Bin Laden Dead: A Look At How 9/11 Changed Me

I am sitting in a bed on the third floor of a Mesa, Arizona, hospital tonight, and watching thousands of people cheering outside the gates of the White House.  An hour ago, the President announced to the nation that Osama bin Laden was found and killed in Pakistan earlier today.  The man hated more than anyone in American history, second only to Hitler, is finally dead.

As the crowd of hundreds at Ground Zero at 1AM, stand together in celebration and sing 'The Star Spangled Banner', my eyes well up with tears.  I am proud of my country.  I am proud of the Navy Seals that entered the compound and shot bin Laden.  I am proud of my government and of my President.  Today, I am a patriot.  Looking back upon my life, I never would have pictured myself as a "patriotic" individual.  After all, I was never raised to be one.

In fact, it wasn't until September 11, 2001, that something within me changed.

The following is from a post originally dated September 11, 2009.  It was the first post written on this blog.

Growing up as a Jehovah's Witness, I was always told that it was wrong to salute the flag. I wasn't allowed to say the Pledge of Allegiance. I had to remain seated for the National Anthem. It's not that I had been intentionally disrespecting or desecrating the flag as a child. My parents never instilled in me the reasons why the symbols of our country, and the flag in particular, should be respected.

You can imagine the uncomfortable situations I had found myself in growing up. In the classroom everyday for years. At school assemblies. At sporting events. Countless dirty looks. People making comments under their breath. Even the occasional thwack to the back of the head with the words, "What's wrong with you? You a Commie or somethin? Stand up boy".

In my younger days, I saw it as an opportunity to "witness". To share my beliefs with others.  I would tell them that I wasn't standing because my religion wouldn't permit me to. Usually, that would be as far as I got. The offended spectator would turn a more enraged shade of red and that would be my que to face forward for the rest of the event and not make eye contact with anyone for the next 3 hours.

As I got older, I got wiser. I realized that by being in my seats during the National Anthem, I was only asking for trouble. So, I would generally take that time of the pre-game to go to the bathroom or grab a drink or a souvenir. Most times, I would just intentionally show up late to a game - skip the first 2 minutes of the period or the top half of the first inning altogether.

So how does this tie in to 9/11? I'll get to that in a second. But first: February 13, 1983. The Forum, Irvine, California. It was the NBA All Star Game. For some reason my dad was watching it on TV. I never remember him being much of a basketball fan. I've never been much of one either. But something special happened that night. The time came for the National Anthem. This is what we saw:

It gave me chills. As a 7 year old, I didn't know why. I had a feeling then that I couldn't put into words, that I wouldn't feel again until 18 years later. I left the church in 1996, but, out of habit I guess, continued my "tradition" of not standing for the National Anthem.

Then came September 11th, 2001. It's a day that, 8 years later, I still think about on a daily basis. We all tend to re-live the shots of the people running in the streets, the towers falling, and the planes hitting the towers. Today though, I had a different memory for the first time. I remembered the firefighters going into Ground Zero to tie an American Flag onto a beam of the World Trade Center. This was still while the area was unsafe. There was still a possibility of the surrounding buildings collapsing. It was their way of saying "We're still here. We're still standing".

When I saw that flag amongst the rubble, that feeling I first felt as a 7 year old had returned. It was pride. The flag reminded me of the anthem's lyrics itself: "Gave proof through the night, That our flag was still there, O say does that Star Spangled Banner yet wave, O'er the land of the free, And the home of the brave". It waved over many a brave volunteer in the days and weeks following the attacks.

September 10, 2001, was the last day I refused to sit for the National Anthem. Since the events of 9/11, not only do I show my respect to my nation and its flag, but I sing along with the Star Spangled Banner, and get choked up at the end. Every time.

National Anthem Fail

Yet again, another rock star washed up, 80s singer/third rate tequila purveyor was caught butchering the National Anthem.  This time, it was former Van Halen front man Sammy Hagar, with some help from guitar god (yet, I can't put my finger on a single tune of his), Joe Satriani.



Why is Sammy walking around so much?  Doesn't he realize you don't do the "shoulder rub with the guitar player" thing during 'The Star Spangled Banner'?  Rock rules stipulate that move cannot be made during any performance post-1987, unless it is in the form of a music video, and both the singer and guitarist are bare chested.

David Lee Roth Gary Cherone doesn't look so stup...nevermind.  If there's an up side, at least Sammy didn't yell "Cabo Wabo" at the end.

A Look Back On Some Of The Best National Anthems

In about 90 minutes, Christina Aguilara is scheduled to sing the National Anthem at the Super Bowl in Dallas, Texas.  With her raw talent, she is sure to give one hell of a performance.  Over the years, there have been a number of artists, for better or worse, that come to mind when the National Anthem is mentioned.  Whether it's Jimi Hendrix's epic instrumental rendition at Woodstock in 1969, Roseanne's crotch grabbing disgrace, or Whitney Houston's emotional chart topping rendition in the 90s, they all stand out for their own reasons.

Yahoo Music compiled a list of what they felt was the 10 worst, and the 10 best, renditions of the National Anthem.  The ten worst are TORTURE.  I won't put you through watching any of those videos.  Let's just say there's a reason why Scott Stapp's voice can scare away a pack of wolves.  Here are a couple of their ten best:

#5 - Josh Groban with Flea of the Red Hot Chili Peppers


It was really interesting to hear Flea, who is normally known for going all out on bass, mellowing out and gently accompanying Groban's powerful and traditional voice softly but with purpose.  Very beautiful.



#4 (Personally my #1) Marvin Gaye


What can I say.  Classy.  No one could have done it better.  No one has done it better since.





#1 The Dixie Chicks


This was just a couple of months before they came out publicly against the Iraq War and George W. Bush.  Their careers in country music practically disappeared since then, due to the backlash they received from much of their fanbase.  Their performance in three part harmony is nothing short of legendary.  Yesterday was the first time I had seen it.  It brought tears to my eyes.



Growing up as a Jehovah's Witness, I was never allowed to stand for the National Anthem.  It is something that conflicts with Witness beliefs.  Now that I am out of the church, the National Anthem is something I do not take lightly.  I make sure I am early to sporting events so that I can be at my seat to stand for the National Anthem.  I try to tune in to the World Series or the Super Bowl early to hear it.  I have a new sense of patriotism.  I don't take any performance for granted.  Coming out, it was one of the first songs I learned the words to.  I'm proud to be an American, and I'm thankful for Francis Scott Key's contribution to our country.

Update:  So...Christina Aguilara screwed it up big time this afternoon.  Don't get me wrong.  She sounded awesome, she just couldn't remember half of the words.  She completely left out the line, "O'er the ramparts we watched".  Then, later in the song, she tried to combine two lines by singing, "What so proudly we watched", instead of "What so proudly we hailed".  How embarrassing.

Steven Tyler Butchers The National Anthem

Steven Tyler sang the National Anthem before the Boston Bruins game on Thursday night.  Actually, he screamed the National Anthem.  It's shocking that this man is getting paid next year to judge a televised singing contest.



At least he got the words right, I think.  Francis Scott Key must have rolled over in his grave.

How 9/11 Changed Me

Growing up as a Jehovah's Witness, I was always told that it was wrong to salute the flag. I wasn't allowed to say the Pledge of Allegiance. I had to remain seated for the National Anthem. It's not that I had been intentionally disrespecting or desecrating the flag as a child. My parents never instilled in me the reasons why the symbols of our country, and the flag in particular, should be respected.

You can imagine the uncomfortable situations I had found myself in growing up. In the classroom everyday for years. At school assemblies. At sporting events. Countless dirty looks. People making comments under their breath. Even the occasional thwack to the back of the head with the words, "What's wrong with you? You a Commie or somethin? Stand up boy".

In my younger days, I saw it as an opportunity to "witness". To share my beliefs with others. I would tell them that I wasn't standing because my religion wouldn't permit me to. Usually, that would be as far as I got. The offended spectator would turn a more enraged shade of red and that would be my que to face forward for the rest of the event and not make eye contact with anyone for the next 3 hours.

As I got older, I got wiser. I realized that by being in my seats during the National Anthem, I was only asking for trouble. So, I would generally take that time of the pre-game to go to the bathroom or grab a drink or a souvenir. Most times, I would just intentionally show up late to a game - skip the first 2 minutes of the period or the top half of the first inning altogether.

So how does this tie in to 9/11? I'll get to that in a second. But first: February 13, 1983. The Forum, Irvine, California. It was the NBA All Star Game. For some reason my dad was watching it on TV. I never remember him being much of a basketball fan. I've never been much of one either. But something special happened that night. The time came for the National Anthem. This is what we saw:



It gave me chills. As a 7 year old, I didn't know why. I had a feeling then that I couldn't put into words, that I wouldn't feel again until 18 years later. I left the church in 1996, but, out of habit I guess, continued my "tradition" of not standing for the National Anthem.

Then came September 11th, 2001. It's a day that, 8 years later, I still think about on a daily basis. We all tend to re-live the shots of the people running in the streets, the towers falling, and the planes hitting the towers. Today though, I had a different memory for the first time. I remembered the firefighters going into Ground Zero to tie an American Flag onto a beam of the World Trade Center. This was still while the area was unsafe. There was still a possibility of the surrounding buildings collapsing. It was their way of saying "We're still here. We're still standing".

When I saw that flag amongst the rubble, that feeling I first felt as a 7 year old had returned. It was pride. The flag reminded me of the anthem's lyrics itself: "Gave proof through the night, That our flag was still there, O say does that Star Spangled Banner yet wave, O'er the land of the free, And the home of the brave". It waved over many a brave volunteer in the days and weeks following the attacks.

September 10, 2001, was the last day I refused to sit for the National Anthem. Since the events of 9/11, not only do I show my respect to my nation and its flag, but I sing along with the Star Spangled Banner, and get choked up at the end. Every time.