Reflections on 9-11
Periodically, Ninepatch proposes various themes for contributors letters. Here are the letters we received in response to the 'Reflections on 9-11' theme...
Dear Friends,
A rusty-hinged, long-closed door in my mind was jolted by the Twin Tower explosions and creaked open. Before terrorists struck and maimed the United States, that door was closed and forgotten. I felt safe in here. But only here.
I denied foreign travel. It was not safe. For example, several years ago, I shook my head in dismay when a friend and her father excitedly planned travel to the Holy Land. Why would they go there? I frowned, People were shooting each other
Then, in the aftermath of our attack, I realized I was not even safe here. If I had any notion to travel, it was time do it. Once my closed door - Safety in the US -- stood ajar, I obtained my first passport. Later, I joined a pilgrimage to Ireland and was even there over September 11 of this year.
My initial anxiety/ disillusionment/ sadness/ dismay at the attack on America transformed my personal safety fears. They became instead, hopes for inner adventure.
And, I was not disappointed.
I am blessed.***
Frances Fritzie
Frances, Editor adds, "This special issue of Ninepatch is dedicated to the Tragedy of 9-11-01. In it readers report changes in their lives over the past year."
Dear Frances,
My reflections on 9/11? It hardly seems possible that a year ago we felt our world teetering on the edge of war. No one knew what tomorrow might bring, if tomorrow ever came. Now, a year later, I look back at 9/11 and ask myself what the year has brought.
For me, it's meant a number of changes. I never saw myself as a fighter, and was never overly concerned with civil or religious rights. Now, after the terrible acts of retaliation we saw perpetrated against Muslims --and others foreign to the Canadian and American culture -- I feel a strengthening of my desire to know and understand others. I want to stand up for their rights as well as my own -- even if that means facing opposition.
9/11 too, brought an awareness of the fact that tomorrow is never guaranteed. I need to live for today... This has made me more apt to reach for the stars, to try for the things I want in life while I have the chance. And, it's reminded me to say things like, Thank you and, I love you. As the psychic medium John Edward often counsels, people need to, "communicate, appreciate and validate our loved ones today...!" (That way, we won't need the services of a medium like him to do it later!)
On the negative side, that day of disaster and the months that followed deepened my cynicism toward politicians and governments. I feel a similar way toward organized religion, as well as certain charitable organizations. Just the other day I read that the vast majority of the blood collected by the Red Cross for New York was destroyed, while money donated for affected families of the tragedy was channeled elsewhere.
I shake my head and wonder, has it really been a year?
TROR (July-Aug.'02) says, "Well, I can tell you one thing for sure about 9-11: I did not watch TV on the anniversary. I just couldn't face those images again. Last year they were burned into all my brain by networks showing them ad nauseum."
Dear Frances,
I know you were in Ireland the first part of September so you missed the 9/11 remembrance day. Lots to absorb and lots to remember. It was a roller coaster ride of fear and pride.
It was a hard day ... but for me, in a good way. Like any sad defining moment in life, the year anniversary offered a day of melting into familiar mourning. Yet, since time had passed, the softness of mourning did not last as long.
Love,
Georgene
Georgene (Sept.'02) comments, "Time has a way of beating back mourning so hope can surface to lessen the pain."
Hi Fritzie!
Today I gave this response to someone who requested a prayer for a person who died on 9/11/01.
May his remembrance reassure you of the good that can be found on this planet.
After I wrote that, I thought that all humanity endures suffering and that all humanity inflicts that suffering upon itself. Everyone suffers when an individual entity seeks it's own good at the expense of another entity. The result is pain for everyone.
I also considered that people of all faith communities have something in common, that is their faith. Therefore, I also added this prayer:
Let us pray that world leaders come to realization that all nations have common ground.
Let us pray that people become more sensitive to those of other faiths.
Let us pray that political leaders refrain from dividing believers and corralling individual groups to support their own agenda.
Lee (June'02) adds, "I have done much reflecting on the spirituality of other peoples. I don't have much more to add about 9/11/01 except to say I am somewhat disappointed with the way things are going right now. I believe that I can understand how The Lord must have felt when he walked the earth. "
Dear Frances:
A time of the tragedy that affected people not only in New York City and the United States of America but the world at large was created by what transpired that morning of 9-11- 2001.
In my job working on the subway platform of the Trade Center (Fulton St. Station on Uptown Platform, Trains 4-5) I am still seeing many people, some from as far as China, who are coming to view what is now known as Ground Zero. They can't really see it very well now because the viewing platform has been removed to begin the process of rebuilding. The plan to rebuild goes on even though many people I talk to-- who since have reluctantly returned to work in the area -- have strong objections to rebuilding anything on the former site of the World Trade Center.
Our mayor, Mr. Bloomberg, has asked churches, synagogues and mosques to open their doors for part of the memorial services that will be planed in Lower Manhattan on September 11, 2002. A lot of my customers tell me they plan to take the day off. They just cannot bear to be in the area on that day.
Many are remembering what the disaster felt like to them--the end of the world. Those who made it out of the World Trade Center remember hearing and seeing bodies falling to the ground, and friends separated from one another never to see each other again. I see tears of gratitude mixed with sadness for the co-workers who never made it out at all. They weep for families of the victims and their children who will never hear the voices or the footsteps of their loved ones again.
Yes, Frances 9-11 is a day the world will never forget-- a day that we will recall to our grandchildren and great grand children. It is the day two domestic planes flew into the twin towers. That day changed the way we as Americans live and experience our freedom.
God Bless all of you and God Bless America!
Egeria
Egeria (June'02) adds, "On Labor Day I thought, ' …what a difference one year makes! People are so apprehensive about what is happening and how it will affect them. Many are dislocated as a result of the events of 9-11. There is much depression and I have to admit I feel a bit down myself every now and then. On 9-12, I want to look with hope on the new plans to develop what was once known as the World Trade Center. I hope the area will begin anew and thus give people of NY and the world something to look forward to."
Dear Frances,
I have reprioritized my life since 09/11/01. I almost never watch the news. I know that if anything truly important occurs, I'll find out about it when and if necessary. I feel sorry for the news executives: they still continue to try to manufacture a sense of urgency to justify wasting my time.
Both 9/11 and my recent hospitalization, underscored how important my time with family and friends is to my life. I pray for God's guidance in my own life, and for the world's leaders, but I find my focus is inward toward my own spiritual development. After all, that is also the focus of The Prayer of St. Frances to change my own behavior in order to have the most positive effect on the people I may impact.
To me, the most important help I can offer is a gentle, caring heart.
Blessings to everyone,
Joy
Joy (April'02) adds, "My health is improving and I am able to do more. I look forward to having my old level of energy and strength back! It is so hard to deal with new limitations."
Hi Frances,
Last year in October my husband and I were trying to decide whether to risk driving to the east coast as we had originally planned. I'm glad now that we went East and wish we had at least tried to also see NY.
We are planning to do NY in the near future and we are pleased that New Yorkers are going on. Time does not stand still and we all need to move on.
Vicki
Vicki (May '02) adds," Around my part of Indiana, we live in a small community of about 500 people. We have a reservoir not far away. Nowadays, we see signs around that say, Call 911 if you see anyone messing with the water. So things have changed here, also.
Dear Frances,
I look at what I wrote in the October '01 issue and I am amazed. It has been almost a year already.
Since that time, my youngest son graduated from college and went to NY to live with his grandmother (my mother-in-law.) There, he works for an uncle.
Trips from CA, where I live, to NY are more serious these days. The waits are longer, the airports less "fun." I had my knitting challenged on the last flight and I had a circular plastic needle. I was also pulled aside for those "random" checks-- twice. (I have learned not to wear high boots because they are difficult to get back on.)
On one trip there, my husband went to see the Trade Center while we were in NY City. I didn't want to go. I hate the term "war" even war on terrorism. I keep thinking there has to be a better way to deal with the problem, something more civilized, some way of dealing with the real problems of poverty and ignorance. There must be something other than a bomb. Maybe I feel this way because at work I try to teach parents who spank their children (for hitting) that there are more effective ways to deal with misbehavior.
So, to sum it up, today, I am more likely to speak my mind and less likely to sit back and expect someone else to say it for me. That's a little piece of personal growth.
Corinne
Corinne (Jan.'02) says, "I don't look forward to all the "remember the terrible day" stories that will be everywhere in September.
Dear Frances,
9-11 showed me we are not "super strong." America can be hurt: as a nation and as a people. Not everyone loves America: the land of freedom, the land of hopes and dreams.
Something like this can happen to us and it did happen to us. At first I thought, "It is a stunt-an ad for a movie. Things like this don't happen to us. Everyone loves America."
When I realized it was real, I thought it was the end of the world. The Lord was coming to claim his own. These days I pray more. I thank the Lord for every day. I try to learn more about life and more about the Bible. What is to come?
LindaSue
Linda Sue (Sept.'02) adds, " I had a gall bladder attack. I missed three days of work and had tests. I may have to have it out. I have had surgery so many times, for so many different reasons. 'What next?' I wonder. Well, I know the Lord watches over me. Mom always used to say,' Everything happens for a reason.' We shall see…"
To read more, download the Oct & Nov 2002 editions of Ninepatch from our archives
Write and we'll add your 'Reflections on 9-11' letter too!