Take Back the Memorial: It's an American Thang

Last week we undertook a marathon drive from Chicago to attend the Take Back the Memorial rally at Ground Zero on Saturday morning. (Read more on what the rally was about here.) We spent Friday evening shopping for posterboard, markers and double-sided tape near our Jersey City hotel, then headed back to our room to work on our masterpieces. OK, I confess that "masterpieces" may be a slight exaggeration. Take a peek for yourself here...that's my magnificent bald head in the first picture.

We decided to indicate on our banners that we had come from Chicago; we wanted people to know that we found the issue important enough to travel that distance to lend our voices in support. During the rally we were glad to meet some other folks who were from places other than the New York area, too -- a couple from California and women from Ohio and Oklahoma City.

The Big Deal, however, was the response we received from the 9-11 family members. Appreciation that we had driven all the way from Chicago was generally followed by asking if we had lost someone on 9-11. A natural question, which I instinctively answered no. I didn't lose anyone that I knew personally on that horrific day four years ago.

In the past couple of days, though, I've had time to ruminate on the subject, and I'd like to change my answer. I did lose someone on 9-11. I lost 2,749 someones, and so did every other American. Because 9-11 was not an attack on some airplanes and buildings. It was an attack on you and me and everyone who calls this country home. It was an assault on our nation -- on the very fabric of our lives. This doesn't even come close to the grief of personal loss with which these families have to live every day. But with such an attack against our country comes a national grief that needs to be remembered as well.

So to anyone out there who feels a distance when, four year later, the topic of 9-11 comes up in conversation, or skips over news stories (not that there are many to skip over) regarding the memorial plans for Ground Zero: WAKE THE HELL UP!!! This is something that happened to ALL OF US and ALL OF US need to remember it, and care about it, and act like we haven't fallen asleep at the wheel for the past four years.

If you haven't visited Ground Zero you need to go there for yourself. You need to see it, and hear it, and breathe it in for yourself. Imagine what it would be like to take your kids there ten years from now to honor those who died so needlessly because of the burning, irrational hatred the terrorists feel for America. Now imagine arriving where the twin towers once jutted majestically into the Manhattan skyline to find a museum where exhibits about Nazi concentration camps and KKK atrocities are the main course, and the victims of 9-11 a mere garnish.

I hope the thought hits you in the gut, like it does me. I hope it makes you angry, like it does me. Angry enough to speak up and do something -- whatever it takes -- to be sure that the memorial honors, remembers, and focuses on those 2,749 people that WE ALL LOST.

And for all the 9-11 families, we need to offer our compassion, our support, and OUR VOICES. Shout it loud and strong, to anyone who will listen, and to those who don't want to hear it. NO POLITICS WHERE HEROES FELL. THE IFC MUST GO. Because taking back the memorial isn't just a New York thing...IT'S AN AMERICAN THANG.