The city that never sleeps.
The defensive headquarters of a nation.
An empty field in rural America.
Eight years ago, the world held its breath as nearly 3,000 souls were stolen in the name of hate.
September 11, 2001: The largest attack by a foreign entity on American soil. The New York fire department lost 343 members of its force, while the police departments of New York and the Port Authority lost 23 and 37, respectively—the largest loss of emergency responders in a single event in U.S. history.
And for a time, the nation united as never before, inspired by stories of heroism and hope. Strangers helped each other. Volunteers mobilized. Support came from the far reaches of the globe and from right next door. We donated supplies, we called our families, and we hugged a little tighter that Christmas. And we swore we’d never forget.
The bumper stickers have faded now.
Hate still fills our airwaves, not in newsfeeds from foreign channels, but from within our own borders. And it has turned viral, feeding upon fear, spread by those who would capitalize from a polarized nation. We have abandoned our manners, forgotten the very meaning of the word "respect." We bicker over healthcare. We spin controversy from a simple message meant to inspire our kids to stay in school.
The rhetoric is everywhere. And it is just as hostile—it is filled with just as much hate—as the 19 terrorists who carried out their attacks eight years ago.
How quickly we forget. How easy it is to become complacent, to feel safe in the absence of danger.
Anniversaries are important, if for no other reason than they help ensure we do not forget. And on this anniversary in particular, there is so much more we can do.
We can refuse to be swayed by hate. We can vow to question every single word we read, to consider its source and examine its agenda. We can learn to recognize terrorism in all its guises—from Al-Qaeda hijackers to hecklers of handicapped women at town hall meetings.
We can stop the spread of ignorance—truly, we can.
I have faith in us. Do you?
Posts
Well said. I hope that the words of people like you will come together into a voice of reason that will drown out the calls promoting hatred and discontent in your country.
ReplyDeleteExcellent. I haven't even left a review for your chapter, but as I read it I was feeling all the horror and pain of eight years ago, and the aftermath.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you on every count.
This is the first 911 tribute I've read today, so I'm typing through tears. I'll probably be doing that a lot today. I hope this one gets read and re-read over and over today. What have we as a nation become when one of our legislators stands up on the floor of the House and calls the President of the United States a liar? We all need to take this editorial to heart and rethink the lessons of 911. If we don't stamp out hatred and make the conscious decision to stop living in fear, then the terrorists will have won. I won't have it.
ReplyDeleteWell said. Very well said.
ReplyDeleteMay we remember that we were once one country, before we tore ourselves apart, and may the dead have their peace regardless, because humanity is stupid that way and would take too darn long.
Two sections of your chapter definitely struck a chord with me as I read due to the timing of the post. I agree with your entry above.
ReplyDeleteYou said it all. If we continue with the hate and all of the disrespect of our brothers and sisters than we have let Bin Ladden and all of the other terrorist win. We need to fight and stand together. Like the saying "United We Stand, Divided We Fall." We must show our children that skin color, nationality and religous beliefs do not matter and that we are all created equally.
ReplyDeleteSevibaby
Well said. I hope that soon, we as a people will tell the Joe Wilsons of this country to put a stop to all this hate and fear mongering. Bring back respect for our fellow man.
ReplyDeleteBeth
"What have we as a nation become when one of our legislators stands up on the floor of the house and calls the President of the United State a liar?"
ReplyDeletePersonally, I think it was a stupid, insensitive, disrespectful thing for him to do -- but at least he has the Freedom of Speech to say what he wants!
Beautifully said, and so terribly true. It is too easy to turn our friends and neighbors into 'them' - the terrorists, the ones trying to destroy us - without even realizing it. Hate is hate. That which can be used as a weapon against our enemies can all too quickly be turned on ourselves.
ReplyDeleteMay 9/11 never be forgotten!
ReplyDeleteBut remember that "hate" goes both ways.
What I pray for is a country where everyone is free to express all views, and that those views which are not currently "popular" will not out-of-hand be rejected as "hate speech".
After all, we need to consider whether the statements someone is making are TRUE, not whether they are popular.
Speaking the truth, no matter how unpopular, is not hate.
I personally believe that only by seeking and speaking the truth, and by standing firm to the axiom: "I do not agree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it"--can freedom be maintained in this or any other country.
For the souls lost on 9/11: Requiescant In Pacem
Thank you for talking about this. No one seems to want to talk about it anymore, much less do anything. I know it's been almost nine years since the attack, and I know I was just a child when it happend, but when so many people give up their lives to a cause it changes something. It changes something in everything and those changes should always remain. God bless you for writting this. God bless George Bush for doing something when no one else would...and God bless those who fight against our nation. "Father forgive them for they no not what they do."
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