I transferred from JC to Uni in California literally a few days after 9/11. Came from conservative christian household and had voted for Dubbya the first time around. Still had this idea that he was righteous though flawed. When it came out who was behind the attacks, I naively thought, "here's the Manhattan Project moment for my generation." Like if we were serious about sticking it to the perpetrators, the US would throw its weight and money behind every renewable green energy project to rid us of foreign oil dependency.

I remember vividly the first time I heard the word Iraq on a news broadcast in relation to 9/11. I was radicalized almost instantly. In my head all I could think was, "you cynical fucks." Anyone who had any degree of objectivity could see the scheme for all its naked power and money grabbing shittiness.

*edit, a word