freedom day

i've decided that today is freedom day.

here's what i have to say about the death of bin laden:

in no way do i think this makes the world safer. things are only going to be more dangerous especially these first few months following his death. that's not what this is about.

to me it's about a sense of unity in a country that is so often divided. it's about feeling like there is some control in a world where a man can order people to take planes and fly them into office buildings. today was a day to reflect on the horrific events of the last 10 years. a day to have closure on the the memories we have all been carrying around with us. it was a day that for the first time i was able to say do you remember the news footage of people falling from the upper stories of the world trade center? do you remember the people covered in ash running from the falling towers? do you remember the little girl crying on the news holding a photo of her father asking people to call in if they had seen him?

i remember those things. they were horrific. they were scarring. i was 17 when 9/11 happened and it has affected the way i view the world. and it has defined us as country for the last ten years. as much as we like to pretend this hasn't changed who we are, it has. i doubt there is one among who doesn't watch others in the airport looking for the left behind bag.

anyway, i guess my point is just that for me today was a day to have a little closure to a tragedy that has hurt in my heart for a very long time now. and i'm sure many others feel the same.