With the tenth anniversary of Sept.11th, a lot of us have been reflecting on where we were that day and where we’re going now. The horror of September 11th, 2001, will forever live in the minds of this generation. It touched us all. My son’s teacher had her aunt and her grandmother on the plane that hit the north tower that terrible day and each year, when she talks about it with her students, she cries. How can you ever explain the loss our country felt that day and still feels today? Loss of not only loved ones, but the loss of our sense of security, our loss of innocence?
The tragedy of September 11th brought out the best in people. I was very proud of my home country of Canada who was the first to offer their help to the New York emergency personnel, and was the country that took all the diverted flights from the U.S., at some risk to themselves. But Canada stood with their brother-country, solid in its support for them. I was also proud of those people in my adopted country, ordinary men and women who became the heroes of 9/11. So many people, both known and unknown, gave everything they had to lift the suffering of others, and many more who took up arms to once again fight for freedom.
Ten years ago this country was irrevocably changed. Some will argue whether it changed for the better or for the worse. But for me, the images of 9/11 changed my heart. That was a day I will remember that courage won out in the face of terror. This country was not broken and those who wanted to see the U.S. suffer were disappointed in the fact that the suffering was tempered by dignity and we were able to rise above the heinous attack with nobility and honor. Our country’s true character was shown and it wasn’t afraid.
Tonight I will hug my children close, and we will talk about what happened ten years ago, and then, no matter our politics, we will pray for the leaders of this country to be guided in keeping our country safe. I know we will also include in that prayer a request for comfort to be given to those who lost their loved ones that day. And lastly, I know we will pray for peace--in the world, in our country, and in our lives. At the very least, I think that’s something worth hoping for.
I'm an award-winning romantic suspense novelist, but in my free time I love to review books and my fave TV shows, as well as pass along great book deals, and eat Canadian chocolate---not necessarily in that order.
3 comments:
9/11 flat out destroyed the economy of the United States. Yes, it's a tragedy on a personal level to thousands of families. But it's power to plunge every middle-class household in the United States into poverty and make the rich obscenely richer is fascinating and shameful. A Chinese curse says "May you live in interesting times." I think that I live in interesting times. /sigh. I always knew I was cursed.
Well said. I, too, am thinking today of the people who lost loved ones in this tragedy as well as the fear I felt at watching the horror unfold on the television. I'm so proud to learn just how many of us Canadians went over to lend a hand, and as you said, I'm proud to see the way the US rose above this tragedy.
Peace is definitely worth hoping for!!
I spent most of the day following events on TV, introspecting and watching YouTube videos. I posted the best on my blogs. Sigh. I'm proud to be American today.
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