As I was scrolling through the news feed this morning I saw many posts about September 11. I read each one, I read the accounts of many friends who knew exactly where they were when the attack on our country happened. I don't think any of us could forget that aspect. It is burned in our minds and hearts and even this many years later we view the photos or see the news feed, and that sick, scary feeling consumes us once again.
I do however think that we Americans have forgotten a few things along the journey to rebuild, remember ,and move forward as a country.
Before writing this, I looked at the photos again, I saw the terror in the eyes of our people, the fearless gleam of determination in the eyes of our police officers, firefighters and medical personnel and the sheer panic that surged through every single human being who ran through the chaotic streets, those who jumped from a building to escape, the people hurt screaming out for help, the look of hopelessness among every single soul that saw the image of a burned and wounded child being carried to an unknown location, people clawing for survival. It seemed surreal,and we almost watched hoping that the credits would run at the end and this sickening nightmare would be something of a farce, but instead, among the ashes, the smoke, the bodies, the wounded, we were facing reality.
Our great nation had been invaded and raped in the most devastating way possible. The home of the free didn't feel like home anymore, it felt as if we were all holding our breath, too scared to exhale because we didn't know what the next moment would bring. This country has never known such invasion until 9-11. We felt broken, unsure what to do, how to live, and if we ever could.
People around the nation began to reach out to one another. Everyday people who normally didn't speak or show kindness began showing compassion for their fellow Americans. We had a common bond, we were united, attacked, but still united.
As I scrolled down even further, and began reading other posts, I see things that still make me sick, and it is my sincere hope that every person who reads this will seriously think about what I am about to say.
On that tragic day, and the days that followed we didn't judge one another, we didn't hate, we were not capable, we wanted to embrace our nation of people, we wanted to heal, and in doing so we didn't care who we hugged or reached out to. Our fellow Americans were not judged by their race, their religious belief, their political party,their sexual preference or social class. We saw each other stripped down, we saw a person, a person who was just as scared as we were, and we loved them because they were our people.
Now look at us. This many years later and the hate seems to have risen to an even greater level, we fight among ourselves and no good comes from it.
Have we learned nothing?
How could we be so giving, so loving and so kind to other people and then over time take it all back and resume bashing people for how they chose to live. Doesn't that defeat the whole standard by which this nation is built?
We are the land of freedom, the melting pot, and I see so much hate and so many people pointing fingers, whispering behind the backs of others because they aren't of the same belief or creed and it makes me ashamed. Our people are gay, straight, black, white, Asian, native American, and the list goes on, we are democrats,republicans, independents, rich, poor, middle class, able bodied, disabled, sick, well, female, male. We all have a past, we have all made mistakes, we are sinners, winners, people with jobs, hungry, well fed, you see what I am saying. At one point after September 11, we as a country felt the most united we had ever known, and now we stand divided once again.
Aren't we to love one another, without passing judgment? That is the one feeling I took from 9-11, the incredible strength I saw in us all. Instead of looking down on one another, we were reaching down to lend a hand to those who had fallen, we smiled through our tears, we went out of our way to be kind and compassionate to all people, not just those who were standing in NYC, PA or DC, we embraced our brothers and sisters, every man, woman and child looking past our differences. Our nation was invaded, our safety violated, and in that happening we remembered to love, care and look out for our fellow man. Why can't we now?
I also think we often forget the daily courage that our law enforcement, our firefighters, our medical personnel and military face. They get up every single day and they don't go to work for just a check, they report in their field of work so that we might be safer, rescued, and that we might be allowed to indulge in the many freedoms we stand for. While we are surfing the net, reading a book at our leisure, holding our children, traveling to a sporting event or just sitting at home pondering what's for dinner, they are protecting us, serving us, and defending everything we hold dear.
They have taken a sworn oath to put their lives on the line for us daily and in doing so, shouldn't we give them our respect, love and honor? Until we feel threatened, we often forget they are there. They are the police officers who keep our streets safe, they are the medical team who rushes to our side in times of tragedy, they are the firefighters who brave the flames to restore our hopes, they are our military who fight our battles, they reach around our great nation, bound together, shoulder to shoulder, working to form a human chain of amazing men and women who believe in what this country should be. One Nation, free, safe and hopeful.
I thank you all sincerely for risking your life daily so that my family and friends may be shielded from the horrendous acts of terror, violence and horror that we are so fearful of. You go above and beyond, and thank you isn’t enough, we should honor and respect your chosen path, helping any way we can and stopping to thank you often for what you do without thought for your own life to give to us.
I think we as Americans should stand together, take a sworn oath, not just those in uniform to do our part to help. Reflect today, go back and view the photos, watch the videos of the day our world came crashing down, and remember how much love we had for our fellow man as we rebuilt, giving no thought to who they were, what they believed or what you didn't like about them. They are just like you whether you agree or not, they are citizens of the United States of America and if we can stand united once again, we can once more feel the surge of compassion and love for all people that we clung so tightly to that fateful day in September.
God Bless America.
Here are my thoughts.
©
Teresa
