Today is 911. I have no pretty pictures to post, no flowers or waterfalls. No little adventures in quaint locales to chat about. Today is 911 and I still remember. I will always remember.
I can't imagine that I have anything to add that other far more eloquent and skilled writers have said already. I just wanted to say that I remember and that I will always remember. I will never forget the men and women who lost their lives that day in such a horrible and insensible way. I will never forget the shock wave of loss that tore the lives of their families apart forever. It may be eight years later and some may think that it is "time to move on", time to turn this date into some kind of national picnicking holiday. I do not. I do not think that one day in September is too much to ask of me.
This day is not a day for politics or personal agendas. It is not about the Right or Left, Presidents or wars. It is about the men and women we watched jump out of buildings to escape an unimaginable horror. They jumped in pairs and in groups holding hands. No one was holding a political placard. They joined in courageous defiance to fight their attackers on a plane giving their own lives to save others. They were Americans doing what Americans do. They were individuals enjoying the freedom to live their lives as they saw fit. They held wildly varying views on endless topics but at the core of each person was a testament to Life Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness. They were Americans in action and in deed.
I will weep this day. I will feel the tears well up from the deepest parts of my heart and soul, and I will not begrudge this pain. My tears will not have political sides or opinions on the war. They will not be for my lost illusions of national peace. No, my tears will be for all the men and women who have given their lives because they believed in Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.
One day is not too much to ask of me on another beautiful September day. I will always remember you.
8 hours ago
That was a beautiful tribute.
ReplyDeleteFlowerLady
I do agree it was a beautiful tribute. Thanks for sharing it.
ReplyDeleteFlowerLady
ReplyDeleteTara,
Thank you both very much.
Hi LeSan,
ReplyDeleteIn Canada people had a minute of silence. I thought about the day all day -- about the eerie sound of no planes in the sky over a bustling metropolitan city, and the kindness of families who took stranded travellers in without a thought.
When I said it was time to move on, I didn't mean it was time not to remember. I meant that it's time to drop the fear of the stranger, the belief that anyone at any time could wreak that havoc again. When I look at your blog, I know that it takes courage and forceful will to be so happy and positive. We have to love and trust one another in order to prevent social chaos. That's one of the things I love about the blog world -- the kindness that is everywhere. I live in one of the most racially diverse cities in the world, and also one of the least violent. When I say it's time to move on, I am not suggesting we stop remembering or honouring the victims of a senseless crime. I mean as a planet, as citizens of the planet, we have to work on understanding the entire planet.
I love your blog and agree completely with your thoughts.
Take care,
Barbara
Barbara I so appreciate that you took the time to write such a considerate and well thought out comment. I also deeply appreciate the genuine compassion your country and the rest of the world has shown us in our time of trouble. Trauma is always a long and difficult process to recover from and our country is going through some tough times as we work it out.
ReplyDeleteThere is so much strife and division for us right now as we battle out opposing political and world views that the real tragedy and loss of 9/11 is getting swallowed up in politics and rancor. I think that just like you, I wanted to stay above that fray and focus on the individuals whose lives were personally impacted. It saddens me to see this tragic day in the lives of so many turned into a polictical football. I figure we can afford to take a day off then go back to squabbling on September 12th without losing too much.
Very moving and beautifully written. Images of such tragic proportions... the reality of such loss and sensing how those leaping... trapped and dying must have felt... that can never be erased... for the families or anyone with a grain of compassion... who witnessed their courage. Their dignity still touches me and softens my eyes now as I read your words and try to respond. There are many the world over, who have shown such courage, when brought to their life's too early end by insanity and greed. I am finding this post on the first day of October and your words touch me deeply and I remember again... and I am so thankful for the peace and joy in my life. Thank you! Carol
ReplyDeleteCarol that was a beautiful comment. Thank you so much for taking the time to write it. I too treasure every moment of peace and joy. It is far to fragile and fleeting to be taken for granted.
ReplyDelete