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posted by Darlene @ 12:06 PM
5 comments
5 Comments:
The need for restoration, and preservation, doesn't just apply to nature, but to mankind itself. Whenever we achieve something good through our actions, we must do our best to preserve it. And whenever we lose that goodness, we must restore what we lost.
I'm referring to the terrorists behind 9/11. Back in 2001, my husband and I went to New York to visit our daughter, who was living there at the time. What most impressed me there was how the multitude of religions and nationalities got along with each other, side by side, and respectfully accepted their differences. We saw a Jewish vendor next to an Arabic one. When the Arab rolled out a carpet and said his prayers facing the East, the Jewish vendor stopped selling his food so the area wouldn't be filled with more commotion. After the prayers were finished, the two men turned towards each other and smiled.
That same sense of understandstanding prevailed wherever we went. I was thrilled, because this melting pot of New York was an explicit example of what could be accomplished by people everywhere.
That same day we went through the World Trade Center, then stood on the pier to view the Statue of Liberty. That night our plane to return to Minnesota departed later than scheduled, so we got back about 2 a.m., on Sept. 11. When I arrived at work that morning, my boss told me to quickly call my daughter, and he explained about the terrorists and the Towers.
She was fine; hadn't been able to leave Queens to get into Manhatten, where she worked. But to this day I feel a sense of loss, not only for the innocent people whose lives were lost or destroyed, but for the loss of the idyllic harmony between mankind that New Yorkers proved could be accomplished, because they had been living it. This is what the terrorists destroyed.
I remember the anxiety I felt for days when I could not connect to my friend who works a few blocks from Ground Zero.
She tells me there is no backlash to her family and friends who are Muslims (she's Jewish). That's NYC, and why I am proud to be an American!
BTW, that morning her husband nagged her into going to the Doctor for an infection, so she skipped work and missed the worst of it.
Pat Baker
Little Pond
Thanks so much for your input, Pat! There are so many people who aren't related to those who lost their lives that were affected personally in some way. I remember the dread I felt when my husband and I both tried to call our daughter and couldn't get through on her cell phone. Meanwhile she couldn't get through to call us, even though she knew we must have heard about it and were worried. Apparently all the air waves were messed up.
At least she was able to call us a few hours later. I can just imagine how you felt, knowing your friend lived so close to ground zero. Thank heavens there is no backlash to her or her Muslim friends. Although some people went crazy in their witch hunts, from what I saw and read, most Americans used their brains and just focused on actual members of terroristic groups, not races or religions in general. I'm proud to be an American, too!
What a lovely story Darlene, how eerie that you arrived back just that morning! Thank God that your daughter was all right.
It must be different in NY where it's truly an international city, than in some parts of the U.S. Unfortunately, I have heard of examples of prejudice against Muslims.
But with every opportunity we each get, we can 'let our light shine' and try to bring peace even if it is only to our tiny area, like the two shopkeepers that you mentioned.
Thanks for your beautiful site! I am browsing through it this afternoon,
Jenny
I'm still trying to figure out how you made the "permanent links"! lol! I notice that several blogs have them. I'm getting "blog envy," lol!
I better run along,
Jen
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