9-11-2011

Today I took a ride to the Financial District to see the World Trade Center and how people had decided to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the terrorist attacks on NYC. There were those who cried, some who prayed, others who came for the pictures of these people, firefighters, cops, natives, tourists, patriots, non-racism/anti-Muslim bigotry and pro-tolerance rallies and even th 9-11 conspiracy folks made a showing. It was incredible being there, paying my respects to the roughly 3,000 civilians that lost their lives on that day ten years ago, but I couldn't help but feel that an essential element of what this day means had been clouded over.

My hearts go out to all the families affected but I also felt that perhaps after ten years of remembering and "never forgetting" we should begin to shift our focus from the past and to the future. Death isn't something to be glorified and fetishized but should instead be used as a reminder that life is precious and valuable. We, as a species, have an incredible journey ahead of us as we grow technologically but stagger forward with growth regarding wisdom, compassion, maturity, understanding, tolerance and love. No one should have died that day just because they happened to be normal citizens living a normal life, but neither should the average citizen of Gaza, of Tibet or the Congo. It was a wake up call for Americans that the world can be ugly. That our luxuries can only shield us from the truth of poverty, war, malnutrition, environmental devastation and terrorism for only so long before we are affected. We are not special. We are not a privileged people. We are more than that. We are part of a community of a collective humanity that interacts with itself on a scale never before seen in history. We are more connected than ever before and it's time that we begin to see ourselves for what we are. Flesh and blood, mind and body. Simply put...human beings.

Perhaps the best way to honor our beloved dead is not by the mere display of symbols but by our determination to see that trajedies like 9-11 never occur again. Today is not simply a day of mourning for Americans but for all of us part of this greater humanity. Let us take on the struggle to live each day bettering the world and learning to love rather than hate. God Bless all those lost to war.