American Idiot: The Full Story, chapter 1
Don't want to be an American idiot. Don't want a nation under the new media.
It was cold, it was wet, and it was peaceful. Jesus was sitting alone in his room, lying down, looking straight up. He had been laying like that for an hour or so by now, and he liked it.
The faint sounds of rain tapping against his wind sill calmed Jesus, taking away the pain of the previous day he had. His gaze fell upon his television, which had been on, but low, making a buzzing sound in his dark room.
He sat himself up, and looked over to his red-painted bed stand. The color was fading, and the paint had been chipped and carved into, saying things like "Anarchy" and "Fuck America". Instead of admiring his artwork, Jesus took the remote that was on the bed-side table and turned the T.V. up a bit, just enough to hear, but not enough to wake his mother up.
But hell; his mother had passed out hours ago from drinking her sorrows away, and he could care less if she were to wake up. She would have to deal with her head feeling like it's about to explode first, rather than argue about how loud his T.V. was.
He changed the channel, looking for something good to watch, but nothing worth rotting his mind was on at the moment. Jesus went to his last resort and put the news on. There, he saw a clip of two buildings, one a tad taller than the other. Suddenly, he saw a plane crash into one of them, immediately the tower bursting into flames. He couldn't bare it. He knew what it was.
9/11/01
He saw the president pop up on the luminous screen, giving a speech.
Good evening.
Today, our fellow citizens, our way of life, our very freedom came under attack in a series of deliberate and deadly terrorist acts. The victims were in airplanes or in their offices: secretaries, business men and women, military and federal workers, moms and dads, friends and neighbors. Thousands of lives were suddenly ended by evil, despicable acts of terror. The pictures of airplanes flying into buildings, fires burning, huge structures collapsing have filled us with disbelief, terrible sadness, and a quiet, unyielding anger. These acts of mass murder were intended to frighten our nation into chaos and retreat. But they have failed. Our country is strong.
A great people has been moved to defend a great nation. Terrorist attacks can shake the foundations of our biggest buildings, but they cannot touch the foundation of America. These acts shatter steel, but they cannot dent the steel of American resolve. America was targeted for attack because we're the brightest beacon for freedom and opportunity in the world. And no one will keep that light from shining. Today, our nation saw evil -- the very worst of human nature -- and we responded with the best of America. With the daring of our rescue workers, with the caring for strangers and neighbors who came to give blood and help in any way they could.
Immediately following the first attack, I implemented our government's emergency response plans. Our military is powerful, and it's prepared. Our emergency teams are working in New York City and Washington D.C. to help with local rescue efforts. Our first priority is to get help to those who have been injured, and to take every precaution to protect our citizens at home and around the world from further attacks. The functions of our government continue without interruption. Federal agencies in Washington which had to be evacuated today are reopening for essential personnel tonight and will be open for business tomorrow. Our financial institutions remain strong, and the American economy will be open for business as well.
The search is underway for those who were behind these evil acts. I have directed the full resources of our intelligence and law enforcement communities to find those responsible and to bring them to justice. We will make no distinction between the terrorists who committed these acts and those who harbor them.
I appreciate so very much the members of Congress who have joined me in strongly condemning these attacks. And on behalf of the American people, I thank the many world leaders who have called to offer their condolences and assistance. America and our friends and allies join with all those who want peace and security in the world, and we stand together to win the war against terrorism.
Tonight, I ask for your prayers for all those who grieve, for the children whose worlds have been shattered, for all whose sense of safety and security has been threatened. And I pray they will be comforted by a Power greater than any of us, spoken through the ages in Psalm 23:
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil for you are with me.
This is a day when all Americans from every walk of life unite in our resolve for justice and peace. America has stood down enemies before, and we will do so this time. None of us will ever forget this day, yet we go forward to defend freedom and all that is good and just in our world.
Thank you. Good night. And God bless America.
Jesus turned off the T.V. and cried. He cried his eyes out. He didn't even know anyone there who got attacked, but he was still deeply saddened. He lay back down, turning off the light next to his bed. Shutting his eyes, trying to forget what he had just seen, letting his thoughts drift to an unknown world. Alas, his sleep was interrupted during the night by his mother.
"What the FUCK are you doing here, Jesus?" said his angry mother.
"Trying to sleep," replied Jesus, groggily.
"Well get your ass out of bed and go down to the 7-11 and get me some more vodka, will ya?"
"Ma, you do it. I'm trying to sleep, lee-me-alone, huh?"
"You have some serious problems, boy. I try to raise you right, and this is what you give me. You're a gothic freak. Dress like a normal human being, get yourself a job, straiten up, and for God's sake, get me some DAMN VODKA!!!!" screamed Jesus' mother.
"NO!!!" screamed back Jesus.
His mother pulled back her hand and punched him square in the jaw. She continued doing so as she kept telling him how useless he was. Soon enough, Jesus could no longer hear the voice of his mother screaming at him, and he fell unconscious.
It was cold, it was wet, and it was peaceful. Jesus was sitting alone in his room, lying down, looking straight up. He had been laying like that for an hour or so by now, and he liked it.
The faint sounds of rain tapping against his wind sill calmed Jesus, taking away the pain of the previous day he had. His gaze fell upon his television, which had been on, but low, making a buzzing sound in his dark room.
He sat himself up, and looked over to his red-painted bed stand. The color was fading, and the paint had been chipped and carved into, saying things like "Anarchy" and "Fuck America". Instead of admiring his artwork, Jesus took the remote that was on the bed-side table and turned the T.V. up a bit, just enough to hear, but not enough to wake his mother up.
But hell; his mother had passed out hours ago from drinking her sorrows away, and he could care less if she were to wake up. She would have to deal with her head feeling like it's about to explode first, rather than argue about how loud his T.V. was.
He changed the channel, looking for something good to watch, but nothing worth rotting his mind was on at the moment. Jesus went to his last resort and put the news on. There, he saw a clip of two buildings, one a tad taller than the other. Suddenly, he saw a plane crash into one of them, immediately the tower bursting into flames. He couldn't bare it. He knew what it was.
9/11/01
He saw the president pop up on the luminous screen, giving a speech.
Good evening.
Today, our fellow citizens, our way of life, our very freedom came under attack in a series of deliberate and deadly terrorist acts. The victims were in airplanes or in their offices: secretaries, business men and women, military and federal workers, moms and dads, friends and neighbors. Thousands of lives were suddenly ended by evil, despicable acts of terror. The pictures of airplanes flying into buildings, fires burning, huge structures collapsing have filled us with disbelief, terrible sadness, and a quiet, unyielding anger. These acts of mass murder were intended to frighten our nation into chaos and retreat. But they have failed. Our country is strong.
A great people has been moved to defend a great nation. Terrorist attacks can shake the foundations of our biggest buildings, but they cannot touch the foundation of America. These acts shatter steel, but they cannot dent the steel of American resolve. America was targeted for attack because we're the brightest beacon for freedom and opportunity in the world. And no one will keep that light from shining. Today, our nation saw evil -- the very worst of human nature -- and we responded with the best of America. With the daring of our rescue workers, with the caring for strangers and neighbors who came to give blood and help in any way they could.
Immediately following the first attack, I implemented our government's emergency response plans. Our military is powerful, and it's prepared. Our emergency teams are working in New York City and Washington D.C. to help with local rescue efforts. Our first priority is to get help to those who have been injured, and to take every precaution to protect our citizens at home and around the world from further attacks. The functions of our government continue without interruption. Federal agencies in Washington which had to be evacuated today are reopening for essential personnel tonight and will be open for business tomorrow. Our financial institutions remain strong, and the American economy will be open for business as well.
The search is underway for those who were behind these evil acts. I have directed the full resources of our intelligence and law enforcement communities to find those responsible and to bring them to justice. We will make no distinction between the terrorists who committed these acts and those who harbor them.
I appreciate so very much the members of Congress who have joined me in strongly condemning these attacks. And on behalf of the American people, I thank the many world leaders who have called to offer their condolences and assistance. America and our friends and allies join with all those who want peace and security in the world, and we stand together to win the war against terrorism.
Tonight, I ask for your prayers for all those who grieve, for the children whose worlds have been shattered, for all whose sense of safety and security has been threatened. And I pray they will be comforted by a Power greater than any of us, spoken through the ages in Psalm 23:
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil for you are with me.
This is a day when all Americans from every walk of life unite in our resolve for justice and peace. America has stood down enemies before, and we will do so this time. None of us will ever forget this day, yet we go forward to defend freedom and all that is good and just in our world.
Thank you. Good night. And God bless America.
Jesus turned off the T.V. and cried. He cried his eyes out. He didn't even know anyone there who got attacked, but he was still deeply saddened. He lay back down, turning off the light next to his bed. Shutting his eyes, trying to forget what he had just seen, letting his thoughts drift to an unknown world. Alas, his sleep was interrupted during the night by his mother.
"What the FUCK are you doing here, Jesus?" said his angry mother.
"Trying to sleep," replied Jesus, groggily.
"Well get your ass out of bed and go down to the 7-11 and get me some more vodka, will ya?"
"Ma, you do it. I'm trying to sleep, lee-me-alone, huh?"
"You have some serious problems, boy. I try to raise you right, and this is what you give me. You're a gothic freak. Dress like a normal human being, get yourself a job, straiten up, and for God's sake, get me some DAMN VODKA!!!!" screamed Jesus' mother.
"NO!!!" screamed back Jesus.
His mother pulled back her hand and punched him square in the jaw. She continued doing so as she kept telling him how useless he was. Soon enough, Jesus could no longer hear the voice of his mother screaming at him, and he fell unconscious.
