In another forum that I frequent, someone asked the question, "Where were you when we killed him?", referencing the first anniversary of the Seal Team 6 operation that took out Osama bin-Laden.
I thought about it for a moment. I pretty much know where I was. Though the operation was announced the previous evening, either I was asleep or reading a book, because I didn't learn about OBL's death until the following morning.
Even then, I was non-plussed.
Thousands of American soldiers, and countless numbers of Iraq, Afghan, and Pakistani civilians died in our blood lust for a marginalized boogieman.
Since 9/11, the government of the most powerful country on the planet has built its "reputation" around global revenge against a guy who was on our payroll at one time, and in the process, took America down an economic rabbit hole from which we may never fully recover.
In the aftermath of 9/11, I flew an American flag on the porch of my nicely appointed home in support of those who died, and in the outlandish expectation that we had truly witnessed a unifying experience in this nation. I was proud of our President; I stood in solidarity with almost every American. Years later, the same house sits in abject disrepair, awaiting foreclosure. There is a straight line correlation between the events of 9/11 (the company I worked for, my last good job, folded after we lost our biggest client in WTC7) and who I am today.
When I heard the news of the bin-Laden operation a year ago tomorrow, I didn't much care. Osama bin-Laden had accomplished his objective many years before.
I was more concerned about how I was going to cobble together breakfast money when I heard the news.
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Frank Michels
Brassawe
Kerry Lauerman
Joan Walsh
Salon.com
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