9/11 Reflection

Twenty three days after the horrific attack on the World Trade Center I wrote this poem.

Thank You, Mr. Bin Laden

(Written after attending the Philadelphia Orchestra performance at C.Y. Stephens Oct. 4, 2001)
The orchestra came and got ready to play
The first violinist bowed his note.
Out came the conductor ready to lead,
The music started and the audience stood up.
We had come to hear romantic music to lift our spirits
Instead our national anthem started the program
Not a dry eye in the house - some sang along others were choked up.

Thank you, Mr. Bin Laden, for giving us back our patriotism.

We watched as our national tragedy turned into a national desire
A desire first for revenge and then for healing.
We became aware of the plight of a people
Living a world away. We saw how their government treats its own.
We became aware of the women of Afghanistan and the miserable life which is theirs.
We watched as you hid in your hole behind the skirts of the innocent.
We saw your people flee from their homes and we sent aid to help them

Thank you, Mr. Bin Laden, for turning our eyes onto you and yours.

We watched horrified on Sept. 11 when the planes took out the towers.
We saw, instantly, on our modern miracle of television as people died.
We listened to the mayor as he urged us to calm in his dignified manner.
We cried and mourned for those who became heroes as they sacrificed themselves to save others.

Thank you, Mr. Bin Laden, for showing us the heroism of our own.

We were a nation divided. Divided by party and politics.
A nation with each going their own way.
Complacent and probably unworthy of our heritage.
You brought us together with your cowardly acts.

Thank you, Mr. Bin Laden for unifying us once again.

Now on the 12th anniversary of that attack I can still see the plane crashing into the building.  The other sixth grade teacher had ushered us all down to the media center to watch what was happening on the TV.  I took my class back as soon as I saw people begin to jump from the building.  I did not think 11 year old children should watch something like that as it happened.  We had a discussion instead. It was not a good day.

When I wrote this the United States was united.  Since that time our "leaders" have squandered that unity.

I was born in 1941 during a World War.  It was followed by a Korean War, the Viet Nam War, the Cold War (yes I count that) - Then we were lied to and 9/11 was used to lead us into other wars (for oil)

For some reason many in our country have forgotten what it means to be a citizen of the United States. Many have forgotten that this country was founded with freedoms for all people and rights for everyone. There is much phobia and racism and war is still going on.

I am 71 years old (will be 72 in November) and my country has been at war all of my life. Not only with other countries but with each other. I wonder at the words of the Pledge - "ONE nation...INDIVISIBLE with LIBERTY and JUSTICE  for ALL.  That is all, it is for our Muslim citizens as well as Christian, our female as well as male, our gay as well as straight, our able and our disabled, our black, Latino, Asian as well as white. Everybody, that is what ALL means.

There are people who like the word tolerance and say we should tolerate everyone.  I prefer acceptance.  Tolerate puts you on a higher plain than me - acceptance is inclusive and puts all on a level.  As a Mason I am taught to meet others "on the level."

 My friend Bill Peake posted this on Facebook.  "Bigotry,

 Racism, Fear of those whose culture, language and appearance 

differ from yours....many would say this is the reality of America 

today. Does America need an "official language"....does one group 

get to dictate what they consider "normal" to the rest of the 

people? Some will use the anniversary of 9/11 to promote this 

form of xenophobia....enter real people...and ENTER A 

SOLDIER...at the end of this video....meet a hero in uniform. As we 

remember a somber day....may we be free enough to get beyond 

the knee-jerk of fear."   The video below is a set-up and it is 

surprising Watch all the way to the end.  



As the graphic above says "Never Forget"  That is true we should never forget. We should always honor those who died and those who gave their lives but we should also never forget the founding principles of this nation and the freedoms guaranteed to ALL of us.

And it is my sincere hope that someday the world can be at peace and people will be accepting of each other and begin to work towards solving the problems so that no child will go to bed hungry or in want.