Today
Today marks the 7th anniversary of one of the worst days our nation has ever faced. For some, it is the single worst day. For others, it’s one of several. Today is also the anniversary of the day strangers reached out to one another to offer comfort, kindness, shelter to those in need.
Seven years ago, I remember, amongst the horrifying images and all the uncertainty, a sense of community that bloomed quickly, reaching far and wide. It didn’t matter if you knew the name of the person standing closest to you, you instinctively looked to them for confirmation that you were still here, suddenly brothers/sisters/family, drawn together by the need to be near someone — anyone — who could hold your hand, hug you, or just stand close by and tremble with you.
Today, we should take a moment to say hello to someone walking past, whether we know them or not. We should give a smile, shake a hand, hold open a door, carry a bag of groceries for someone else. Do something kind you normally wouldn’t do on any other day, just because you can. Because you are here and alive. Do it because someone might need a reminder there’s still good in this world. There is, you know. A lot of good. All you have to do is look around you and you will see it.
Seven years ago, a few people sought to break the spirit of America. Instead, they bolstered our resolve, drew us closer together, and made us realize the precious gifts and rewards of freedom. Those who wanted to divide us destroyed buildings, killed several thousand of our family, friends, and neighbors, but they failed to bring us down as a nation. They failed in their efforts to ruin that which is unique to America. We are the United States of America. UNITED.
For all our differences, for all our bickering, for all our moments of discontent, we are still The United States America.
Do you hear that? Do you? UNITED! We can be at odds over the silliest and most serious of matters and we are still united. UNITED.
Freedom to disagree, freedom to be as we are, freedom to be individuals. That is the common thread in all our lives here in the U.S. We don’t have to be the same, believe the same things. We are free to be kind, even free to be jerks. But we are free.
Seven years ago, terrorists failed to break that wholly unfathomable bond that freedom has given us. Unfathomable to those who don’t know, have never known freedom.
In our freedom, we are united. UNITED. Separate, but one. Individuals, yet together.
Today, some will stand amid the din of everyday life and it will seem far too loud. For others, the world will simply fade into a muffled distance as they recall the faces and voices of those they knew and loved and lost.
Today you can remind them they are not alone. Today you can remember what it means to be free. Today you can begin anew. Today you can look to those around you and know you are not alone.
We are the United States of America. We are free. And free we remain.
In almost every September 11th post I’ve written, I’ve included the words to a song I love. This year will be no different.
So you speak to me of sadness
And the coming of the winter
Fear that is within you now
It seems to never end
And the dreams that have escaped you
And the hope that you’ve forgotten
You tell me that you need me now
You want to be my friend
And you wonder where we’re going
Where’s the rhyme and where’s the reason
And it’s you cannot accept
It is here we must begin
To seek the wisdom of the children
And the graceful way of flowers in the wind
For the children and the flowers
Are my sisters and my brothers
Their laughter and their loveliness
Could clear a cloudy day
Like the music of the mountains
And the colours of the rainbow
They’re a promise of the future
And a blessing for today
Though the cities start to crumble
And the towers fall around us
The sun is slowly fading
And it’s colder than the sea
It is written from the desert
To the mountains they shall lead us
By the hand and by the heart
They will comfort you and me
In their innocence and trusting
They will teach us to be free
For the children and the flowers
Are my sisters and my brothers
Their laughter and their loveliness
Could clear a cloudy day
And the song that I am singing
Is a prayer to non believers
Come and stand beside us
We can find a better way
Go hug someone you love today and thank the heavens you live in a country that answers the call for help. There are hands reaching out to help. Always. Even if they seem slow in coming, the hands are always there.
I LOVE this post! Standing ovation, lighter held high, yes, yes, yes!
I vote for DaGoddess!
Comment by csquaredplus3 — September 11, 2008 @ 7:00 am
If nominated, I will not run. I can’t. I can only hobble. If elected, I will not serve. I prefer to be served.
But thanks for the vote of confidence.
Comment by DaGoddess — September 11, 2008 @ 7:03 am
[...] Today - Da Goddess ‘Remembering 9/11′[...]
Pingback by Remembering 9/11 | Broadcasting Brain — September 11, 2008 @ 9:01 am
Great post, great reminder to us all, especially in this time of division.
You’ve got my vote.
Comment by Erin — September 11, 2008 @ 11:44 am
We’re only divided if we let ourselves be. I honestly don’t think we are…not really. Not when we consider the things we hold dearest.
Comment by DaGoddess — September 11, 2008 @ 12:42 pm
Great post and great song.
Comment by jan — September 11, 2008 @ 6:13 pm
Here’s what I wrote 7 years ago:
Dust
THEN
one school building toppled by a bomb
detonated against children
the shattered dust of sun-fretted dreams
filling my tearless eyes
NOW
two tall towers felled by airplanes
crashed against the innocent
the dust of another shattered dream
blinding a nation
EPILOGUE
from half a continent away,
through tearless camera eyes
I watch the dust settle.
and despite flags that fly,
or anthems that ring,
it settles into the shape of a death mask.
the memory of darkness lives;
the smoke-obscured sun cannot penetrate
these floating remnants of dream
or this solitary heart made wary –
there is too much dust
for tears to wash away.
Jan Bussey
Comment by jan — September 11, 2008 @ 9:33 pm
bravo.
Comment by vodkamom — September 12, 2008 @ 4:40 pm
Jan, that’s seriously…I don’t know that I have the right adjective for it. But you know what I mean.
Comment by DaGoddess — September 12, 2008 @ 5:21 pm
Comment by The Gray Monk — September 13, 2008 @ 3:59 am
Great tribute. Let us always remember so that nothing like it may ever happen again here.
Comment by diamond dave — September 13, 2008 @ 8:10 am
Amen, Dave. Amen.
Comment by DaGoddess — September 15, 2008 @ 1:07 pm
[...] a reminder of last year’s post: “Today“ Filed under: Currents [...]
Pingback by DaGoddess.com » Never Forget — September 12, 2009 @ 4:09 am