members of American Atheist have filed suit against the states of New Jersey and New York as well as New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Governor Chris Christie. The lawsuit is over an I-beam cross that was once a part of the World Trade Center. The cross was discovered on September 13, 2001 as crews and first responders worked to locate survivors, recover bodies of those lost, and the clean up of Ground Zero. The cross quickly became a symbol of hope and comfort for Ground Zero, the workers, and many American people. The cross remained at Ground Zero until October 5, 2006. It was then removed from the World Trade Center site so that construction of the WTC Memorial and the new Freedom Tower could be built. It was said that the cross will be returned to its home at Ground Zero upon the completion of the Memorial Site. Now while I do believe in America’s religious freedom once again the Christians who are the majority are under attack. While many look at the steel beam cross as a glimmer of hope and a sign of comfort that was found jutting out of the rubble and dust of where the twin towers once stood. The cross was a part of those towers, while yes the buildings themselves were made of many crossed steel beams this one stood proud in the the middle of all the destruction. In that pile of twisted metal, rubble, and dust crews discovered this almost perfect cross standing tall. American’s looked at this part of the building, this piece of metal as a sign of hope and comfort. The cross was not placed the by humans, it was a part of what happen there days before it was found. Yes more than just Christians died at the World Trade Center and yes not all religions are being represented at the National 9/11 Memorial Museum but this cross represented more than Christianity. Michael Burke lost his brother that day, F.D.N.Y. Captain William F. Burke. Micheal’s words explain the cross perfect, “It’s a historic icon of the great American response of hope and cooperation. A true brotherhood. It belongs in the museum.” Michael is right, not once did he mention God, church, or anything about religion. He only mentioned America’s response of hope and cooperation. President of the National 9/11 Memorial Joe Daniels said, “The mission of the National September 11 Memorial Museum is to tell the history of 9/11 through historic artifacts like the World Trade Center Cross.” Mr. Daniels went on to say, “In the historical exhibition, the Cross is part of our commitment to bring back the authentic physical reminders that tell the story of 9/11 in a way nothing else can.” Once again no mention of the words God or church. There is no denying the cross came from the World Trade Center, there is no denying that the cross is one of the most recognized pieces from Ground Zero, there is no denying that the cross represented hope and comfort for those working at Ground Zero. The cross is exactly what it has become, a historical artifact that everyone can recognize as a piece of the twin towers. I know some people may argue the point of how can we allow a cross, a symbol of Christianity to be in the museum but yet not allow a mosque to be placed at or near ground zero. It’s simple, the cross was originally at ground zero, it was a part of the towers that once stood there, the cross will be returning to its home.
While the Atheist are causing a stir they are not the only ones. The United States Government has turned its backs on the first responders, the survivors, and the families of these people from the 9/11 attacks. When H.R. 847 went in front of Congress for a vote, many Republicans were reluctant to vote for the bill due to financial reasons. This was when cancer was dropped from the list of recognized health conditions for first responders that worked Ground Zero. They claim there is “insufficient evidence” linking cancer to ground zero workers. Insufficient evidence, like many others I find this intriguing. Around 100 ground zero recovery workers have died of cancer and another 600 have been diagnosed with the disease. However, there isn’t enough evidence. I don’t understand how nearly 700 cases of cancer and the common link between all 700 cases is Ground Zero isn’t enough evidence. The Zadroga 9/11 Health Law covers many illness developed by workers at the World Trade Center site, the illnesses range from many respiratory disorders, to mental health diagnoses, to back pain and carpal tunnel syndrome. That’s right, carpal tunnel is covered but cancer isn’t! Why, well the politicians themselves said it, Republicans were reluctant to vote for the bill due to financial reasons. That is because cancer is an expensive disease to treat. At the end of the day the facts are that those that survived the 9/11 attacks, especially those that worked 100′s of hours at the WTC site looking for survivors, looking for bodies to provide closure for family’s, and those that worked to clean the area where the twin towers once stood have become pawns in the dirty game of politics. I searched for the average cost of cancer treatment and in that search I only found cost for certain types of cancer, not cancer as a whole. The numbers I found would all estimate the average cost to treat cancer ranges between $20,000 – $40,000. Granted that is a lot of money especially if you multiple it by the almost 700 people diagnosed with cancer as a result of the 9/11 attacks. If you take the number in the middle,$30,000 and multiple it by 700 your answer is $21 million. Yes I know that is a lot of money and I know that America is in a financial crisis, but those people that sacrificed their lives and their health to do their job, to help their fellow American in a time of need deserve to be respected and treated for the medical problems they developed as the result of their patriotism. They don’t deserve to be sweep under a rug like the dust of Ground Zero. Maybe some of the politicians that refuse to give the workers of 9/11 the benefits they need should give up driving their luxury vehicles and pet projects to see that those that sacrificed themselves are taken care of. You know as well as I do that this won’t happen, the politicians care for themselves not the American public they were elected to serve.
The fact is that 9/11/01 was one of the darkest days in American history. While it was dark the light of freedom and hope from the American people quickly shined through. For the weeks and months following the September 11, 2001 attacks we Americans we untied as one. We didn’t care about each others religion. Many people that never met before and may not have ever met stood side by side with signs supporting the FDNY as they traveled to Ground Zero to continue their work long after the buildings fell. These are the same strangers that handed bottles of water to the fireman and thanked them for what they are doing. These are the same people that many maybe for the first time in their lives hung American flags from their homes. The firefighters and police officers that worked hundreds of hours at ground zero after the building came down didn’t do it because it was their job. They did it because their brothers were there. The brotherhood of firefighters and police officers is much like the brotherhood of the U.S. Military. You are your brothers keeper and no man is left behind. While many people enjoyed the movie Backdraft there are many lines from the movie that describe the feeling firefighters have and the line I am thinking of now is, “You go, we go.” In other words, no man is left behind and we go together. Whether they are going to safety or going to the after life, they will do it together, as brothers. The 9/11 memorials that are being built don’t represent religion, they are to remind us of the events of that terrible day, they are to remind us of those lost in the attacks and the bravery that was shown. The memorials are to remind us of how we as a nation stood united as one, how the light of freedom shined bright through the clouds of dust for all the world to see. The cross made of metal that gave many Americans a sign of hope and provided comfort was a part of those buildings, that cross became a part of history that comforted many Americans. I understand the Atheist just see it as a piece of metal and it is just a piece of metal but that piece of metal provided hope and comfort to the families of 9/11 as well as the workers. That piece of metal was a piece of the twin towers and deserves to be in the National 9/11 Memorial. Whether you look at it as a piece of metal or a cross there are a few common things we are all reminded of when we look at it. It reminds us that it was once part of two beautiful buildings that were once apart of the New York City skyline, it reminds us that there are people in this world that want to harm America, and we see a piece of metal that represents the final resting place for those that lost their lives at the World Trade Center that day. Let the piece of metal in the shape of a cross be placed in the memorial for everyone to see and let each person recognize it for what they want to recognize it as. The politicians are doing fine on their own ruining what September 11, 2001 stands for by turning their backs on those that were there and those that are in need of help from being there. Don’t lower yourselves to their level over a piece of metal that can be looked at in different ways. Don’t disgrace those that lost their lives that day, those that lost their lives as a result of working Ground Zero, don’t disrespect those that are suffering both physically and mentally over the events of 9/11. Let us be united in remembering that day and those people.
Links:
Cancer Treatment Cost
H.R. 847
theatlanticwire.com
prisonplanet.com
WPIX NewYork
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