What 9/11 taught me
When I think about that day, I will never forget it, I was on my way to a dental appointment. I did not believe what I was hearing. Yeah right, the World Trace Center in NY were hit. The DJ's at V-103 were always kidding around. When I got to the Dr's office it was eerily quiet and they took me in quickly, cleaned my teeth and put a sign up saying that they were closing early for the day. I heard one of the nurses crying on the phone, and with concern went to see if she was ok. In the nurses office s a small TV. That is when and where I first saw the pictures of the towers. I stood with my mouth open, I stood with tears pouring from my eyes as I saw the people and thought about all of those who passed on that day, just going to work to do their job. My dentist came out and patted my shoulder and told me to take a minute to pull myself together and go home.
I got in the car and drove down Courtland in an attempt to get on I-75 South. There were people everywhere attempting to get out of downtown. There were people crying uncontrollably in their cars. There were people sitting on the sidewalk crying with friends and strangers attempting to console them. It was the saddest thing I ever saw. I sat in my car and looked at all the people who were clearly hurting and I cried. I rolled down my car window, and it was sprinkling in the ATL that day and encouraged one woman in her car to breathe, to try and pull it together. She looked at me and said a sincere thank you . I refused to drive until she could pull into traffic, until I was sure she was ok to go on. No one blew their horn, no one acted a fool, everyone - not amazinlgy, were seemingly doing the same thing I was. Everyone was concerend about all of us making it home from downtown ATL ok.
I will never forget that day and how we were kind and caring with each other. Sometimes, a tragedy is the only way for us all to remember that we are on this planet together, in this country together and what happens to one of us, happens to us all.
I took that lesson and began to examine my life, my choices, my friends, my experiences, my expectations, what I gave, what I took, my character, the way I wanted to be, the way I wanted to live. It started my journey of inspecting every part of who I was and who I was deciding to become.
I learned that I was selfish with my heart because I was afraid of pain and hurt. I learned that I was very good at encouraging others, I remembered that in a crisis I am a calm and steady person. I remembered that I am always for the underdog, they need my help, not my judgment. I learned to seek the best from people, as a matter of fact, I learned to expect better from people. I learned that this country, these citizens I live with on the daily, when the chips are down, CAN manage to see beyond color, beyond class, beyond its selfish desire to have and to purchase and to be concerend only with self. I learned to look at the world from different sets of cultural eyes, or at the least to try. I learned that I have to give to my community, be concerend and get involved. Lip service only gives back the bs that your mouth delivered in the first place. I learned - really I remembered that I am here to serve the folks that I live with. I learend that I can deal with stupid, ignorant, insipid, mindless drones and other special people if it means bettering anothers situation. I learned that I can be patient.
Most importantly for me personally God began His work on me. He reminded me that I have a purpose and then, he began to show it to me. Growth began on that day. On that painful day something that was asleep in me and others woke up.
I really see the tragedy in N' Orleans in the same way. It is waking the sleeping citizenry up. It is reminding us that the country, our government and the representatives we elect need to - must remember to care. It must remember to share, to be there to give a dang about others that are at their weakest point, who are hurting. It put a light on our shameful lazy habit of letting big biz run our country. It put a spotlight on our oozing nasty little secret: we the mighty US have stopped being humane and caring towards our own, our poor, our disenfranchised. How can we justly criticize the rest of the world? It reminded us all that we must remember to care about something other than the celebrities who shine no real light on everyday issues, everyday life for everyday people. As I say and I beleive and I stand by: Entertain me... when that is over, get on. They are really not that interesting to me on a hold unless they are doing that. Some gossip is ok, however in the scheme of things they have not done me a great service unless I was entertained. Thanks though.
I hope this country grows beyond silly party lines, class lines and start to remember to be there for each other, to care and to demand that the elected do the same. I think the tragedies that have hit us in succession are reminders to do so. It is a reminder from God that He judges all, and He blesses more folks that just the US of America. We needed to remember that the great Sleeping Giant had a job to do, not a world to conquer or to break down, but to remind the world of how great we can all be when you unite together to offer opportunity to all with a fair and just playing field as possible. We let big business convince us that only the gluttonous survives. Sin was crouched at our door and we let it in. Repenting by changing our attitude and view is the way to go. I pray we do so soon.
Anyway, that is what 9/11 taught and showed me. How about your experiences?
Kita
I got in the car and drove down Courtland in an attempt to get on I-75 South. There were people everywhere attempting to get out of downtown. There were people crying uncontrollably in their cars. There were people sitting on the sidewalk crying with friends and strangers attempting to console them. It was the saddest thing I ever saw. I sat in my car and looked at all the people who were clearly hurting and I cried. I rolled down my car window, and it was sprinkling in the ATL that day and encouraged one woman in her car to breathe, to try and pull it together. She looked at me and said a sincere thank you . I refused to drive until she could pull into traffic, until I was sure she was ok to go on. No one blew their horn, no one acted a fool, everyone - not amazinlgy, were seemingly doing the same thing I was. Everyone was concerend about all of us making it home from downtown ATL ok.
I will never forget that day and how we were kind and caring with each other. Sometimes, a tragedy is the only way for us all to remember that we are on this planet together, in this country together and what happens to one of us, happens to us all.
I took that lesson and began to examine my life, my choices, my friends, my experiences, my expectations, what I gave, what I took, my character, the way I wanted to be, the way I wanted to live. It started my journey of inspecting every part of who I was and who I was deciding to become.
I learned that I was selfish with my heart because I was afraid of pain and hurt. I learned that I was very good at encouraging others, I remembered that in a crisis I am a calm and steady person. I remembered that I am always for the underdog, they need my help, not my judgment. I learned to seek the best from people, as a matter of fact, I learned to expect better from people. I learned that this country, these citizens I live with on the daily, when the chips are down, CAN manage to see beyond color, beyond class, beyond its selfish desire to have and to purchase and to be concerend only with self. I learned to look at the world from different sets of cultural eyes, or at the least to try. I learned that I have to give to my community, be concerend and get involved. Lip service only gives back the bs that your mouth delivered in the first place. I learned - really I remembered that I am here to serve the folks that I live with. I learend that I can deal with stupid, ignorant, insipid, mindless drones and other special people if it means bettering anothers situation. I learned that I can be patient.
Most importantly for me personally God began His work on me. He reminded me that I have a purpose and then, he began to show it to me. Growth began on that day. On that painful day something that was asleep in me and others woke up.
I really see the tragedy in N' Orleans in the same way. It is waking the sleeping citizenry up. It is reminding us that the country, our government and the representatives we elect need to - must remember to care. It must remember to share, to be there to give a dang about others that are at their weakest point, who are hurting. It put a light on our shameful lazy habit of letting big biz run our country. It put a spotlight on our oozing nasty little secret: we the mighty US have stopped being humane and caring towards our own, our poor, our disenfranchised. How can we justly criticize the rest of the world? It reminded us all that we must remember to care about something other than the celebrities who shine no real light on everyday issues, everyday life for everyday people. As I say and I beleive and I stand by: Entertain me... when that is over, get on. They are really not that interesting to me on a hold unless they are doing that. Some gossip is ok, however in the scheme of things they have not done me a great service unless I was entertained. Thanks though.
I hope this country grows beyond silly party lines, class lines and start to remember to be there for each other, to care and to demand that the elected do the same. I think the tragedies that have hit us in succession are reminders to do so. It is a reminder from God that He judges all, and He blesses more folks that just the US of America. We needed to remember that the great Sleeping Giant had a job to do, not a world to conquer or to break down, but to remind the world of how great we can all be when you unite together to offer opportunity to all with a fair and just playing field as possible. We let big business convince us that only the gluttonous survives. Sin was crouched at our door and we let it in. Repenting by changing our attitude and view is the way to go. I pray we do so soon.
Anyway, that is what 9/11 taught and showed me. How about your experiences?
Kita
posted by Enigma | 7:38 AM
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