On Friday, I participated in a parade of about 100 bikers to escort a piece of the World Trade Center that was purchased to honor the fallen fire-fighters of 9/11. It was a very emotional experience for me and others who participated.
A number of us walked up to the truck and placed our hands on the rusted steel from the north tower. I was immediately driven to tears. For me, it represented the day that this nation died.
I was reminded of how quickly we came together as a populace. There were no racial, political, or religious boundaries dividing us that day. Now, so much has changed. We are a nation divided. We despise one another. People have to walk through crowds escorted by police for expressing an opinion. We are a nation of fanatics, radicals, and lunatics, and yes boys and girls, we are unhinged. Touching the steel made me realize how unsafe I feel here now. How uneasy I feel in public places.
For a brief time on September 11, last Friday, I felt a bit of peace when riding with a large group of folks all remembering the same tragic day. A day when we stood together as a nation. A day when we looked upon each other as brothers and sisters, and not "socialists", not "liberals", just people...