Thanks for joining me Over Coffee
A writer by passion and profession, I've been writing since I was old enough to know how, so establishing a weblog
seemed a natural progression. By adding a blog to my site, I can speak about my passions and life, share my writing, art
and photos, and comment on current events.
Friday, September 13, 2002
They Said, "Enough." I wrote the following in response to an email message from a mailing list to which I belong. The long message spoke of the separatism that patriotism may bring, and suggested that September 11th be: "International Enough Day."
A small group of people said "Enough" last September 11th. They chose not to sit and stay silent, compliant and peaceful. They had no grandiose political agenda, no seething hatred or prejudice or thirst for revenge pushing them to act. Fear and self-sacrifice for the greater good gave them courage. They had to act in the moment, and who knows how many lives were saved when these people decided to say "enough," and take action:
Jason Dahl * Leroy Homer * Lorraine G. Bay * Sandra W. Bradshaw * Wanda A. Green * CeeCee Lyles * Deborah A. Welsh * Christian Adams * Todd Beamer * Alan Beaven * Mark Bingham * Deora Bodley * Marion Britton * Thomas E. Burnett Jr. * William Cashman * Georgine Corrigan * Joseph Deluca * Patrick Driscoll * Edward Felt * Colleen Fraser * Andrew Garcia * Jeremy Glick * Lauren Grandcolas * Donald F. Greene * Linda Gronlund * Richard Guadagno * Toshiya Kuge * Waleska Martinez * Nicole Miller * Mark Rothenberg * Christine Snyder * John Talignani * Honor Wainio
Of course, logistically, we now know that at least Jason and Leroy were probably dead by the time the others said "Enough." Perhaps Lorraine, Sandra, Wanda, CeeCee and Deborah as well...they were the crew, the first line of defense who might have entered the cockpit when an unknown voice using the captain's microphone said: "Keep your seats and be quiet, there is a bomb aboard, we are returning to the airport."
I, personally, have little doubt that Flight 93 was headed towards the place I now call home and my country calls it's capital. I try to imagine what would've happened if it had hit one of the landmark buildings or structures in the District, but the destruction and massive loss of life that would have occurred is incomprehensible to me.
In his message, he wrote: "We should each find our own way of expressing this. A moment of silence... or perhaps a day of silence. Meditation, art, whatever it is that you do... do it. "
And we can do that because in the United States we are free. Free to express ourselves. No matter how much we all wish for a utopian society where everyone can simply agree to disagree, that is not reality. That freedom you, me, we enjoy comes with a price and a responsibility. I also know that with the freedom we value in the U.S., we have the freedom and in a strange way, given our right to pursue happiness, we possess the right to mourn, grieve, memorialize, commemorate, celebrate or to not do any/all of those things in whatever way we choose. If I wave a flag, ring a bell or shed a tear, it is my freedom that let's me do so. It's not "agendas," it is the words of our forefathers: "We hold these truths to be self-evident..." that make me feel so proud. It is those words that brought my great-grandparents to this country at the turn of the last century.
I do agree with you that this is a human tragedy. These events made me not only closer to other Americans, but to people (to humanity) in general. In the last year, I have seen strangers reaching out to save and comfort strangers, as if old friends. And I have felt equally moved to do the same. I've seen countries across the globe weep with us, bear our flag and perform our national anthem in a show of support, solidarity and respect for loss of human (not just American) life and sharing the sense of violation that not only Americans, but all kind citizens of the world felt that day. I have seen Catholic priests, jewish rabbis, and buddhist monks stand side-by-side to help the healing of hearts--not just of a nation, but of the whole human species.
If we are so eager to make peace, to show tolerance and understanding, shouldn't we start within our own "invisible borders"? How about starting with a little for our politicans who, whether we agree with their policies and agendas or not, are walking the same road of recovery and healing that we are all on while also being forced to walk a finer line. They must try to help both those who need to grieve and commemorate AND those who need to block out thoughts of the day in order to move on and beyond the events of last September 11th. These public figures are coping with their own feelings of loss, grief and anger, like the rest of us, while trying to figure out what to do, say and show the world. Sure, some people will always be opportunistic in times of great turmoil (be they politicians or businessmen), but after all, it is a free country, right?
So, I can't jump on your wagon. I admit it. I am grieving. I am mourning. I tear up when I hear my country's national anthem. My heart quickens a little when I see a plane on a low approach to National Airport. I pay much more attention to the MPs in hummvees now positioned outside the Pentagon, which I pass each day. I have become accutely aware that I value and am thankful for the "invisible borders" of a country called the United States...because within them is held my freedom. A precious gift that some of my human beings may never experience.
I know that September 11, 2001, has changed me, forever.
"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy. The true neighbor will risk his position, his prestige and even his life for the welfare of others." -- Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., "On Being a Good Neighbor" in Strength to Love, 1963
"What lies behind us and what lies before us are small matters compared to what lies within us." -- Ralph Waldo Emerson
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