On this 20th anniversary of the terrorist attacks of 9/11, what have we learned? As a country, what have we gained? This is what stirs in me as I joined my school in dedicating a memorial garden and answered my son’s questions with my best recollections.
Yesterday my school community dedicated a memorial garden to the remembrance of the 9/11 attacks and those whose lives were lost, those who gave theirs in service that day. The question was posed by the guest speaker, Drew Nederpelt, “Why do we remember this tragedy?. Why remember something so terrible?” His answer was to remind us that to forget the horror of that day would also mean forgetting the heroism of those who ran into danger to save others, the bravery of those who fought back knowing they would most likely still not survive, and the compassion and generosity offered by so many to aid those grieving, those working recovery on “The Pile”, those most deeply traumatized. This day is always an opportunity to face the paradox of the best of our humanity present and rising from the encounter with the worst of it. What I wonder about now is where that best has slipped away to.
I remember people hanging flags out as a sign of patriotism, in defiant hope, and of unity. It troubles me now to see our politics so divided, so personal, not centered on ideas and values so much as personalities. Today I passed a driveway where hung an American flag in the fashion like so many 20 years ago. But next to this one was another flag, with the image of the American flag substituting for the letter U in a vulgar term directed at our current president. Regardless of political beliefs I find this saddening. Such an offensive and childish display, sadly so emblematic of the former president who will mark this date by acting as a commentator for a pay-per-view boxing event rather than joining his peers and honoring the fallen and recalling the resilience of this country, troubles my heart. Will it take another devastating event for us to discover the decency of being neighbors and the work of building again a “more perfect union”? Or will such an occurrence shatter the last vestige of this 245 year old country?