Skip to main content

Ten years later

We, as a country, were at our best in the months following 9-11. And never was it more evident than in the dichotomy that was shown this past weekend as we acknowledged the tenth anniversary of that horrendous day that is forever etched in our collective memories. (How's that for a slew of cliches?).

On the actual anniversary there were a plethora of television programs and newspaper articles - bringing to life the horror and tension that was September 11, 2001. At church, our Pastor, like many others across the country, tried to put the day into perspective. It was a solemn, though rich, day.

On Monday, there was a direct contrast - a GOP presidential debate. Politics and the creation and celebration of differences.

And it brought back memories of those days and months after 9-11 - when as a country we rallied together. We seemed to understand that there was a lot more at stake than political differences. While there were divergent opinions there seemed to be an acceptance or a willingness to listen. It was a glorious time that lasted until the time when the politician's and pundits began commenting on whether someone was or was not wearing an American flag lapel pin.

We've lost our ability to respect one another's opinions. We've lost our ability to accept compromise. We've lost our ability to be an effective democracy.

Our representatives no longer represent us but instead the party line. We no longer vote for candidates based on their opinions on various issues because their opinions are those of the party and perhaps not their own. We vote for parties - because we have no options. How does that relate to 9-11? It shouldn't . . . but we have made that day and all of it's fall-out and resulting wars a political or party issue. And that day had nothing to do with our politics but everything to do with extremists' perceptions of us.

I don't want to return to the shock and horror of those post 9-11 days, I would like to return to the respect we were able to show one another.

Comments

  1. fairytaleincorporatedSeptember 14, 2011 at 7:42 AM

    It would seem like the tragic event was a part of a great plan. To bring the humans of this world together with mutual respect, love and most importantly compassion for our fragile existence.

    But then it's as if the switch is flipped and we just go back to "forgetting".

    Maybe the phrase should be "Always Re-Member" instead of "Never Forget".

    ReplyDelete
  2. Kathleen Bowen PigginsSeptember 14, 2011 at 12:34 PM

    Good thoughts, Lesa!

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

It's not a popularity contest, but ...

Parenting

I just read a post on Facebook regarding the dearth of parenting. The poster was describing a scene where two young girls were pelting rocks at some ducks in our little town and how he observed no parents around telling these girls that it was wrong to torture little innocent animals. Within hours, there were 15 responses - all alluding to a lack of parenting that is evident nearly everywhere today. Stick with me here - because that conversation reminded me of one I'd had recently that might not seem related to parenting at all. It was with my oldest son about his concern about the selfishness of our culture - most recently evident in the Wall Street meltdown. He believes that we are too focused on "Me" and not enough on "We" and if we had a little more focus on the total and just not our part, we would be in a much better place. Still there? Okay, here's the cement that will hold this together - those girls pelting little ducks with rocks weren't likely...
Post a Comment
Read more

Tough time to be a Pollyanna

Remember when 9/11 was just a date or a number you called in an emergency? Our lives changed dramatically post 9/11. For weeks after that September day, we seemed to walk around in a fog, like the haze that loomed over the now-fallen twin towers. I remember trying to minimize my obsession with the news, trying to keep the three little Piggins away from the enormity of the disaster. Remember when corona was simply a beer best served with a lime wedge? It now and forever will be instead associated with this virus that has upended our world in ways we could never have imagined. This tiny little, microscopic virus has brought the mighty to their knees. It has us quarantined and distancing socially (though I believe we've been doing this emotionally for years) and working from home. As anxiety peaks, our economy tanks. As toilet paper and hand sanitizer flies off the shelves, we are looking for new ways to stock our pantries. A good friend observed, "I never thought I'd...
Post a Comment
Read more

When a small town is huge

  In the movie "it's a Wonderful Life", the protagonist George Bailey has longed nearly his whole life to 'shake off the dust of this crummy little town off my feet," to see the world. But Bedford Falls, that crummy little town, felt differently about George. And with the help of a quirky guardian angel, George eventually sees that his life and his town were pretty wonderful. Good lord, but I love that movie and it's characters and it's moral and that small town. I watch it every year at least twice and still cry every time. And I wonder too about the man that pushes the devious Mr. Potter's wheelchair and stands by his side- you know the man, he looks a little like Lurch from "The Addams Family". I wonder, what was he thinking as he listened and watched his boss ruin the lives of everyone he could. What kind of an Non-disclosure agreement did he sign, to keep him silent as he stood by and watched Potter pocket the money Uncle Billy was depo...
Post a Comment
Read more