9/11 Parent Essay - My Son Cole's Assignment

September 11, 2011

Hilliard Memorial

RE: 9/11 Assignment

Cole Linville - 8^th Grade Hilliard Memorial M.S.

To Whom it May Concern:

I am told this essay is supposed to be about how America has changed since 9/11. The short answer is that it certainly has changed. The changes are sometimes hard to see and sometimes, obvious.

The best way to describe the changes, in my opinion, is that prior to 9/11, the United States mainland had not been physically attacked by an outside enemy since the 1800's. WWI, WWII, Korea, Vietnam, Lebanon, Kuwait, Iraq...these are all areas where US citizens have been killed, but they all occurred far away. The 9/11 attacks happened in our homeland, in New York, Washington DC and Pennsylvania. This is why 9/11 changed America so profoundly.

One example of this change is the way we travel. TSA agents “patting down” passengers, taking off your shoes in a airport, not being allowed to wait at a gate unless you are a passenger, and bringing only 4 ounces of liquid on plane are all habits that didn't exist prior to 9/11.

Our laws have changed dramatically, as well, affecting civil liberties that are guaranteed to us by the Constitution. Police agencies have much broader authority to stop and question and search civilians. Many political prisoners no longer have a right to a speedy trial, right to have charges read to them, rights to an attorney. Some prisoners have been tortured during government sanctioned interrogations. These are mostly unintended consequences, but many come directly from choices our government has made in the aftermath of 9/11.

Lastly, war is seemingly a constant since 9/11. Prior to 9/11 there was rarely a war in my lifetime, now there are long wars on multiple fronts.. The War on Terror has taken a turn, in my opinion, from a mission to stop terrorist organizations, to a political no-win gambit to enforce American ideas and practices on foreign cultures. However, recent events akin to the tearing down of the Berlin Wall in Egypt, Libya, Syria and other middle eastern countries show that their world is changing and the people of those countries are ready for a change. Perhaps they are motivated in some ways by changing world attitudes since 9/11.

One thing that hasn't changed is the American spirit. While we were shocked by the events of 9/11, we have eventually rebuilt. A newsman stated that America is a nation of builders, not destroyers. I believe that. Another stated, Americans do not live in fear, Americans live in freedom. That's a good message on which to end.

Sincerely,

J. Bradford Linville

Yet Another Reason Dave Grohl and Foo Fighters Rule

I was trying to decide whether to write about the latest housing news (actually a "victory" for the good guys!), or a charity golf tournament that I would actually like to play in (for more than the beer and free hotdog).  Then I came across a story I had to comment about.

By now, it should be no surprise that I have a bit of a thing for Foo Fighters and their fearless leader Dave Grohl - seen here in full caveman rocker mode.    Well it seems that someone finally sought fit to spread their hilarious tour rider out to the interweb, courtesy of smoking gun.  I hope this doesn't turn out to be fake, because I have seen a few different versions of it at different sites, but given what I know about Dave Grohl and the band's general sense of humor, it seems legit!!

This is a masterpiece of Tour Rider journalism.  It is sarcastic, pays homages to the excesses of 70's Rockers, contains hilarious coloring book pages and some valuable lessons on roadie hygiene and the pitfalls of "sweaty meats". 

Each band member takes a funny turn at teaching the venue catering staff some great tips and makes it fun to learn by providing mazes, puzzles and band image clip art to color!  Just so we know that Foo Fighters haven't lost their edge, they also require a rock-band-worthy amount of alcohol!  What are the guys and their guests drinking? Lots of the usual suspects Coors light, Guinness, Corona, local microbrews, wine and champagne, Jager, Crown Royal, Sky Vodka and mixers.  Regular guy drinks (if regular guys are getting hammered before they go on!)  I also like that they request that the family room be "near, but not necessarily next to the band room".  The whole thing is also sprinkled with random gems like "Chewbacca did not get a medal at the end of Star Wars, which is a travesty!" 

Basically, I've got my ticket to the show at Nationwide Arena in September and can't f'***ing wait!!  The new album, Wasting Light, is an instant classic.  It is recorded old school and sounds incredible.  Their best offering yet and that is hard to do.  Full album review coming soon, I just can't stop listening to it long enough to write about it yet.  

Peruse the excerpts of the Tour Rider including the hilarious Catering Visual Enhancement and Activities in addition to the written excerpts linked above.  It is a great look into the life of a touring rock band and provides unique insight into the minds of the one of the biggest best rock-bands out there. It is also comforting to know that my favorite band is also one of the cleverest.  LONG LIVE FOO!!!

Why halcyon days?

Well first, halcyon is just a cool word to say (and type for that matter).

It has a couple of main sources for me, the first of which is summed up in the Walt Whitman poem on the blog homepage.  To me, halcyon days are the best days of your life, as looked at in retrospect.  They are carefree days gone by that cannot be recaptured, but can be relived in your memories.  They are usually remembered in an idyllic way that is a blur of reality, but that is what makes these memories special.

The second meaning I only recently learned, but I was fascinated to read about the Greek myth of Alcyone. She was the daughter of Aeolus, the ruler of the winds.  She threw herself into the sea for love (questionable move there). Out of grief, her father calmed the winds for a two week period every winter solstice.  This mythical calm period is also symbolized by the Kingfisher, a bird that is mythically associated with the weather.

To me the halcyon days are the formative days of your life that play a large part in determining your ethos, your interests, and ultimately your life's path.  It is from that those memories that much of the source material for this blog is taken.