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It is no easy task to write anything on the anniversary
of the September 11 attacks that has not already been said. From
columns to comic strips, anyone with an inch of print space has had
their say and I suspect most will say it again before the month is
out. Still it is a time to honor, reflect, and consider the
significance of the last year.
September 11, 2001 is the quintessential “I remember
where I was” moment. I had just arrived at work, and, as is my
habit, had listened to radio news during the drive. I don’t
remember any of it now; I’m sure some was important.
A colleague stopped me in the hall as I hunted my first
cup of coffee, his face pale, claiming a plane had struck the World
Trade Center. Having left my car radio just moments before I was
sure he was mistaken. When his small portable television confirmed
the report we were certain it had been a horrible accident.
Then the second plane hit. I returned to my office,
stunned, unsure of what it was I had just seen.
In many ways Americans are still not sure. Oh we know
the details, the who, what, and why of it, but the full impact of
the events of that day is still unfolding.
In the weeks that followed, the country united in a
manner not seen since World War II. Beneath the anger and shock
lurked a deep sense of purpose, a nearly unanimous determination to
bring the perpetrators to justice and ensure such an event could
never happen again. We had our differences, but we were Americans
first. Some observed that perhaps that would be the silver lining,
the rebirth of the national resolve and accord that has long
characterized the nation in times of peril.
It faded, of course, most likely because there have been
no successful follow-up attacks to drive home the point. Political
bickering has resumed its usual volume, complaints about airport
lines are at a crescendo, and some now question the “true cause” of
the attacks.
The State Department will
sponsor a conference of international scholars shortly before
the anniversary to determine why the United States is disliked in
parts of the world, a bow to the “we deserved it” crowd that would
have been unthinkable a year ago. At least two large news
organizations,
the Washington Post and Reuters, recently quoted Salman
Rushdie’s scoldings on what America should do to avoid the wrath of
radical elements of Islam in the future.
This is a lot like asking Elizabeth Taylor for marital
advice. Depending on
whom you believe, Rushdie is still under a fatwa, or Islamic
death sentence, imposed by none less than Ayatollah Khomeini.
Much was made of the religious rebirth that followed the
attacks, the increased civility Americans seemed to show each other,
and the reordering of priorities as many sought meaning in the
attacks and life itself. These are natural reactions to grave
danger, and with that seemingly diminished, so too has the noble
response.
In short we’re almost back to normal, which is both good
and bad. It shows our resilience, but also the missed opportunity
to effect greater change. I don’t mean in the world political
arena; I mean on an individual level, the personal challenge of
seeking and finding significance beyond our daily routines.
By definition there is nothing more important than the
meaning of life, and though not all of us can influence foreign
policy we do set the direction for our own lives. The best way to
observe September 11 might be to examine again our reason for being,
then resolve to act on it. |
