Patriot Day - Chris "Preach" Smith

In two days, America will stop its frenetic pace and reflect on
on the most tragic day in its existence as a nation of the world.
Eight years later, the physical scars are still evident once you
walk around lower Manhattan and view Ground Zero. More
insistent are the social and emotional scars from that day. 9/11
isn't just another day on the calendar and never will be again.
But 9/11, to a certain number of people, has become little more
than a tool. A tool of exploitation, and deliberate manipulation.
And few are willing to speak out about it.

Consider if you will, the record industry moves over the past
couple of years with regards to hip hop. Kanye West and 50 Cent
were on a much hyped head-to-head collison course at the top
of the charts due to both of their albums being released on
September 11th, 2007. As it was, Interscope Records chose
that day first for 50's album, Curtis. Kanye West's album,
Graduation was initially slated to debut on September 18th but
due to a slew of highly positive acclaim, it was pushed up to
the 11th by Def Jam, Kanye's label. As expected, Kanye won
the battle, selling close to a million units by the end of the
week alone. Jay-Z recently was set to release his highly
anticipated album on 9/11 this year to coincide with his
benefit concert in New York City. But the date was pushed
back to the 8th, possibly to nab some of the sales away from
Raekwon's new album hitting shelves that day. Which begs
the question: aren't there certain things above money that
we must hold sacred? I'm sure the artists weren't concerned
as to when their respective albums were released, and one has
to factor in the current combination of Internet album leaks and
current economic hardships, but to have 9/11 as a fail-safe to
garner money makes these labels no different than the hawkers
selling placemats and postcards with pictures of the Twin Towers
in flames over by the Fulton St. subway station.

9/11 should never have been or continue to
be a means to an exploitative end.

(Image by Zina Salburg)

Which brings me to another point. If you look at your calendars, you
will see that 9/11 is referred to as 'Patriot Day'. And when you look at
certain people who call themselves 'patriots', you have no choice but
to shake your head in utter disbelief. Because 'patriots' have pissed
away so much time and money that the rebuilding of the World Trade
Center is delayed to the point that it won't be ready by the promised
time - which happens to be the tenth year anniversary of 9/11.
Because of 'patriots' such as the crackpot in New Hampshire who walked
around a town hall meeting site where President Obama was to
protest health care reform. Because of 'patriots' such as Sarah Palin
who is proving to be dangerous because of her misguided patriotism
hidden behind verbal attacks on the present administration and her
own transparent hunger for power. Ponder what 'patriot' means to
hopeless bigots in Brooks Brothers leisurewear such as Glenn Beck
and Sean Hannity who are the vanguard of conservative fueled
ignorance. Think about what it means to be a 'patriot' when people
such as the Minutemen out west are responsible for hate fueled
invective and crimes, in one case being murder.

Think about that term very hard when it comes to these people
because if they are considered to be 'patriots', then this nation
is in for a world of hurt. These false patriots have tarnished the
memory of the 3,000 plus people who lost their lives on 9/11 in
an unapologetic fashion. And as an American, you should be
disgusted by their actions. 9/11 should never been or continue
to be a means to an exploitative end. We have an opportunity
to help America regain and restore its luster as a country of
freedom of ideals, a place of expression without repression.
9/11 should come to mind when people speak ill of immigrants.
Think about every young man and woman fighting and dying in
places like Fallujah and Tora Bora for our country because
they bore witness to 9/11 and were moved to demonstrate their
patriotism. And most importantly, we should use 9/11 as a day
to reach out to each other as friends, as neighbors..as family.
Because that is the true sense of patriotism this country needs.
And it's not beyond our grasp.

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