911
Remembering 9/11 So Many Years Later
Eleven years ago today, the worst attack on American soil occurred and changed the course of history forever. Several hijacked planes would end the comfort of the 90s and strike some of our most beloved architectural achievements. The ensuing decade would usher in hard times complete with two foreign wars, extreme partisan politics and the worst financial meltdown since the Great Depression.
Today we are forced to watch what will seem like a looping video of flight 175 striking the South Tower of the World Trade Center. We’ll also hear from the 9/11 families and testimonies of those who were able to escape the burning towers. While gut wrenching, it is important that we never forget the tragedy that forever changed the direction of our country, for both better and worse.
The issue is a particularly emotional one for us at marijuana.net as several of us were in Manhattan on September 11, 2001. This is the first time I will refer to myself in a marijuana.net article. What started as a typical morning of college classes, quickly turned into one of the worst days of my life. Immediately following the attacks, it was difficult to discern exactly what was going on. In midtown everyone was frantic, but information was not easy to come by. Cell phone networks were overloaded and although close to the carnage, it took some time to figure out what really happened. A fellow student told me that the Empire State Building was struck by a plane.
That ultimately was not the case, but an even worse scenario played out as two icons of the sky would later fall, taking with them thousands of lives from the buildings and on the aircraft. Though we had entered the internet age, we were still years away from the smartphone and wifi age, so televisions in local delis and restaurants were the first source of reliable information for many on that day. The mood and scene was reminiscent of many classic movies as so many were huddled around the old style tube televisions. After many unsuccessful attempts to contact friends and family through my cell phone, I was finally able to speak with a family member on a pay phone.
I still had no idea of the scope of these attacks and I will never forget the most striking words I ever heard someone tell me. On the worst phone call of my life I was told “The World Trade Center is gone,” in plain language leaving no ambiguity. In reality the towers had not toppled yet, still emitting black smoke that seemed to emanate from hell itself. I would then walk the longest 13 city blocks of my life to a friend’s apartment just before 10:00 am. Almost immediately after I walked in, the South Tower collapsed. I was hopeful that at least one tower would stand, but then shortly after, all hope seemed lost as the North Tower came down. Many hours later a friend and I were on the roof of his building, watching the cloud of dust and debris move toward us (not a very good idea in retrospect as many health complications have been linked to debris and dust from the towers). We then heard a loud boom, which we would later find out was 7 World Trade Center crashing down.
On this day we are taking a break from legal updates and the election. Today we want to reflect on what was lost and on what was gained. Even if only for a short time, I have never witnessed so much comradery and unity as I did in the days coming out of September 11th. Including the 19 hijackers, 2,996 people died on 9/11 and while the hijackers will not receive any sympathy or understanding from me, they too had families, families they walked out on in order to achieve selfish and misguided goals. Hopefully that too will serve as a reminder, a reminder of the ineptitude of terrorism. Those men died only for the world to see the death of Osama Bin Laden, a dismantling of Al Qaeda, and an architectural masterpiece rise from the ashes.
Pat Robertson becomes an Unlikely Supporter of Marijuana Reform
As the minority in our country refuses to back off of its culture war against a plant, supporters for marijuana reform are revealing themselves from all walks of life. We have all heard that politics make strange bed fellows, but even medical marijuana advocates still must have been shocked to find an ally in Pat Robertson.
The anti-liberal icon, Pat Robertson, is a former Baptist minister who has caused more than his fair share of controversy over the years. Robertson has taken a harsh stance on almost all groups of people outside of his circle. He has often attributed natural and man-made disasters to God’s fury, blaming Hurricane Katrina on America’s abortion policy. He also famously claimed that 9/11 was the joint effort of the ACLU, feminists, as well as gays and lesbians. Mr. Robertson also feels that the people of Haiti suffered the 2010 earthquake because of a pact they made with the devil to escape French rule.
For individuals who consider themselves to be on the liberal side of the political spectrum, they would likely not be expecting to see eye to eye with Pat Robertson on social issues. Surprisingly however, Pat Robertson has recently come out in support of marijuana legalization on his televangelist show “The 700 Club”. Perspective can be fascinating as Mr. Robertson has blamed liberals for the current state of marijuana laws while marijuana smokers (who are often assumed to be liberal), would likely place blame on many of the conservatives who have been against marijuana reform for decades. In what could only be categorized as a progressive approach, Pat Robertson said “I just think it’s shocking how many of these young people wind up in prison and they get turned into hard-core criminals because they had a possession of a very small amount of controlled substance.”
Although many marijuana advocates may not be seeking a political alignment with Pat Robertson, it is clear that America’s sentiments on marijuana prohibition are changing rapidly. When a staple of American conservatives is seeking an end to the war on drugs, who exactly is left supporting the failed policies of the last 40 years?
40 Years
40 years could be a very long time based upon which position it’s seen from. For many, it’s, regrettably, an eternity. For many, it is just 1 / 2 of a existence. Searching with the wide scope from the world, it might barely be considered a nanosecond. When it comes to social/political/economic issues, 4 decades can represent many lives over, a number of births and deaths.
World war 2 on drugs was initially known to at that time leader Richard Nixon on Next Month, 1971. There is clearly a significant cultural divide within the U . s . States in the nineteen fifties towards the seventies. Opposing viewpoints on many social issues, especially drugs appeared just like a primary adding factor for that social division. Besides the cultural conflicts, among the primary factors within the U . s . States dealing with aggressive anti-drug guidelines was as a result of an increasing epidemic of heroin use among coming back Vietnam soldiers. Estimations were staggering and experts established that 10-fifteen percent people soldiers who offered within the war were hooked on Heroin.
The ensuing 4 decades would see over 1 trillion dollars allocated to this war. Lately, The Worldwide Commission on Drug Policy has mentioned the “war on drugs has unsuccessful, with devastating effects for people and communities all over the world.Inch This commission is composed of some very accomplished and profile people. Former U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan, U.S. official George P. Schultz (who offered under both Presidents Taxation and Richard Nixon’s cabinet), former U.S. Fed chairman Paul Volcker, former presidents of Mexico, South america and Colombia, and also the current pm of A holiday in greece are the people who constitute all of this-star panel. The folks from the U . s . States appear to concur, as polls established that over 75% of People in america believe world war 2 on drugs is failing.
In character change can frequently have a very lengthy and attracted out path (climatic change, ice age, mountain formation, continental drifts etc.). Social issues and legislation can alter each day however the Fight against Drugs appears to become moving more carefully to natures pace, a glacial pace. Since Nixon first made his proclamation concerning the Fight against Drugs, the earth has observed an amazing quantity of change, all although this war remains constant. During the period of the final 4 decades we view the finish from the Vietnam War, the invention from the microchip, Internet within our houses, fall from the Berlin Wall, the finish from the Cold War, Iran Contra, Afghan-Soviet war, Two attacks around the World Trade Center, 8 U.S. Presidents, Cell Phones, Social Media, NASA rovers touching lower on foreign planets, The Gulf War, The 2nd Iraq War, The United States. Afghan Conflict, Stem Cells, The Patriot Act, Dolly the Cloned Sheep, etc. (clearly it might take pages to list out the many other significant occasions).
Even while, we have seen a regular Fight against Drugs. With both worldwide community, and domestic community in complete agreement, the problem appears only poised to achieve traction. There has been some domestic changes, particularly in marijuana laws and regulations, but nonetheless more than 30 billion dollars is going to be spent through the U.S. government this year about this war. Having a battling economy along with a consensus among both U.S. people and also the relaxation around the globe, shall we be approaching seeing a cease fire about this 40 year Fight against Drugs?