Wake up America. It has been 12 years since the fall of the twin towers and we are still healing from our wounds. September 11, 2013 is a great day in our nation's capital. There is a Million American March led by our American Muslim community. In response there is also a 2 Million Biker Ride that will fill our capital with motorcycles. But these groups will get it wrong if they don't come together. It is time we stopped being afraid of each. This is the land of the free and the home of the brave. We have the right to demonstrate peacefully and are still a power to be reckoned with on any given day. We are even more powerful when we come together.
What would have been better than these two groups organizing separate rallies would have been if they would have done it together. Imagine 2 million bikers showing up to be the security detail for a community of Muslims that want nothing more than to be Americans and have the religious freedom to worship their faith just like all other Americans. Imagine muslims and bikers high fiving in the street, waving the American Flag and shouting freedom, while standing next to each other. Imagine these same people standing on the capital steps discussing politics, making friendships and sharing a story or two about how they arrived at this moment.
It is time to stop looking at people as a different color, differently dressed, or with different beliefs as someone to fear. It is time to stand up and say we are American. We live in a land that not only gives us these freedoms but we will fight to defend the right to do so for us and others.
Politicians have divided us. They would like nothing better than a people that disagrees with each other and argue to the point that we refuse to talk to each other. It gives them power and takes the focus off them.
The recent Syrian crisis brings to light what a powerful people we are. The conservative right and the liberal left, for there own reason, opposed the bombing of Syria. They came together and forced the hand of the President to seek a diplomatic resolution instead.
Wake up America, it is time for this great nation to say once again, we are the land of the free people, we will support the people in our country and not confuse them with foreign intruders. I am not afraid of them and I don't want them to be afraid of me. They may have chose to be American or were born here, regardless we are brother and sister in a land of democracy, a land of free speech and a land when challenged by a foreign threat will respond as only American Patriots can.
God Bless us on September 11th and every day. Wake up America, It's patriots day 2013.
Writer and humorist A. Quintin Smith talks about life, family and those funny things you just can't ignore.
