One morning, when I was twelve, I was helping my Dad finish up the morning milking when my older brother walked into the barn and told us that a plane had flown into the World Trade Center.
“Yeah right.” My Dad replied.
But, of course, it was real. For the people in my generation September 11th was the defining moment. It was the moment that changed everything. it was the day, as Alan Jackson said, that the world stopped turning. My friends and I used to recount to each other where we were when we heard the news.
I thought about that day yesterday when my Sister asked me about September 11th. She wasn’t even born then, but one of her close friends, a high school classmate of hers, was on alert this weekend as he and his fellow soldiers stood by to help in the evacuation of Afghanistan.
That’s how long this war has been going on. The soldiers who are fighting there weren’t even born when it began. It wasn’t supposed to be like this. We were suppose to kick ass and kill Bin Laden, but twenty years later we are leaving Afghanistan with our tail between our legs.
It’s hard to lose. Sometimes it’s even harder to admit defeat. I’m no fan of Joe Biden’s, but I deeply respect his ability to admit defeat in this situation. The truth is what we lost. The least we can do is be honest about it.
We shouldn’t have lost. Unlike some other wars, this one was entirely justified.
I wish that Toby Keith had been right.
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Dumbest Blog Ever 
The VA has set up a helpline for Veterans who might be questioning it all. I never was sent over there but I have a lot of buddies who were. The email I received from the VA reads, in part:
Veterans from all eras are reacting to the events in Afghanistan, such as the U.S withdrawal and the takeover by the Taliban.
You are not alone.
Veterans may question the meaning of their service or whether it was worth the sacrifices they made. They may feel more moral distress about experiences they had during their service. It’s normal to feel this way. Talk with your friends and families, reach out to battle buddies, connect with a peer-to-peer network, or sign up for mental health services. Scroll down for a list common reactions and coping advice.
Resources available right now
Veterans Crisis Line – If you are having thoughts of suicide, call 1-800-273-8255, then PRESS 1 or visit http://www.veteranscrisisline.net/
Thanks Herb. I’m emotional about this myself, and it’s just my country. I can’t imagine what it would have been like to actually live through.
Very interesting. Thank you for sharing.
Reblogged this on clydeherrin.
Thanks.
I certainly remember where I was on that day. Along with January 6, 2021, two of the worst days I can remember as an American…
I’ll save my rant on this for another day, but I do appreciate Glenn Greenwald’s thoughts on exactly this subject. (Greenwald is the reporter who worked with Edward Snowden to expose the overreaches of government surveillance in 2013.)
https://greenwald.substack.com/p/the-new-domestic-war-on-terror-is
that was a good piece, thanks for sharing.
You bet.
“Yea right” was probably the reaction of many, which I think just proves how big of an impact this all had on us. I remember being abroad and seeing that country weep for all the lives lost in NY that day. And to see, basically the entire world hold its collective breath was truly an awe-inspiring experience.
It was a crazy time.