Ten years ago I woke up to the news they were on fire. I walked to school alone for my Intro to Java class, confused. Everyone was on the desktop, sitting in front of the CRT, looking up Drudge Report.
Then they came down.
Then we went to war, because we were strong.
I was a kid that didn’t need to shave for weeks at a time. I thought I would be dead by 25. No big deal.
And I remember swearing an oath to protect the Constitution, to have faith and allegiance to ideas on a piece of paper. To obey the President, to superiors, and to military rules. Then they said it was optional to ask for God’s help.
We were never asked to protect the American people, you have to remember that.
This image was on CNN after I was done swearing in, I happened to do so on the very day the government in our name attacked another sovereign country, because we were scared.
I have been here and there, built a thing or two, gave up parties, a couple weekends or three and never got to kill anyone. Took me a while to get over the fact I didn’t see war firsthand. Took me a long time to not have any would’ves, should’ves, could’ves. Took me a long time to deprogram myself.
Some give a little, some gave a lot, some take, all I know is we don’t know how to value shit, you have to remember that.
I now have to shave ever day. I can’t forget.
