when the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace

I realize as I begin to write this that I am setting myself up for not only age discrimination, but ridicule for my insensitive/callous emotion. I had omitted this from my blog at the time, but I definitely want to write this down for the sake of remembering.

Everytime I say I was sitting in my 8th grade Algebra class at the time the Twin Towers fell, people automatically feel old. I have to admit, at the time, I just kinda stood watching the TV. A girl was crying in class, but I knew she was the dramatic type so I was more annoyed than sympathetic towards her behavior. People were calling home and there were issues with parents coming to pick up their kids and the school trying to keep everything organized. That's all I really remember. My teacher may have turned off the TV, and I cannot remember whether or not my mom came to pick me up early. I was very confused and I had no idea how significant that event was, in that moment. I had no idea what it meant to life and death. I had no idea what it meant for freedom or anarchy. I didn't have family in New York nor any family or friends being called to military service. To me, it was outside of my world. It was horrible pictures on TV. And it was the realization that I would never see New York City as it once was. I wrote about it in my journal. I don't have it with me here, but someone told me I will want to remember that day.

So when I was called to turn on my television Sunday, May 1st at 10:30 PM for a monumental announcement that I would remember for the rest of my life, well, I was intrigued. I hate the television news, really. I hate how the same stories are repeated like the same new pop song with too little substanance and too many unfiltered caveats. I tried not to let myself get too anxious, but too late, every minute that was counted down I had thoughts running everywhere from preparation for World War III to I've decided to go back to my home country (just kidding thanks to Mr. Trump - America can move on...sarcasm if you think I'm giving thanks to Trump for anything). I really didn't know what to expect of the hype. CNN was trying to give themselves a pat on the back for waiting on the President to be the first to make this announcement, oh but they were itching. When they said I had 10 more minutes to go upstairs and grab my book, they really meant Osama Bin Laden had been killed by US Navy Seals Team 6.

I just kinda sat there as this message was repeated over and over. I was trying to evaluate my feelings. I remember the phrase 'Let's Roll' and the powerful hits of Toby Keith. There is power in America because we are living in the promised land. I remember the efforts of GW to capture Bin Laden and the last I heard was that he was living in a "hole." His name had faded and all I began to hear over the past few years had been Al Qaeda this and that; war spread rampent and the word 'rebel' now has a good and bad connotation. I honestly forgot about the weakened Mr. Laden. I was glad he was dead, sure. I believe I got up from the couch and was like, well that was long overdue, and went to bed. I thought it was fine that I had this 'monumental' moment to myself. I still don't know what this will resolve, and I have to admit I remember being disappointed it was only one man who I had already forgotten still existed. It's hard having opinions when so much information is thrown at you, and everyone is so sure they have the truth.

Evil still has a plan, no matter which side does the killing. Our goal should just be to make sure the good keep fighting a better plan, and no, guns are a last resort. Simply killing Bin Laden was not a celebration of the death of another evil one, but the accomplishment of American military who lay down their lives and the lives of their family to protect a nation. I like American pride; I again know this country is worth protecting. I was upset to see the cheers of others when we were suffering 10 years ago. I am not about to find myself at the same level. Ignorance cheers for itself. As Gandhi put it: We must become the change we want to see. So are we changing America? Do we know how to change? Obama said we would.

I also feel as if Jimi Hendrix quotes it well: "When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace.” A culture is built upon generation after generation of habits. Habits are things we create from repeated action. Our actions are caused by our desires. Our desires are combined from thoughts in our mind and feelings in our hearts. Don't corrupt your heart and mind. These create the soul and we want to carry down good souls to our children.