Don't Call It Patriot Day

       Something terrible happened.  I still can't discuss it without raising my voice and getting angry.  But on this terrible day, some attempted to do right.  They made the hard choice.  They risked, and ultimately lost, their lives trying to take back the control of a hijacked plane.  "Let's Roll" became the rallying cry of a country.  They were heroic.  They should be remembered.  They fought the good fight and lost.  I will not disparage their efforts, and I can only hope that if presented the same circumstance, I would have the guts to do the same.
       But when you decide to call a tragic day something positive, you are turning your back to the truth.  December seventh was called "a day that will live in infamy".  It was called Pearl Harbor day.  It was called December seventh, because to those who lived through it, that was enough.  They all knew, sure as the day is long, what it was.  It was not called hero's day.  Though undoubtedly many heroic actions were taken.  It was not referred to as "Nationalism day", although I guarantee every American knew who's side they were on right then.  What made the greatest generation great was that they faced that ugliness for what it was.  They didn't mince words, nor did they sugar-coat it.  They knew something that we have apparently forgotten.
       So when we choose, in our ignorance, to call a day of tragedy, that should be marked with black armbands, "Patriot Day" and celebrate with flag waving; we turn our backs to the truth.  Call it "New York day".  Call it "World Trade Center day".  Call it "Twin Towers day".  Call it "a day that will overshadow the day that will live in infamy".  Simply call it "9/11".  But if you only ever commit one act of civil disobedience, refuse to call it "Patriot Day".  It does not honor the sacrifice of the fallen, when we turn our backs on the reason they fell.