Today marks nineteen years to the day when everything changed; 9/11. I won’t get into my beliefs as to what occurred on our soil that day. I will not bore you with details as to where I was that morning. It doesn’t change a thing, and more often than not, leads to contentious arguments with my inner circle.

The world is gripped by uncertainty. An election is some fifty days away, and some states continue to suffocate their citizens with mandated lockdowns with no end in sight. Free advice; buy a gun. Seriously, buy two.

PROFITEERS

The one thing I will say, however, is that by looking back at an earth-shattering event like September 11th years after its occurrence helps track the individuals who benefited that morning. By the time you reach middle age, the lens you cast over the happenings in the world; no matter how dire a situation appears, there’s always a profiteer. Instead of automating your reaction by looking to media outlets for how to behave after a tragic occurrence, detach, and ask yourself, “who benefits?”

September 11th happened. Soon afterward, The Patriot Act was enacted on the pretense of protecting Americans from foreign and domestic threats. Who benefited? Big Government. Iraq was invaded by our military on the fictitious notion of disarming their nuclear program. Who benefited? Big Oil [American Big Oil, to be exact]. Iran is continually painted as a threat in the Middle East and ostracized by the West. As a result, who benefits? Think about it.

I won’t sit at my keyboard and type what I believe to be right or wrong. I don’t have the answers. I’m not smart enough, and I don’t operate from a nefarious axiom like many in power do. When major events like 9/11, the Coronavirus, or JFK’s assassination occur, ask yourself one question; Who benefits?

ELECTION PENDING

Reset. November is around the corner. Two candidates are about to take the gloves off and go for one another’s throats on a quest for a seat in the Oval Office. You will hear left vs. right rhetoric. You will witness our streets ablaze with the new Black Lives Matter campaign. Citizens will pit themselves against other citizens. Uncertainty will engulf America.

I’ve lived in many countries throughout my life. I have seen the world.  True, America has its shortcomings. However, being an American is about three things; respect the freedoms of your compatriots, protect the land from all enemies, foreign or domestic, and exercise your civil liberties. Millions of people would die to have the freedoms we do.

In the end, how we defend our freedoms dictates their vulnerability. Many in power covet sweeping reforms to our democracy and way of life. Thus, the best way to keep them in check is to stand tall and let our voices be heard.  Some will say the glory days of America have long passed. Perhaps there is validity to such a sentiment. However, we Americans must be doing something right when considering the thousands of individuals who risk their lives for a better life within our borders.