ResQgeek

It is nearly impossible to avoid images from fourteen years ago today, and so I find myself pondering the events of that terrible day and the impact it has had over the intervening years.  The initial response to the attacks was overwhelmingly positive, with people showing tremendous courage and compassion as they worked together, initially to try and save lives, and then to bring comfort and closure to the families of those who could not be rescued.  The incredible unity of spirit that arose, both across the country, and around the world, struck me as a hopeful sign that our common humanity could overcome our differences and unite us all.  In the midst of the tragedy and sorrow, there was a glimmer of hope.

Unfortunately, that spark did not kindle a lasting light of peace.  Instead, we have allowed our anger and fear to conquer our compassion and hope.  We have used the attacks to justify incredible infringements on our liberties, and our misguided efforts to protect our security have made the world a more dangerous place.  We have squandered the good will of people around the world by our incredible arrogance and our selfish efforts to reshape the world to serve our interests.  And for what?  There is little to suggest that we are any safer than we were before the attacks, and the world is, if anything, less stable and more dangerous than it was before.  We have sacrificed our liberties and economy in pursuit of security, with very little to show for it.

And at home, the fear and anger generated by those attacks have festered, growing and transforming like a cancer inside our politics, driving us apart.  It has made it impossible to have a meaningful and productive debate, and our politics have degraded into name-calling and blind rhetoric shouted across the chasm that separates us.  Instead of trying to understand the point of view of the other side, we now dismiss them and their views as stupid (at best) or evil (at worse).  And there doesn't seem to be any indication that any of this will be changing anytime soon.

Today, I think about those who died on that sunny day fourteen years ago.  I wish I could say that we have honored their memories by our collective actions.  But, in truth, I don't think we have.  We have wrapped ourselves in their memory, using them to justify our fear and anger.  This is a grave injustice to those whose lives were cut short.  I can't help but think that it would be a far better memorial to them if we were looking to bring peace to the world, reaching out to help people in need, regardless of their nationality, religion, or politics.  We should be honoring them by looking for solutions to make the world a better place to live, both for ourselves, our children, and our grandchildren, a world that is environmentally sustainable, where we all recognize our common humanity and respect each other.  Instead of focusing on the anger and fear, we need to remember that feeling of unity.  That is the fitting memorial for the victims.

Having just observed the first anniversary of the tragic death of our daughter, I suddenly find myself confronted by the impending tenth anniversary of the incredible tragedy of 11 September 2001. My younger daughter was not quite 7 months old on that fateful day, and as I watch the specials about the preparations of the memorial in New York on the Discovery Channel, I find myself with a clearer appreciation for the families of those that died on that day. Our grief, as powerful as it is to us, is dwarfed by the magnitude of sadness of ten years ago.

I remember how powerfully I felt the impact of the images I saw on television that day. I was only three years removed from my own volunteer career in Emergency Services, so that the deaths of the fire fighters and paramedics that day were especially personal to me. It hardly seemed possible to me at the time, and I could easily put myself in the boots of those that ran into those towers that day, hoping to make a difference in the lives of those in harm's way. I spent that afternoon sitting in front of the television, watching the video of the collapsing towers, over and over again.

Now, almost ten years later, I look back, and I still feel a bit of that pain and shock. I still find it hard to believe that those buildings failed so catastrophically. I still feel anger towards those that planned and executed these attacks. But at the same time, I'm embarrassed by many of the things my nation has done in response.

All of this has faded with the passage of time, and last year's personal tragedy has overpowered those lingering emotions from a decade earlier. But our sorrow was the result of a tragic accident. The deaths of 11 September 2001 were the result of a callously premeditated attack. We've managed to find healing by focusing on the positive memories of our daughter and in the tremendous support we've found in our family, friends and community. I can only pray that the families that died that awful day in New York, Pennsylvania and Arlington, VA can find similar memories to comfort and heal them. Certainly they can be sure that their loved ones will never be forgotten.