Entry for September 11, 2007

And Now What!?!?!?

This Year I spent my September eleven at home, listening to thunder and watching the rain fall on the seaside community of Far Rockaway where I live. I watched with great interest the news coverage of the ceremonies, and the commentaries after the fact. Somewhere in the midst of somber moods set by the weather and the Grey steel skies that cloaked us for the duration of the day, the subject came up as to whether we have had enough.....

Now, I perhaps have mellowed more than a bit over the years, since I do recall a time when anyone even suspected of harboring such thoughts, never mind actually speaking them, merited a foul penitence that would have made Charles Manson squirm in his prison cell. Yes, I have mellowed, and perhaps this is a good thing, yet I still find the idea that we should all 'just get over it' and move on with our lives an insult of the highest order. It is an affront to the honor of those brave police officers and firefighters who perished that crisp blue morning, it is degrading to the dignity and value of human life to tell the brothers, sister, mothers, fathers, wives, sons and daughters who lost a loved one that they have grieved enough. It is a sure sign of our moral weakness as a society when such a thought is even considered worthy of discussion. While I know not one personal acquaintance who died that morning, I still feel deeply for those who lost close friends, coworkers, neighbors and acquaintances, for the value of a human life is immeasurable!

I am ashamed to have to admit to being part of the same species as those who proposed that we as a nation simply need to move on, and forget...

Healing is not about forgetting, for we never should forget such events. Healing is about forgiving, and coming to the realization that such things as these change us for ever.

And Now What?

This is a phrase a good friend of mine is commonly heard repeating, and I should explain the context a bit. Yes, we accept as part of our life experience the events of September 11. Yes, we know full well that these events, while not solely in themselves have made us who and what we are today, remain as a forceful molding influence in our lives. This is only proper, this is what such events are supposed to do. But then, as my friend is often heard saying, NOW WHAT???? What are we doing about it? How are we taking this new found knowledge, this deeper appreciation for the value of a human life, and making a difference in the lives of those around us? And are we, as individuals, truly living our lives? Or are we, to use a phrase that I am rather fond of, simply being "wastes of a perfectly good person"?

While the nation debates over whether we are more secure now than we were six years ago, and while others discuss the morality of our actions in the middle east, and yet others still go on to demonize the Moslem institution as a whole, I stop and wonder..."what have I done these six years that I can say was different from how I would have lived my life had the towers not fallen, and had the attacks not taken place? What difference have I made over the course of these six years, that I perhaps would not have done otherwise?

Some hard introspective questions

deep from the heart of madness,...

The Mad Soundman of AMS Systems

2007-09-11 21:02:41 GMT

Site Home


	Hearts of Space

< ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- >

		The odd digressions of the slightly askew mind of a sound person

		Entry for September 11, 2007 And Now What!?!?!? This Year I spent my September eleven at home, listening to thunder and watching the rain fall on the seaside community of Far Rockaway where I live. I watched with great interest the news coverage of the ceremonies, and the commentaries after the fact. Somewhere in the midst of somber moods set by the weather and the Grey steel skies that cloaked us for the duration of the day, the subject came up as to whether we have had enough..... Now, I perhaps have mellowed more than a bit over the years, since I do recall a time when anyone even suspected of harboring such thoughts, never mind actually speaking them, merited a foul penitence that would have made Charles Manson squirm in his prison cell. Yes, I have mellowed, and perhaps this is a good thing, yet I still find the idea that we should all 'just get over it' and move on with our lives an insult of the highest order. It is an affront to the honor of those brave police officers and firefighters who perished that crisp blue morning, it is degrading to the dignity and value of human life to tell the brothers, sister, mothers, fathers, wives, sons and daughters who lost a loved one that they have grieved enough. It is a sure sign of our moral weakness as a society when such a thought is even considered worthy of discussion. While I know not one personal acquaintance who died that morning, I still feel deeply for those who lost close friends, coworkers, neighbors and acquaintances, for the value of a human life is immeasurable! I am ashamed to have to admit to being part of the same species as those who proposed that we as a nation simply need to move on, and forget... Healing is not about forgetting, for we never should forget such events. Healing is about forgiving, and coming to the realization that such things as these change us for ever. And Now What? This is a phrase a good friend of mine is commonly heard repeating, and I should explain the context a bit. Yes, we accept as part of our life experience the events of September 11. Yes, we know full well that these events, while not solely in themselves have made us who and what we are today, remain as a forceful molding influence in our lives. This is only proper, this is what such events are supposed to do. But then, as my friend is often heard saying, NOW WHAT???? What are we doing about it? How are we taking this new found knowledge, this deeper appreciation for the value of a human life, and making a difference in the lives of those around us? And are we, as individuals, truly living our lives? Or are we, to use a phrase that I am rather fond of, simply being "wastes of a perfectly good person"? While the nation debates over whether we are more secure now than we were six years ago, and while others discuss the morality of our actions in the middle east, and yet others still go on to demonize the Moslem institution as a whole, I stop and wonder..."what have I done these six years that I can say was different from how I would have lived my life had the towers not fallen, and had the attacks not taken place? What difference have I made over the course of these six years, that I perhaps would not have done otherwise? Some hard introspective questions deep from the heart of madness,... The Mad Soundman of AMS Systems 2007-09-11 21:02:41 GMT Site Home