Sunday, June 9, 2002
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Sunday, June 9, 2002 |
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Asking the right questions after 9/11 By MARY JANE HOLT I watched. I cried. Sobbed, actually. That's what I did, because it was all I could do. I was glad the planners had the good sense not to let anybody say anything. No speeches. No sermons. No politics. No words were said because no words could be said to ease the heartache of those loved ones who had gathered to seek "closure." How I hate that word! It is my opinion that the person who coined it had never lost a loved one in death, divorce or any other way. A word like closure just doesn't cut it when wounds are still raw. Another phrase I do not like is "Life must go on." It's a fact, but I don't like the phrase. There are lots of facts of life that I don't particularly care for, or approve of, as if I had the right to do either. As I watched the final service at Ground Zero marking the close of the World Trade Center site, I was at a loss for words. As I watched the empty flag-draped stretcher carried away, I cried. As that final steel beam was slowly hauled off the premises, I sobbed. I cannot begin to say how thankful I was that nobody even attempted to comfort me or explain anything. Grieving is a good thing. Crying is healing. Sobbing can be downright therapeutic. Just as nobody else could have said anything at that ceremony to comfort me then, I feel there is nothing I can say now to offer comfort to those who experienced such horrendous loss on September 11, 2001. That said, I will now say a few things about what happened to us on that date, things I have not said before. The question is asked repeatedly, "How can they hate us so much?" I am assuming, in recent days, that such a question refers to "the terrorists." Although, I certainly have heard many comments about other countries and groups of people. I mean, it's no secret that England is the only European country eagerly supporting or joining us in the battle against terrorism. Notice I do not mention any particular faith or nationality when I mention those who hate us. There is a reason for that. Just as love knows no bounds, even so hatred knows no boundary line. But where does the hatred come from? That, dear reader, is a no-brainer. There is good and evil, and never shall the battle between the two cease on this earth as we know it today. It's really just that simple. Does that mean we are good and the terrorists are evil? I didn't say that. Consider it this way. Prior to 9/11 we were pretty much consumed with the evil that worked in and among us. We were fighting among ourselves. We always are. However, when an enemy, that would be someone "from the outside," attacks us, then we who judge our neighbor by the size of his bank account, the clothes he wears, the car he drives, the church he does or does not attend, the faith he does or does not profess, the color of his skin... and a myriad of other reasons we who so judge one another, join together to judge those who would dare to come against us. It is said that they hate us because we are free. Bull____! They hate us because we have much and don't appreciate it. They hate us because we are wasteful and selfish and self-centered. They hate us for the same reasons we hated our own neighbors prior to 9/11. There is nothing that can be said to erase the pain caused by the events of that fateful September day. May it never fade away. There are too many lessons to be learned and I don't think we have even begun to see what the real lessons are just yet. Yes, my heart aches and I grieve for those who knew such great loss on 9/11, but my heart also aches for people the world over who would attempt to fight the enemy without, while remaining under the influence of the enemy within. Will we remain blind to our blessings, failing to see and recognize them until they are gone? Will we continue to destroy and waste our precious, and once plentiful resources, until there is nothing left to value and care for and share? Will we continue to take our freedoms for granted and foolishly believe that the only way to hold on to them is to fight the invader from without? Are there answers? Is there comfort to be had? I don't know. I do know we will not find right answers until we ask right questions.
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