9/11

9.11.2001 So Long Ago

Twenty three years have passed… It seems, it feels like ancient history now? For the families, loved ones, and friends, the wounds of profound loss are terribly fresh for some. Life was changed forever for them, changed for us in our reaction to the horror of that day. It is hard to recognize 9.12.2001 from where we are at now. For the days that followed, our politics did not matter, racism did not matter, we didn’t care what color you were. station in life did not matter. who we slept with did not matter, what set of sex organs we sported in our underwear did not matter, what God each other believed in or what we said in thought did not matter at all. We did not need pronouns, diversity training, reparations, cults of personality, or hysterical pundits to guide us in understanding what was in our hearts and what we felt in our guts -that we are Americans.

So long ago, and one day later with great cause, we rallied for each other, and had each other’s backs. We demonstrated what is awesome about us, our country.

Twenty three years later, it can be said we have forgotten who our neighbors are, what we actually mean to each other as Americans. We have a solemn obligation to honor those lost. They deserve better, we deserve better from each other. Right now we are failing at this. Lessons learned on 9.12.2001 need to be reinstalled as a permanent staple of our society. How we treated each other back then needs to be revisited in earnest.

I have not forgotten: 

The memories and the feelings from that day have not faded, nor diminished. It was to be a perfect bluebird day in September.

The near-perfect September day morphed, shattered for thousands of victims in mere seconds for many, some in agonizing, terror-filled minutes, hours yet for others.

In the ripples of life, our greatest loss is to never know or benefit from what great deeds and accomplishments of all those lost. 

That we came together as Americans. We were united as Americans. We still are Americans. Many have forgotten this very fact in recent times.

Those that perished on this fateful day of September 11th, 2001.

Those that gave all in order to save lives. Heroes that walk among us to this day.

Those who survived only succumbed to it days, months, and years later.

That we are all equal by way of our maker

This is republished each year as I find it so important to include:

On each anniversary of 9/11, my thoughts return to two fellow NWTF members Cynthia Giugliano & Walter Weaver that we lost that day. A memorial webpage can be found at http://www.turkey-talk.com/9_11_01_memorial.htm

I ask that each of you give thought to those that serve us in all vocations. In your travels, I ask that you take the time to thank those that serve us, and continue to support what they do for our country.

Along with counting your blessings, say a prayer for all innocent victims, and that you do something on your part to make the world just a little bit better for those around you. We can all benefit from random acts of kindness.

-MJ

© 2024 Mike Joyner- Joyner Outdoor Media

9/11, Do You Long For 9/12?

pexels-photo-9522216.jpeg

Twenty two trips around the sun, since that fateful day… In my simplistic observation of surroundings, the actions and words of others, I might boldly claim that we have forgotten much about our country, and especially so, about each other. Before I detail this thought further, I must state that I long for who we became as a country on 9/12. To take it one step further I would rather take an eraser to 9/11/2001, engage the grand experiment of “ripples in life” from each and every person lost that day, and those lost well before their time, stemming from injuries and grave illnesses that came from it. Their families and loved ones would most certainly agree. It is immeasurable as to what was lost in their contributions, what each would have gave of themselves to those they loved, their families, their professions, and to our society as a whole.

There was a 9/12 that I vividly remember long ago, that our favored political party did not matter, struggles of the races did not matter, income equality did not matter, who we slept with did not matter, what set of sex organs we sported in our underwear did not matter, and what each other believed or said in thought did not matter at all.

We did not need diversity training, reparations, talking heads, cults of personality, or well paid pundits to tell us, to guide us in understanding what was in our hearts and what we felt in our guts -that we are Americans.

Since then we have become complacent in the import things, in what matters first and foremost. Far too many engaged in turning everything upside down in the quest to seize control over our daily lives, down to the smallest and most trivial items. It is something I never expected to see in my lifetime from elected officials, even from each other in our daily lives. In all irony of an unbecoming display of hyperbolic partisan politics, the use of any pro American term is somehow un-American. I submit that those from this ideological camp have lost their way and for the most dishonorable intentions.

Twenty Two years ago, and one day later with great cause, we rallied for each other, and had each other’s backs. We demonstrated what is awesome about us, our country.

Twenty Two years later, demonstrated daily, we are easily be pitted against each other, with little effort to shore up perverse narratives.

We have a solemn obligation to honor those innocent victims of 9/11 and those fallen who have served us. They deserve better, we deserve better from each other. What we, you and I fail to do enough of, is to seize the smaller opportunities of moments of kindness, to forgive more easily as we did on 9/12/2001, and the days and months that followed.

For those of you that disagree, I can still envision our mutual betterment in life with us being of the same great America that we love, warts and all.

I have not forgotten: 

The memories and the feelings from that day have not faded, nor diminished. It was to be a perfect bluebird day in September.

The near-perfect September day morphed, shattered for thousands of victims in mere seconds for many, some in agonizing, terror-filled minutes, hours yet for others.

In the ripples of life, our greatest loss is to never know or benefit from what great deeds and accomplishments of all those lost. 

That we came together as Americans. We were united as Americans. We still are Americans. Many have forgotten this very fact in recent times.

Those that perished on this fateful day of September 11th, 2001.

Those that gave all in order to save lives. Heroes that walk among us to this day.

Those who survived only succumbed to it days, months, and years later.

That we are all equal by way of our maker

This is republished each year as I find it so important to include:

On each anniversary of 9/11, my thoughts return to two fellow NWTF members Cynthia Giugliano & Walter Weaver that we lost that day. A memorial webpage can be found at http://www.turkey-talk.com/9_11_01_memorial.htm

As you toe up on the start line of your favorite road race or triathlon or enjoy another fall season hunting our nation’s forests, fishing the lakes and streams of our great land, I ask that each of you give thought to those that serve us. In your travels, I ask that you take the time to thank those that serve us, and continue to support what they do for our country.

Along with counting your blessings, say a prayer for all innocent victims, and that you do something on your part to make the world just a little bit better for those around you. We can all benefit from a little emphasis on random acts of kindness.

-MJ

© 2023 Mike Joyner- Joyner Outdoor Media

PR Book Release: Random Musings from the Left Hemisphere by Mike Joyner

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Joyner Outdoor Media Proudly Announces the Book Release of Random Musings of The Left Hemisphere by Mike Joyner

CORTLAND, N.Y. – April 19, 2023 – The author’s latest book release is a collection of random musings made over the past decade in response to the many societal skirmishes and forays of maligned and upside-down positions taken by increasingly radical liberals and leftists of a divided country. The book features personal reflections and personal testimony of bearing witness to a profound event of survival. The new release is currently available in paperback, hardcover, and Kindle.

Publisher’s Summary – “Random Musings of The Left Hemisphere” is a collection of personal opinions, reflections, and epiphanies gained from decades of hands-on living. A worldview fully grounded in compassion and sound reasoning is expressed that in stark contrast, refutes common false narratives perpetuated by the far left, academia, and a sympathetic media that has abandoned professional journalism in favor of activism and influencer self-gratification. We are over-saturated with utopian thesis-driven views formulated in a vacuum and regurgitated in never-ending echo chambers.

The latest offering from the author is a unique departure from his well-known outdoor book titles. A random glimpse into the thoughts, and observations of a left hemisphere dominant thinker. As an engineer, awarded worldwide patents, a passionate outdoorsman, and conservative by nature, these attributes are a natural fit for the project. The reader will find a frank and honest rendering of ideas and observations to ponder and consider.

Hardcover, paperback books, and Kindle – available now on Amazon https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C2R2ST1Q

Joyner can be made available for media requests by emailing: info@joynerourdoormedia.com

For further information on the author: www.mikejoyner.com

-MJ

© 2023 Mike Joyner- Joyner Outdoor Media

Do We Recognize Ourselves, Our Country 21 years later, Post 9/11?

There was a 9/12 that our voter party card did not matter, white privilege did not matter, struggles of the races did not matter. We did not need diversity training, or reparations to understand in our hearts and our guts that we are Americans. This week our president in office declared half of the country in the goulish Neo Nazi period correct backdrop as extreme, violent, and a most undesirable segment of America. A self-projecting fascist, drunk in the despicable art of propaganda, in my view. It is something I never expected to see in my lifetime from the highest office in the land. In all irony of a most distasteful, insulting and unbecoming display of hyperbolic partisan politics, the use of the term MAGA, Ultra MAGA is somehow un-American. Those that have a problem with “Make America Great Again” have lost their way and for the most dishonorable intentions. Orange Man Bad has huge equity in rent-free space of the craniums of these deranged folks. MAGA would have resonated just as well on 9/12/2001.

We demonstrate daily that we can easily be pitted against each other, at will, for political aims. I submit to each of you, that we can just as easily rally for each other, and have each other’s backs as we did 21 years ago. We can demonstrate what is awesome about us, our country. In doing so, we honor those innocent victims of 9/11 and those fallen who have served us. They deserve better, we deserve better. from each other.

What was made clear to me in my near death experience last year and again last week, is that we know enough to seek forgiveness for our major offensives. What we, you and I fail to do enough of, is to seize the smaller opportunities of moments of kindness, to forgive more easily. We can impact the lives of others in the most profound ways through the accumulation of small acts of kindness. The big things are obvious and easy. It is the daily implementation of it when we are off our game, don’t feel well, or are pissed off at the news. Speaking for myself, I still have a bit of work to do there…

For those of you that are polar opposite to my conservative thoughts, I can still toast to our mutual betterment in life with us being of the same great America that we love, warts and all.

I have not forgotten: 

The memories and the feelings from that day have not faded, nor diminished. It was to be a perfect bluebird day in September.

The near-perfect September day morphed, shattered for thousands of victims in mere seconds for many, some in agonizing, terror-filled minutes, hours yet for others.

In the ripples of life, our greatest loss is to never know or benefit from what great deeds and accomplishments of all those lost. 

That we came together as Americans. We were united as Americans. We still are Americans. Many have forgotten this very fact in recent times.

Those that perished on this fateful day of September 11th, 2001.

Those that gave all in order to save lives. Heroes that walk among us to this day.

Those who survived only succumbed to it days, months, and years later.

That we are all equal by way of our maker

This is republished each year as I find it so important to include:

On each anniversary of 9/11, my thoughts return to two fellow NWTF members Cynthia Giugliano & Walter Weaver that we lost that day. A memorial webpage can be found at http://www.turkey-talk.com/9_11_01_memorial.htm

As you toe up on the start line of your favorite road race or triathlon or enjoy another fall season hunting our nation’s forests, fishing the lakes and streams of our great land, I ask that each of you give thought to those that serve us. In your travels, I ask that you take the time to thank those that serve us, and continue to support what they do for our country.

Along with counting your blessings, say a prayer for all innocent victims, and that you do something on your part to make the world just a little bit better for those around you. We can all benefit from a little emphasis on random acts of kindness.

-MJ

© 2022 Mike Joyner- Joyner Outdoor Media

Have We Forgotten 9/11? Those Who Serve us?

Have you Forgotten? Your families? Your neighbors? Your friends? Your ideological opponents? Is this just an annoyance to your daily routine?

Despite my incessant repetition for which I will not apologize: No I have not forgotten, hell no…

Each day, every day on every news channel, news website, social media we get “fuck the pigs”, “defund the police” and more colorful vulgar chants or disparaging language. The narrative that the men and women in blue are chasing down and murdering blacks as some perversion of sick folly driven by hundreds of years of racism. .

With 800K+ LEO’s in the US and a number between ten and twenty unarmed blacks killed annually (number has declined for the past decade) it is not a plague nor an all out assault due to racism.

We have a narrative that labels all those in blue as murderous, racist, unnecessary, unneeded, to have wholesale support withdrawn for political gains. Have we forgotten that those who serve us, see a burning building, a crime in progress, innocents being assaulted and their first instinct is to go towards the danger, to save as many as possible even though they may never see their loved ones ever again?

Of the 2,977 victims killed in the September 11 attacks, 412 were emergency workers in New York City who responded. Out of the 125 that perished at the pentagon no first responders were lost:

343 firefighters, a chaplain and 2 paramedics of the NYC Fire Department
37 police officers -Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Police Dept.
23 police officers of the NYC Police Dept.
8 emergency medical technicians and paramedics.
1 patrolman from the NY Fire Patrol

Do we fail to honor the lives lost on this fateful day, those lost while serving us each and every day? We hate each other by party affiliation, by whom we vote for, align ourselves with. We are uncivil without cause. We are better than this. I can remember a time…

Are we so entrenched that we forgo living the American Dream and all that it stands for? That we take on the daily challenges, for us to live well and in service to each other as it is tribute to those who sacrificed for us?

For those of you that are polar opposite to my conservative thoughts, that we might not share a strong Irish Stout together, I can toast to our betterment in life and the hope we return to the land of united bloody Americans (as the Brits would call us.)

I have not forgotten: 

The memories, the feelings from that day have not faded, nor diminished. It was to be a perfect blue bird day in September.

The near perfect September day morphed, shattered for thousands of victims in mere seconds for many, some in agonizing, terror filled minutes, hours yet for others.

In the ripples of life, our greatest loss is to never know or benefit from what great deeds and accomplishments from all those lost. 

That we came together as Americans.We were united as Americans. We still are Americans. Many have forgotten this very fact in recent times.

Those that perished on this fateful day of September 11th, 2001.

Those that gave all in order to save lives. Heroes that walk among us to this day.

Those  who survived only to succumb to it days, months, and years later.

That we are all equal by way of our maker

This is republish each year as I find it so important to include:

Each anniversary of 9/11, my thoughts return to two fellow NWTF members Cynthia Giugliano & Walter Weaver that we lost that day. A memorial webpage can be found at http://www.turkey-talk.com/9_11_01_memorial.htm

As you toe up on the start line of your favorite road race or triathlon or enjoy another fall season hunting our nation’s forests, fishing the lakes and streams of our great land, I ask that each of you give thought to those that serve us. In your travels I ask that you take the time to thank those that serve us, and continue to support what they do for our country.

Along with counting your blessings, say a prayer for all innocent victims, and that you do something on your part to make the world just a little bit better for those around you. We can all benefit from a little emphasis on acts of kindness.

© 2020 Mike Joyner- Joyner Outdoor Media 

I Have Not Forgotten 9/11, I Remember 9/12

As the anniversary of 9/11 arrives. 18 years have passed…

Am I at a crossroads with this? Are you? Your families? Your neighbors? Your friends? Your ideological opponents?

I’ll start…. no, on second thought, hell no…

Each of you can reflect, answer for yourselves…. I hope we agree on this…

I bring myself to watch the documentaries, the special coverage shows every year, whenever it is aired. The reading of the names is deeply moving, deeply upsetting and profoundly sad. I weep each remembrance, every anniversary, I will tomorrow, and in the years I have ahead that I am gifted, blessed to rise on this solemn day. Nearly 60 now, I have days that many never get to see. 2,977 are among them

2,977 innocents were murdered as infidels, targets of a hateful twisted sect of Islam, to the joy of many who claim to be peaceful followers of their faith. There is no sugar coating it… Politically correct does not apply. To say this or to observe it for what it is, is not Islamophobia, bigotry, racism or and other”ism” you can create. It is the raw ugly truth, signed in innocent blood.

9/12 not so many years after, do we fail to honor the lives lost on this fateful day, those lost while serving us in war, our daily lives? We hate each other by party affiliation, by whom we vote for, align ourselves with, we are nasty and uncivil to strangers and to those that love us. We are actually capable of being far better than this. I can remember a time…

Are we so entrenched, reverted, emotional zealots that we forgo the ideal that we honor the fallen by living the American Dream and all that it stands for? That they can no longer pursue? That we take on the daily challenges, carry on as it is the greatest honor to others whom sacrifice for us, for us to live well and in service to each other?

I’ll answer for you… Yes, hell yeah!

For those of you that are polar opposite to my conservative thoughts, that we might not share a strong Irish Stout together, I dedicate the following from my Irish roots to your betterment in life and to the hope we return to the land of united bloody Americans (as the Brits would call us) I fondly remember:

Irish Blessing

May the road rise to meet you,
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
The rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of his hand.

May God be with you and bless you;
May you see your children’s children.
May you be poor in misfortune,
Rich in blessings,
May you know nothing but happiness
From this day forward.

May the road rise to meet you
May the wind be always at your back
May the warm rays of sun fall upon your home
And may the hand of a friend always be near.

May green be the grass you walk on,
May blue be the skies above you,
May pure be the joys that surround you,
May true be the hearts that love you.

Photo by Willem-Jan Huisman on Unsplash

I have not forgotten: 

The memories, the feelings from that day have not faded, nor diminished. It was to be a perfect blue bird day in September.

The near perfect September day morphed, shattered for thousands of victims in mere seconds for many, some in agonizing, terror filled minutes, hours yet for others.

In the ripples of life, our greatest loss is to never know or benefit from what great deeds and accomplishments from all those lost. 

That we came together as Americans.We were united as Americans. We still are Americans. Many have forgotten this very fact in recent times.

Those that perished on this fateful day of September 11th, 2001.

Those that gave all in order to save lives. Heroes that walk among us to this day.

Those  who survived only to succumb to it days, months, and years later.

That we are all equal by way of our maker

This is republish each year as I find it so important to include:

Each anniversary of 9/11, my thoughts return to two fellow NWTF members Cynthia Giugliano & Walter Weaver that we lost that day. A memorial webpage can be found at http://www.turkey-talk.com/9_11_01_memorial.htm

As you toe up on the start line of your favorite road race or triathlon or enjoy another fall season hunting our nation’s forests, fishing the lakes and streams of our great land, I ask that each of you give thought to those that serve us. In your travels I ask that you take the time to thank those that serve us, and continue to support what they do for our country.

Along with counting your blessings, say a prayer for all innocent victims, and that you do something on your part to make the world just a little bit better for those around you. We can all benefit from a little emphasis on acts of kindness.

© 2019 Mike Joyner- Joyner Outdoor Media 

I have not forgotten 9/11, The Meaning Of Sacrifice

As the anniversary of 9/11 arrives. 17 years have passed…

2,977 were murdered for simply being at work, six thousand+ injured. seventy five thousand firefighters, police officers, paramedics and rescuers risked their own lives to save others. Heroes showed up for work in uniform, some not in uniform on their day off for a noble purpose, also perished.

Everyday heroes, two thousand+ first responders, skilled trades, volunteers to aid rescue and recovery have died from illnesses caused by toxic cocktails of retched air. Thousands more currently battle related post event cancers and other life threatening maladies. The current estimate is predicted that sometime before the 18th anniversary, the related death toll from those aiding post event will surpass those murdered or perished in the acts of saving others on that day. Ground zero still claims lives involved with the rescue effort so long ago.

We are reminded on this solemn remembrance of what sacrifice truly is. Sacrifice comes in service to our country,  to our family, to our friends and to our fellow citizens. Sacrifice is selfless for noble causes. Many times selfless sacrifice is all, the ultimate sacrifice of the life of one who gives it for the lives and freedoms of others. If we are to remember we are to honor these very people.

Sacrifice is not an agenda, or magnifying a problem of bad acts over the daily, weekly stacking of murdered victims bodies in the streets in many of our major cities. Sacrifice is not represented by a self entitled millionaire athlete having to switch making millions on the field to a corporate board room. It is a bastation of the meaning of sacrifice to tap into discourse, to push agendas only to sell more, gain more market share of those too young to directly recall what real sacrifices were made a generation ago, and ignore those made in present day.  The shifting of revenue streams of grandstanding social warriors fails to meet the meaning of sacrifice. Sacrifice has a far different meaning to those on the battlefield, serving us in uniform, those in service to others, and to single parents working three jobs just to make it to the end of each month. They would describe sacrifice in a more meaningful way.

To those of us that understand what the flag stands for, what it was truly intended to represent. The blood of hero’s in battle, hero’s we hear of or witness first hand in our daily lives we give thanks and our adoration in tribute to them. The hyped up disrespect is more than disingenuous, and yet hero’s will continue to give all for the right to be so offensive, and counter to those of us, that value all that the flag represents.  9/11 represents all the evil that we could imagine in a single day and yet brought out the good in so many more. So many of us saw that good in us, of each other in the days following that horrible day.  We can only pray that there will be a time that those who hate and disrespect the flag see it as we do.

 

I have not forgotten: 

The memories, the feelings from that day have not faded, nor diminished. It was to be a perfect blue bird day in September.

The near perfect September day morphed, shattered for thousands of victims in mere seconds for many, some in agonizing, terror filled minutes, hours yet for others.

In the ripples of life, our greatest loss is to never know or benefit from what great deeds and accomplishments from all those lost. 

That we came together as Americans.We were united as Americans. We still are Americans. Many have forgotten this very fact in recent times.

Those that perished on this fateful day of September 11th, 2001.

Those that gave all in order to save lives. Heroes that walk among us to this day.

Those  who survived only to succumb to it days, months, and years later.

That we are all equal by way of our maker

 

This is republish each year as I find it so important to include:

Each anniversary of 9/11, my thoughts return to two fellow NWTF members Cynthia Giugliano & Walter Weaver that we lost that day. A memorial webpage can be found at http://www.turkey-talk.com/9_11_01_memorial.htm

As you toe up on the start line of your favorite road race or triathlon or enjoy another fall season hunting our nation’s forests, fishing the lakes and streams of our great land, I ask that each of you give thought to those that serve us. In your travels I ask that you take the time to thank those that serve us, and continue to support what they do for our country.

Along with counting your blessings, say a prayer for all innocent victims, and that you do something on your part to make the world just a little bit better for those around you. We can all benefit from a little emphasis on acts of kindness.

 

© 2018 Mike Joyner- Joyner Outdoor Media 

I have not forgotten 9/11

As the anniversary of 9/11 arrives. 16 years have passed… 2,977 were murdered for simply being at work, 6000+ injured for also showing up for work. Heroes in uniform, some not in uniform also perished or died later on from various cancers and fatal lung diseases believed to be caused from conditions at ground zero.

 

 

‘The memories, the feelings from that day have not faded, nor diminished. It was to be a perfect blue bird day in September,‘ as I wrote this time last year. This near perfect September day morphed, shattered for these ten thousand (more to be counted as time marches on) victims in mere seconds for many, some in agonizing, terror filled minutes, hours yet for others. Our world view, my world view would change from what would be learned later as we begun to understand the evil that transpired. In the ripples of life, our greatest loss is to never know or benefit from what great deeds and accomplishments from all those lost. All too clear for their families, their lives changed beyond our comprehension.

I have not forgotten… It holds far more relevance as we witness a great divide among us now. Have we forgotten how we felt having fellow citizens mass murdered as a political, psychotic twisted religious statement? We united as Americans. We still are Americans, you just wouldn’t know it by the constant barrage of Trump Derangement Syndrome afflicted pundits, reporters and domestic terrorists such as Anti-Fa with the liberal left actually supporting the likes of Anti-Fa , or even more surprising, supporting the suppression of free speech. Who knew?

With too many similarities to the very terrorists that slaughtered thousands of innocent fellow Americans, It is incomprehensible that we have not retained, and held close to our hearts the lessons taught in blood, that of unity, empathy and compassion for one another in the most adverse circumstances. The willful ignoring, even embracing these left winged. marxist terrorists groups for political gain is a national disgrace. We condemn the extreme right such as the KKK and other supremacist groups and yet we have an ideology (liberal, left) prevalent in our country that cannot bring itself to condemn all groups that promote extreme hate and violence. 9/11 painted a stark face on hate based in irrational ideology, religious extremism that depicts one superior over the other. Even the national disasters of epic hurricanes evokes politicizing while innocent lives perish. We are far better people than this.  

We are Americans. With God, Family, and Country as our foundation, there is no room for party affiliation or Ideology to be first above our most important priorities. We came together in the aftermath of 9/11.

 

I have not forgotten those that perished on this fateful day of September 11th, 2001.

I have not forgotten those that gave all in order save lives. Heroes that walk among us to this day.

I have not forgotten those  who survived only to succumb to it days, months, and years later.

I have not forgotten that we came together as Americans.

I have not forgotten that we are all equal by way of our maker.   

 

This is republish each year as I find it so important to include:

Each anniversary of 9/11, my thoughts return to two fellow NWTF members Cynthia Giugliano & Walter Weaver that we lost that day. A memorial webpage can be found at http://www.turkey-talk.com/9_11_01_memorial.htm

As you toe up on the start line of your favorite road race or triathlon or enjoy another fall season hunting our nation’s forests, fishing the lakes and streams of our great land, I ask that each of you give thought to those that serve us. In your travels I ask that you take the time to thank those that serve us, and continue to support what they do for our country.

Along with counting your blessings, say a prayer for all innocent victims, and that you do something on your part to make the world just a little bit better for those around you. We can all benefit from a little emphasis on acts of kindness.

 

© 2017 Mike Joyner- Joyner Outdoor Media 

9/11, Not Forgotten

I have chosen to write this a little bit before hand, as we are in the mean season of elections and the political noise will rise predictable so as the anniversary of 9/11 arrives. 15 years have passed now since that awful day. I have not forgotten… It weighs on my thoughts at times. Usually from a passing comment, video clips that I may randomly come across. The memories, the feelings from that day have not faded, nor diminished. It was to be a perfect blue bird day in September. It was such a day until shattered by the first report to get out across the airways, across the internet. It changed my world view. For the victims, their families, their lives changed far more than I could possibly comprehend.  It is to our great loss to never know or benefit from what great deeds and accomplishments from all those lost.

Watching on live TV that day did not take on the feel of a video game, there was no reset, respawn, play level 3… Knowing instantly that hundreds of innocent people died as each of the three planes hit their intended targets, the fourth plummeting to the earth despite one last struggle to regain the cockpit. As each building collapsed you knew again in an instant you were witnessing the senseless death of hundreds of more innocent people. We would learn later of the deaths of first responders doing a heroes job, of  Nobel calling. Officially 2,977 were murdered, 6000+ injured, and it has been revealed just as many have died later on, from various cancers and fatal lung diseases believed to be caused from the toxic cocktails of smoke and burning debris at ground zero.

This evil act committed on our soil resonates with my condemnation of a twisted ideology, a barbarism, a savagery  that was prevalent around the world a very long time ago.  It has persisted as a cancer, a scourge upon humanity. Do you not as I, loathe the spread of hateful, evil views and those that commit heinous, cruel acts? Islam a peaceful religion? It raises reasonable doubts.

This not an indictment of peaceful Muslims. In all of the world’s religions it is a moral imperative to speak out against those that mutate and twist their faiths into radicalized, and violent interpretations of their core origins and beliefs. To those Muslims and other faiths embracing peace, please stand along side us in unity.

100’s of years of radical Islam, Jihadists, unabated evil, murder without remorse (in fact radical followers rejoice in it), defiling, and demeaning of women, and we as the human race permit this to not only exist among us, but to even flourish? Our leaders, liberal elitists are more concerned with political correctness, and not offending rather  than standing up, relying on our founding principles, making precise, expedited decisions. Politics first may yet be the greater danger.

I choose to republish some from prior years as I find it important to repeat:

Each anniversary of 9/11, my thoughts return to two fellow NWTF members Cynthia Giugliano & Walter Weaver that we lost that day. A memorial webpage can be found at http://www.turkey-talk.com/9_11_01_memorial.htm

As you toe up on the start line of your favorite road race or triathlon or enjoy another fall season hunting our nation’s forests, fishing the lakes and streams of our great land, I ask that each of you give thought to those that serve us. In your travels I ask that you take the time to thank those that serve us, and continue to support what they do for our country.

Along with counting your blessings, say a prayer for all innocent victims, and that you do something on your part to make the world just a little bit better for those around you. We can all benefit from a little emphasis on acts of kindness.

 

© 2016 Mike Joyner- Joyner Outdoor Media 

Memorial Day, A Day of Respect

We have to our pleasure in the Northeast a weekend of blue skies and very summer like weather. With a long weekend in progress it is a time to enjoy time away from work to be with our love ones, friends, and to make the most of it. There will be those loved ones and families that may not enjoy it as I suggest. The loss of the loved ones whom gave the ultimate sacrifice may be a wound too fresh, a loss all to recent to console in a way that lessens their pain. I’ll ask or suggest that should you come across those that grieve on this day of remembrance that you offer your ear, your heart, your support. and your showing of appreciation of what they have perished for. A showing of compassion is in order on this day, as the other 364 days.

I get the two world wars, Korea, and not so much with Vietnam, and the conflicts that followed. Am I grateful that Saddam Hussein is gone from the planet, you bet. Osama Bin Ladin, yep him too. I like many of you find it harder to find my way through the political optics, political slant, cover ups, and bs associated with these conflicts. That is my view of the events, not those that serve us. Memorial day is about those that serve us, and gave their lives for our way of life and for the country we have. Warts and all that it may be. I do not waiver on being an American.

It is unimaginable to me to exit an amphibious vehicle on D-day into a hail of machine gun fire. To willingly move forward in the thick jungles of Vietnam, knowing it may be your last steps. To breech houses in the heat of the desert knowing the next step  may be an IUD there. It is hard to comprehend, not hard to honor their bravery, their actions. They do the job we do not. For that they have my eternal respect, and I am grateful for what they do.

In remembrance I ‘ll be thinking of my father, grandfather who have long since passed, and my uncles and cousins who are still with us.

Respect and Honor is the day

God Bless

 

© 2016 Joyner Outdoor Media