There will be a lot of remembrances about this day 9-11. Each one of us remembers where we were when we heard the news, and the shock of seeing the planes hitting first one then the other tower.
This week I talked to my 93 year old mother on the phone, and she mentioned how back in 1936 or around there, she felt so worried all the time. She isn't normally a worrier, usually very positive and filled with faith about things. So I asked her, "What were you worried about?" She said, "Oh, all the news coming from Europe." Then last night I was watching a documentary on Churchill, and it struck me once again how scary these times must have been for our nation as well as all of Europe.
Looking back, we all know the outcome of WW II; and even though it was frightening and horrible to think back on, and so many people died, we have hindsight, knowing the Allies won, Hitler died, the concentration camps were set free, Jews gathered to Israel, Japan surrendered.
Our 9-11 was one shocking day, followed by weeks and weeks of analysis, the eventual war in Afghanistan and Iraq, and a whole lot of political fallout. Back in the pre WW II and then those dark years of the war in Europe, finally Japan's attack on us at Pearl Harbor that convinced the US to get involved, and then the years after with all the major nations at war.... I can't even imagine how frightening this must have been to those who lived through it. And not just the fighting men, but especially for those back home, the wives, mothers, children....never knowing what would happen. They didn't know the outcome. And it went for a decade. The news started coming in the mid 1930's and it wasn't over until 1945. That is a long time to live with fear.
It is so vital to remember and honor those who fight for freedom and for peace in the world The power hungry and the evil will not be appeased. They tried to appease Hitler back in the '30's, to give him what he wanted, and he just got stronger. I am not a warmonger, but when I look back at those times, it is clear that the US had to get involved for the sake of freedom and peace. I don't know what the answer should have been for our 9-11, but I do know that we cannot ignore the lessons of the past.
This week I talked to my 93 year old mother on the phone, and she mentioned how back in 1936 or around there, she felt so worried all the time. She isn't normally a worrier, usually very positive and filled with faith about things. So I asked her, "What were you worried about?" She said, "Oh, all the news coming from Europe." Then last night I was watching a documentary on Churchill, and it struck me once again how scary these times must have been for our nation as well as all of Europe.
Looking back, we all know the outcome of WW II; and even though it was frightening and horrible to think back on, and so many people died, we have hindsight, knowing the Allies won, Hitler died, the concentration camps were set free, Jews gathered to Israel, Japan surrendered.
Our 9-11 was one shocking day, followed by weeks and weeks of analysis, the eventual war in Afghanistan and Iraq, and a whole lot of political fallout. Back in the pre WW II and then those dark years of the war in Europe, finally Japan's attack on us at Pearl Harbor that convinced the US to get involved, and then the years after with all the major nations at war.... I can't even imagine how frightening this must have been to those who lived through it. And not just the fighting men, but especially for those back home, the wives, mothers, children....never knowing what would happen. They didn't know the outcome. And it went for a decade. The news started coming in the mid 1930's and it wasn't over until 1945. That is a long time to live with fear.
It is so vital to remember and honor those who fight for freedom and for peace in the world The power hungry and the evil will not be appeased. They tried to appease Hitler back in the '30's, to give him what he wanted, and he just got stronger. I am not a warmonger, but when I look back at those times, it is clear that the US had to get involved for the sake of freedom and peace. I don't know what the answer should have been for our 9-11, but I do know that we cannot ignore the lessons of the past.
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It's a very sobering time indeed. I only hope the leaders of nations will resolve very complex problems with sensitivity, compassion and understanding - especially when ordinary peoples' lives and livelihoods are involved.
ReplyDeleteTake care
x
I remember for days..weeks...months while in downtown amongst the skyscrapers every time a plane flew over we all stared and held our breath.
ReplyDeleteThe place where I used to work had a large fountain in a gigantic courtyard behind the building. On the first anniversary of 9/11 there was a scheduled silent prayer of anyone who wanted to join in. We surrounded the fountain and held hands silently for a few minutes in remembrance. The following years no such event was scheduled, but it continued to take place.
I lived in New York then. My sister and husband were in Manhattan that day, and I couldn't reach them for hours. The next day, I found out my coworker's husband, who was a firefighter, died in one of the towers. She was five-months pregnant. And a couple of days later, the stench from Ground Zero reached where we lived an hour away.
ReplyDeleteJerry, I'm always interested in hearing viewpoints of those who lived there and experienced it. I have a son who while visiting NYC walked by the area a year later. He said it felt like a very sacred place.
ReplyDeleteKitty, Here here, let's hope so. Never very likely but always hopeful. Now I'm going to be political, which I never do on my blogs, but altho I didn't vote for Obama, I'm glad he's our president because that made other countries hate us less. My son who lived in Africa for 2 years said the people there love Obama like a god, and his election softened their hearts toward the US.
P.S. Someone must have gotten mad at me for this post, because today I lost a follower here and on my other blog.
Theresa, Look we posted our comments at the exact same moment. You wrote only 4 lines in your comment but the emotion I feel as I read it is bringing it all back. What a tragic time that was in our history.
ReplyDeleteI remember sitting in class, watching the news, and feeling both surreal and scared.
ReplyDelete...but I do know that we cannot ignore the lessons of the past.
I think you've put it perfectly.
Karen, I remember with horror watching the gastly events of 9/11. At that time I was self employed and with my colleague. We were driving down a local street in my home town. A customer saw us and flagged us down, saying "Eddie, Bob, two planes have crashed into the twin towers in New York. Come inside and see it on my TV."
ReplyDeleteWe could not believe it was real when we saw the planes deliberately crash into the towers and later when they both collapsed we were aghast. I had to pinch myself to see if this was all real or a dreadful nightmare as we watched, open mouthed in disbelief. Then the Penagon was hit and we heard about flight 93 and those brave men trying to stop the suicide crash into the Whitehouse, knowing they would die but waiting until the plane was in open country to save lives before they took the hijackers on. What brave men and women.
We wondered how any human being could actually do this to innocent people. We heard those responsible had been brain washed into thinking they would actually be rewarded in Heaven for doing this. I shudder to think what their actual reward might have been and what they experienced from their maker.
I shall never forget this.