9-11's Kindergartners Vote for President

9-11’s Kindergartners Vote for President

Commentary by Sanford D. Horn

September 8, 2016

On that fateful day 15 years ago, while President George W. Bush was reading the short story, The Pet Goat to a class of second graders at the Emma E. Booker Elementary School in Sarasota, Florida, we all remember vividly what we were doing when the peaceful calm serenity of that bright sunny Tuesday morning was infiltrated by terror.

I was at home in Virginia completing my news articles for that week’s local newspaper for which I was a journalist. Sitting at my computer, as I am today, no longer in Virginia, yet the memories are as clear as though the air had been permeated with evil today, not 15 years ago. While putting the finishing touches on my assignments, Fox News on television in the background as per usual, the first report came in.

-       8:46 AM: American Airlines Flight #11 crashes into the North Tower (1 WTC) at the World Trade Center, New York City – followed by

-       9:03 AM: United Airlines Flight #175 crashes into the South Tower (2 WTC) at the World Trade Center, New York City

-       9:37 AM: American Airlines Flight #77 crashes into the western side of the Pentagon, Arlington, Virginia

-       9:59 AM: South Tower collapses

-       10:03 AM: United Airlines Flight #93 crashes into a field, Shanksville, Pennsylvania, Somerset County; alleged target: Capitol Building or White House

-       10:28 AM: North Tower collapses

-       10:53 AM: New York primary elections cancelled

-       5:20 PM: 47 story #7 World Trade Center collapses; #4, 5, and 6 WTC also ablaze

These heinous, unforgivable terrorist attacks were perpetrated by radical Muslim extremists who skyjacked the planes – of that there is no doubt.

While I have attempted, over the years, to avoid turning my 9-11 columns into political pabulum, this year there is too much as at stake on November 8 as we cast our next vote for president. Without hyperbole, I truly believe this election is the most important to the nation since 1860 when Abraham Lincoln handily defeated a triumvirate of opponents, John Bell, John Breckinridge, and Stephen Douglas.

In 1860 the United States was a nation divided over the issue of slavery and states’ rights, which led to a country illegally split into two. This year, 156 years later, this nation is once again divided – divided by a generation of entitled, politically correct, sniveling whiners who think the world is their oyster, so long as government pick up the tab. These are people brainwashed by a liberal public education system that does not support school choice who believe socialism is the answer, not capitalism. Let these poorly educated neophytes spend some time in Venezuela to see how real socialism is faring. Extreme shortages of food, toilet paper, and jobs have a nation in dire straits because of a totalitarian dictator attempting to cut his country off from the world. Any worse and Venezuela becomes Cuba or North Korea. Is this the socialism for which Generation Pinhead is clamoring?

When the 9-11 kindergartners, now 20-21 years of age, take to the polls this November, they will be casting their first vote for president.

This current crop of first time voters need be reminded of Ronald Reagan’s clarion call, where he prophetically warned the following:

            “Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn’t             pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and           handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years     telling our children and our children’s children what is was once like in the United   States where men were free.”

The PC and thought police already run the public schools as well as the college and university campuses. Free speech zones really mean speech is limited to only certain areas as was demonstrated at Clemson University when barring a student from praying in public. The University of Houston is another prime example of the squelching of the First Amendment. (http://sanfordspeaksout.blogspot.com/2016/09/cougars-cage-free-speech-at-uh.html)

Freedom is the ability to speak one’s mind – verbally, in writing, but without fear of recriminations or a possible job loss. One does not have the right to not be insulted or presented with uncomfortable issues. Practically anything someone says or writes is bound to upset or offend someone. This country must return to the days when “I do not agree with what you have to say, but I’ll defend to the death your right to say it,” meant something. Instead, there are shrinking violets taking cover in the nearest campus safe space or seeking their next trigger warning because their precious sensibilities can’t handle disagreeable thoughts or statements.

That is not how the real world works. For those who complain that Donald Trump is mean or harsh sounding in his speech, just remember we are not voting for Miss Congeniality, but instead, the leader of the free world. A leader who will have to face off with terrorists and is not afraid to identify the enemy for what they are – radical Islamist extremists – the same radicals who murdered nearly 3,000 on that fateful day 15 years ago. Trump will stand up to the terrorists, not cow-tow to them by paying ransom for kidnapped Americans who are in greater danger during the Obama administration than they were under the Bush administration.

For all his pitfalls and foibles, George W. Bush kept this nation safe following the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. Sadly, the same cannot be said of the current administration. Instead, the United States has a weak-kneed so-called leader who calls what he does, leading from behind. That is not actually leading, Mr. Obama. Myriad terrorist attacks on and away from American soil have darkened far too many days because our enemies don’t fear the United States and our allies are unable to rely upon us. Exhibit Boston, Chattanooga, Dallas, Fort Hood (II), Orlando, San Bernardino at home; and Brussels, Istanbul, Munich, Nice, Normandy, Paris globally.

Hillary Clinton, the Democrats standard bearer who is unable to even utter the name of the enemy, promises to bring much of the same. She has spent decades in public life congenitally lying to the American people and lying under oath regarding her ability to uphold national security. “You clearly corrupted our national security,” said one Navy veteran to Clinton during an event hosted by Matt Lauer.

This September 11 while we mourn the past, and rightfully so – take time to watch the reading of the names from New York City – lest we forget the men and women who were needlessly slaughtered – civilians as well as the brave first responders, let’s also look toward the future with an eye to the past. Take notice of the new World Trade Center and what it represents – that Americans and America may get knocked to the canvas, but we should never be counted out. We will rise up stronger, smarter, and with the right leadership make America great again.

Yes, that is the slogan of one of the candidates for president, but it is also a nod to the future and not a return to the past. A future where the United States regains its rightful place in the world – and yes, it is rightful when the US bails out country after country for their troubles, be they geo-political or weather related, such as earthquakes and tsunamis. It is rightful when the United States sets the standard regarding the rights of women, minorities, people of various lifestyles and religions. Is the United States perfect? Certainly not. Yet people are risking their very existence to live in this country – even illegally – which is being addressed thanks to the same aforementioned candidate.

Are people risking their lives to sneak into Cuba? How about North Korea? While we work to improve the greatness of this country, we should also express our gratitude for the privilege of living in these United States and not act like spoiled malcontents. (http://sanfordspeaksout.blogspot.com/2016/09/kaepernick-sitting-stands-for-disrespect.html)

This September 11 remember the past, but ask yourselves what kind of future do you want for America, for your children, for your children’s children, and for the myriad generations that follow?

Sanford D. Horn is a writer and educator living in Westfield, IN.