It wasn’t about religion. It wasn’t about oil. It was about me.
People say I’m self-centered but I’m really pretty sure about this.
In April 2001, I visited New York with some family members. We got to the World Trade Center and I was at the base of it, craning my neck up to look all the way up. It was tremendously impressive. I wanted to go to the top to see the view. I wanted to see if if I could start to ever so slightly see the curvature of the earth from up there. But I got vetoed; “Next time”, my father told me.
Well, it wasn’t to be, was it? And whose fault was that?!
That’s the really upsetting part of 9/11.
I’ll never know what the view is like from the top of the WTC now. Sure, I could go to the top of the Freedom Finger but it’s not really the same, is it? Because of that motherfucker Bin Laden. Why did he have to be a jerk like that? What did I do to him? I just wanted to see the view, that’s all. Is there something wrong with that? Couldn’t he have at least waited? Why do through all that just to spite me?
Pettiness like that calls for revenge.
But I didn’t get to do that either! Some Navy SEAL bro got to do it. I would have gladly done it. All they had to do was call me and give me an opportunity to right that wrong myself.
I could have done it so much better too. I would have kicked the door down and said: “Mr. Bin Laden, before I double tap you in the head, I want us all in this room to take a moment to reflect on how much of an ASSHOLE you were for denying me the opportunity to see the view from the top of the World Trade Center.”
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“Alright. 72 virgins, comin’ up” BANG! BANG!
See? I think it would’ve been pretty cool.
But no, I didn’t get to see the view from the top of the World Trade Center. And I didn’t get to double tap Bin Laden in the head after saying a quip that shows off how clever I am. Instead, I’m just a guy having these thoughts on my morning walk.