September 11th

Today is September 11th. 

19 years ago, the United States endured the worst attack by a foreign adversary on our home soil since the Japanese attack on on Pearl Harbor in 1941. 

The days and nights that followed that terrible Tuesday morning were fraught with tension and worry. But as time passed, there was a growing sense of something greater than fear, better than worry. It was a growing sense of confidence, of determination that this would not defeat us. 

It was a feeling of hope in the face of despair that spread across political parties, across almost all divisions. 

Yes, we were collectively as a nation stunned, horrified by what occurred, fearful of what might come next.

But we were also collectively as a nation committed to not staying stunned, committed to confront the horror, committed to not staying afraid.

A few years ago for a previous September 11th post, I created the graphic below. Using a beautiful panoramic view of the New York skyline, I added the lyrics to a song by U2, "These Are the Hands That Built America".  

The lyrics speak of a New York City that is hard to live in but is a place of wonder, of change, of possibilities. It is a song that to me encapsulates life not only in New York City but our nation as a whole. It's hard place to live in but our hopes and dreams are within reach. 

Within days of the attacks on 9/11/2001, even through the smoke and ash, even through the clouds of our doubts and fears, we could see glimmers, the faintest of sparks of the return of wonder, of change, of possibilities. Of hope.

On this day of remembrance, we recall the shock and the horror and the fear of September 11th. 

But on this day, I also resolve to remember the potential for good, the idea that we are one nation, stronger than our differences.

I have in the past few years, I regret that we've lost that potential. 

I spoke to that in last year's post on 9/11.  

As I wrote last year, I have tried to look at September 11,2001 as a crucible that tested us and did not find us wanting in courage and strength. 

Today, the leadership of this nation and those who would follow such people are lacking in courage and strength.

Since I wrote that, my perspective has sadly not changed. in fact, it's worse. During this time of pandemic and social unrest over racial injustice, that courage and strength is still lacking. 

Under the flawed and ineffective leadership of a man who promises to make America great while preaching fear, we're missing what really makes this country great.

Or we just need to look past our so called leaders, to the hard working people on the frontlines of the pandemic who have put their lives on the line for their fellow Americans. It is to these people that we look for the sparks of wonder, of change, of possibilities. Of hope.

We experienced fear on September 11th. We didn't care for it so we stood up out of the wreckage and vowed to be stronger.  It's not fear that drives us but the idea that we can do better, be better than our fear. 

You gotta live in your dreams; 

Don't make them so hard.

Remember to be good to one another.