BBs Blog

Today, a lot of us are going to be remembering the terrible events of September 11, 2001. We will remember many lives that were lost that day. Many of us will remember the feelings of horror and outrage we experienced that day as terrorists tried to completely shatter the American Dream. But, what we also need to remember is that their nefarious plans to destroy America, and the great dream that this nation represents to so many, didn’t succeed. There are still those who believe in the America Dream. True, there was a real sense of innocence lost after that day. However, it’s not as if we haven’t experienced that before.

Our forefathers dreamed of a country built on the concepts of freedom that many considered totally outlandish and foolish at the time. Yet they persevered in their efforts to help build a country where people were free to speak their minds, and free to worship however they choose. Their perseverance paid off, because despite the fact that America does have a lot of problems, we are still much more free to do those things than the people of many other nations are.

Were mistakes made along the way in that effort to build such a country? Of course there were! Native Americans were treated in a manner that still brings shame to our country, as were African Americans. One group of people was nearly annihilated, and other group of people were brought over in chains, and forced to work as slaves. Both of those groups of people are still often treated very unfairly in this country. The Native Americans are still living on reservations, and conditions there still are a long way from what they should be. The good news on that front is at least now they have the right, and the means to scalp as many folks as they can of their money via the casinos they operate.

Yes, we have lost our collective innocence in many ways over the years. That had to happen so people could see how wrong it was for the Native Americans and African Americans to be treated the way they were. Innocence, isn’t always a good thing if it blinds people to the reality of how wrong it is to treat any group of people as second class citizens, or pieces of property. So, I think that along with remembering what all we lost on this day in 2001, I will also remember how much we have gained over the years we have been America the beautiful. Most of all, although I will mourn the terrible loss of life we experienced on that day, I will also celebrate the fact that for many, although it may be badly tarnished in some ways, the American Dream is still alive and well. And if enough people do still believe, then perhaps that tarnished dream can be cleaned, polished, and renewed in a way that allows it to once more radiate from sea to shining sea.