A post (almost) 9/11 thought:
No one is a bigger fan of Brian Williams on NBC News than me. Brian just reminded viewers tonight that 9/11 means the same to today’s generation as Pearl Harbor Day meant to those alive at that time. I wonder….
My most lasting memory of 9/11 is the day after. Perhaps because I was in New York City that day, and not on 9/11. My memory: EVERYONE was kind to each other. EVERYONE cared about their fellow man. This is not just my convenient memory — the recollections are indelible and many. EVERYONE as in no matter the color. No matter the circumstance. We ALL seemed to care about each other. Kindness to strangers, in NYC !! I am told this happened all over our great country. And this sentiment lasted for awhile. I’m not sure exactly when, but then it stopped.
Now, each year, we memorialize the memory of those lost on 9/11. Sadly, it seems we fail to recall how we all acted towards our fellow Americans the days afterwards. Arguably, the only good outcome that arose from 9/11 is the same outcome that occurred 6 decades prior. We became united as a country. On 9/12/2001 we evidenced as a people the axiom “United we stand, divided we fall”. Just as our forefathers did on 12/8/1941.
And then, gradually, that unity stopped. The closeness I felt towards fellow citizens who I did not know, but who felt the same pain and pride to be an American I felt, just seemed to diminish. As if we suddenly began to worry about the small stuff again.
Moving forward, perhaps we should each try to shift our focus not only to remember the tragic events of 9/11, but towards the example EACH of us demonstrated on 9/12. The ideals we, intuitively, as a people, showed the rest of the world during those days. Can’t we just…. try to turn the tragedy of 9/11 into the unity of the days that followed. Who knows how long it could last….
This blog is about managing personal risk. In a round-about-way, so is this post….
2 Responses
Tim your note puts a positive perspective on this horrific day.You are gifted in your ability to get a message out clearly in a few sentences.
Tim – so true! I, too, remember going to NYC the week after 9/11. People helping people maneuver the subway system that were unfamiliar to most of us who normally took the Path to WTC, people stopping and applauding the NYPD and FDNY men and women in uniform right on the street, and stopping, reading and crying over the memorials and “missing” flyers plastered in so many places. Your sentiment is a good one… can’t we just… remember and act like that? We should all try.
Good to hear from you.