The events of September 11,
2001, profoundly changed our generations in ways that we are just now
discovering. Shortly after the second jet plane crashed into the second tower
of the World Trade Center, our nation ground to a halt, abandoning business as
usual.
We fixated on the surreal images
of burning and collapsing buildings; We watched the planes slice into
the towers, over and over, we watched; We turned our heads to avoid
seeing television images of human beings freefalling from the upper stories of
the Yamazaki designed skyscraper; We zeroed in on the anguished
faces of first responders, rescue workers and survivors; We watched as relatives and
friends of the victims aimlessly walked the streets of Manhattan, holding
photographs of their loved ones, desperately hoping for the miracle; We hugged our children, we
prayed, we cried, we sought information; And we talked. Ten years later the images of 9/11 remain etched in
our consciousness. We now live in a world where words such as “terror alert,”
“extremist,” and “Al Qaida” have become part of our lexicon.
As we pause to remember the people of 9/11 we inherently focus on the past. But from that past we see a context for the present and the future. 9/11 was a manifestation of hate. We must commit to end the hate.
My advice for what to do on 9/11? Hug your loved ones. Commit to a world full of love and free of hate.
No comments:
Post a Comment