I think that what I have to say may be misunderstood in the emotional atmosphere surrounding today's activities.  So let me start by saying that I am a red-blooded American boy;  my flag flew today on the front of my house, I went to church, I prayed for those who lost someone to that terrible day, I support our war efforts to eradicate the jihadist threat, I mourn and feel and bleed and I have backed it all up with twenty-six years of my own life.  Having said all that, I wish we didn't have to do this every year.

I don't want to forget 9/11;  I am proud of the heroes of that day who ran up the down staircase.  I don't want to forget the images of the jumpers, the collapsing buildings, the planes flying into them, or any of the other images of that day.  I just feel bad that instead of focusing on the heroes and their selflessness, the courage and sacrifices. we have to have an Irish wake every year. 

I don't begrudge those families their mourning and memories and I don't want to sound callous about it, but those things are and should be private.  And I am not saying the rest of us should forget what happened, either.  But I would like to change the perspective just a bit.

If it were up to me, I would celebrate the response our nation had for a few minutes after the attacks when every one of us felt like we had been personally attacked.  We were all Americans and we stood together.  We wept for those who were killed and we saluted the brave men and women of FDNY and NYPD and all they did and all they sacrificed that day,  not in a maudlin way but with joy and pride that there were so many who went willingly into harm's way to save their brothers and sisters.  And most importantly, I want the jihadists to make it their day of mourning.  I would hit them so hard and furiously that they would forever mark 9/11 as the biggest mistake they ever made...they would long for the pre-9/11 days when they were just considered criminals. 

But that's just me.  When I watched all the specials on TV, I got weepy just like anyone else.  But I felt really angry, too, knowing that jihadists are watching with glee at their great success;  they consider it a victory.  We should change their perspective...they should know that it was not a victory for them but the bell for the start of the first round.  They stepped into the ring with the longest-reigning, meanest, most successful heavyweight champion ever. 

We are not the "great Satan"...we are not a decadent society...despite the news from both coasts, this is still a generous, decent, God-fearing people standing on a blessed promised land.  The radical Islamists want to pitch their tents on the White House lawn and watch the nation's capitol burn.  That ain't gonna happen.  We will not allow it...God will not allow it..."God has given America to be free" -Patrick Henry