This is the weekend, America is taking a moment to think about the events of Tuesday, September 11, 2001.
Here are my thoughts:
1. America lost its innocence. Until the fateful events of 10 years ago, most Americans lived in a world in which they believed terrorism was something that would never happen on their soil. Of course, most of the world had already lost its innocence many years earlier. Personally, as a member of a universal body called the Christian church I had lost my innocence long before September 11, 2001 because I was keenly aware of the suffering of many of my fellow believers around the world. Since I was also aware that suffering was a universal condition, I didn't believe that whatever special quality some Americans claimed for themselves and for their nation was going to protect them or her from experiencing suffering some day. It was only a question of when and how.
2. Americans had their assumptive world shattered. Many Americans lived under the belief that terrorism and tragedy happened "over there." Americans were not prepared to think about terrorism on their shores. The invincibility that many people believed was theirs by birthright was shattered. Parents struggled to have to explain their children that they couldn't guarantee that bad things couldn't happen to them. Of course, if Americans held a more realistic view of the world as a place of good mixed with evil maybe they would have been well practiced in having this conversation with their children.
3. Americans began struggling to understand the balance between protection and freedom. Do we allow cameras on every street corner? Do we increase surveillance at our airports and borders? Is it okay for libraries to be access points of scrutiny by local police forces? Many western democracies who share our love for democratic principles are puzzled by this struggle. They have figured out that how this balance can be struck. This debate continues to unfold in our public dialogue.
4. Americans awoke to the reality of "the different" among us. Who are the Muslims? What do they believe? Should we be afraid of them? The murder of the member of Sikh community in Mesa, AZ because he wore a turban a few weeks after September 11 revealed the confusion, distrust and fear. Muslims had lived on our shores for over 150 years and no one had really noticed. The clash of the cultures which was being played out in Europe, Middle East and Far East was now on our shores. The conversation continues about how to live as a nation of diverse faiths and beliefs.
Those are my thoughts for this September 11, 2011.
Here are my thoughts:
1. America lost its innocence. Until the fateful events of 10 years ago, most Americans lived in a world in which they believed terrorism was something that would never happen on their soil. Of course, most of the world had already lost its innocence many years earlier. Personally, as a member of a universal body called the Christian church I had lost my innocence long before September 11, 2001 because I was keenly aware of the suffering of many of my fellow believers around the world. Since I was also aware that suffering was a universal condition, I didn't believe that whatever special quality some Americans claimed for themselves and for their nation was going to protect them or her from experiencing suffering some day. It was only a question of when and how.
2. Americans had their assumptive world shattered. Many Americans lived under the belief that terrorism and tragedy happened "over there." Americans were not prepared to think about terrorism on their shores. The invincibility that many people believed was theirs by birthright was shattered. Parents struggled to have to explain their children that they couldn't guarantee that bad things couldn't happen to them. Of course, if Americans held a more realistic view of the world as a place of good mixed with evil maybe they would have been well practiced in having this conversation with their children.
3. Americans began struggling to understand the balance between protection and freedom. Do we allow cameras on every street corner? Do we increase surveillance at our airports and borders? Is it okay for libraries to be access points of scrutiny by local police forces? Many western democracies who share our love for democratic principles are puzzled by this struggle. They have figured out that how this balance can be struck. This debate continues to unfold in our public dialogue.
4. Americans awoke to the reality of "the different" among us. Who are the Muslims? What do they believe? Should we be afraid of them? The murder of the member of Sikh community in Mesa, AZ because he wore a turban a few weeks after September 11 revealed the confusion, distrust and fear. Muslims had lived on our shores for over 150 years and no one had really noticed. The clash of the cultures which was being played out in Europe, Middle East and Far East was now on our shores. The conversation continues about how to live as a nation of diverse faiths and beliefs.
Those are my thoughts for this September 11, 2011.
I would argue that there were many of us, even some "non-believers," who weren't so naive as to think that terrorism couldn't happen in America.
ReplyDeleteIn 1970, when I was 11, four young radicals blew up a building on the UW campus as a "war protest," killing one. Small potatoes, pehaps.
But of course Timothy McVeigh and that other goon went big. So my point, I guess, is that anyone still a "cherry" on 9/11 had been fooling himself. Children exempted, of course.
Otherwise I agree. 9/11 absolutely was a "game-changer." And I fear that we learned the wrong lessons.
Nota, I would like to read your "Lessons we should have learned" from 9-11
ReplyDeleteWell I guess I know what to call my next blog post. ; )
ReplyDeleteMy project for Sunday night.
The lessons of 9/11 were simple - get our kids out of their kid's sandbox and leave them damned people alone.
ReplyDeleteSarge
Good morning, Sarge. Indeed!
ReplyDelete