What Have We Learned Since 911

Philip j. Rappa

Together Forever Changing

An Article

What Have We Learned Since 911?

The absence of irony on that most unfathomable day, now part of our nation's psyche,

9/11, shall not be lost by anyone worldwide. We must ask ourselves, "What have we learned since September 11th, 2001 ? What new revelations have come forth as to the disposition and nature of mankind? Shall providence guide us in what we choose to inspire and instill in the hearts and minds of our nation's citizens? What will we choose to teach our new generation of future leaders already impassioned by their grief?"

What have we learned since September 11th? Some realities have been reaffirmed: That in spite of our diversity of opinions and whether we be secular or spiritual in our intent, the plurality of "we the people", remains a caring, giving family.

Though the rest of the world may see us as the greatest example of a truly dysfunctional family, we the people are a work in progress. For over 225 years, through trial and tribulation, shedding blood and tears, we attempt to prove to ourselves and thereby showing the world that though our differences may at times cause divisiveness, we know we must seek common ground; we know we must compromise for the greater good to survive.

What have we learned since September 11th? We watched in awe as our civil servants, men and women, rushed to the World Trade Center , the Pentagon and a field in Pennsylvania . We watched in awe as some gave up their lives to save others, while others just kept doing their jobs to save what remained. We heard and shared the stories of everyday citizens like ourselves who risked and lost their lives on the plane knowing if they did nothing, others on the ground would die if not for their ultimate efforts. There are all the stories of those of us who couldn't join in the search, those of us who gave money or blood, those who packed up necessities and trucked them to others in need. Lest we forget to mention, the many volunteers who left their homes and jobs and are at ground zero still helping.

We, as American's, should allow our humility to serve to remind us that the concepts of compassion, freedom and democracy are not just an American phenomenon. The world shares these ideals with us - and the world stood still that day, sharing the reality that the loss of one human being’s life diminishes us all.

What have we learned since September 11th? Some have tried to make Pearl Harbor and September 11th analogous. Yet veterans of that day of infamy and other veterans of WWII, a band of brothers whose number decreases with each stroke of the clock, insist it is not. But most agree there might be similarities that should be examined by we the people. They suggest that the torch has been passed to our generation. That in our hour of immediacy and uncertainty, with all its emotions of shock, anger, fear, horror, sorrow and with all the talk of vengeance and revenge, as no time before, the responsibility of being citizens in a democracy bear upon us all. In honor of all their hard work helping to build this nation to its present greatness, in honor of all those who gave their lives defending our core beliefs and principles, I take to heart, to the sinews of my soul, their suggestions to be vigilant as to our nation's policies. They no longer demand, but suggest we demand a legitimate, accurate representation and examination of our nation's national and foreign policies be it corporate, diplomatic or military and a working definition of national security.

Let us show the deserved respect to our elders whose experiences and sagacity could only become available to us over a period of time. And as with all Monday morning quarterbacks, their desire to reexamine their time in history with facts and truths once not available, they leave us with a reserve of knowledge thanks to their soul-searching need for truth with the hope that we do not repeat the errors of our past.

I entrust to all of us the souls of those lost on September 11th. The blameless demand of us no less than our fidelity to find the truth of what happened and why it happened. Their families and those lucky enough to have survived implore us that we the people must demand that our government exercise its responsibility and make available the preponderance of their evidence; to make available the proof as to the truth to their claims as to the culpability of those so charged. In the name of all those who have lost their lives because of this tragedy and in the name of all those who now risk their lives in our defense, we the people must be reawakened and vigilant to our duty and responsibility as free men and women.

It is our responsibility to those lost, to ourselves, for our collective core beliefs to fully investigate what other possible actions could have caused or prevented such a heinous action. It is our duty and right to expect nothing less than the accountability of those who represent us here at home and abroad.

In the final analysis, the question, what have we learned since September 11^th requires us, as citizens, to not get caught up in lockstep blind patriotism, but to use reason armed with a little bit of skepticism and a little bit of cynicism to search out truth.

© Philip J. Rappa 2002

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