Reflection... 8 Years Later

*Image courtesy of Fox-NL at www.sxc.hu

What follows is a paper I wrote for a creative writing class at Tidewater Community College.  It is dated 9-22-01.

Equality.  Men have died for it.  Women have strived for it.  Minorities have fought for it.  Still, it has not been achieved. Can it be achieved?  For that matter, what is it?  Without a standard for equality, it is impossible for a society to know when it has reached it.  Equality is the Golden Rule.  It is treating each and every person you encounter with the same respect, dignity, and unconditional love with which you would want to be treated if you were in their shoes.

In terms of life on earth, equality in this true form only exists in rare, fragile bubbles of space and time.  One such bubble took form over the course of a few hours one September morning in 2001.  It started out as just Tuesday.  It went on to become the beginning of "the first war of the 21st century."  To the horror and disbelief of an entire world, four American planes were strategically hijacked and kamikazed into two of the United States' symbolic structures: the Twin Towers in New York, and the Pentagon.  In a matter of two hours, America's twin symbols of capitalism's might lay in ruin.  Its symbol of impenetrable defense was wounded. 

As the depth of this attack sunk into the American psyche, the bubble solidified.  All debts were forgiven for the moment, and life slowed.  In New York City, life had halted.  Only the rescue work remained.  Even Wall Street held its breath, closing down the stock market for three days.  New Yorkers achieved a level of equality and cooperation unmatched in their recent history.  City residents flooded, even overwhelmed, Red Cross stations to help their fellow citizens by donating blood.  Hundreds of volunteers were turned away at the rubble site.  Mayor Giulianni said in a news briefing that there were too many volunteers already.  All across the U.S., rescue teams loaded up to deploy in New York; donations were gathered for disaster relief, and memorial services were conducted.  Where businesses were open, customers were more patient and understanding, and businesses went the extra mile to help patrons.  American flags began waving like never before.  U.S. citizens nationwide were sympathizing with each other and showing common courtesies often neglected during less trying times.  Domestic peace and patriotism flourished, as they often do in times of crisis.

Unimaginable pictures began streaming across the airwaves.  Scenes of smoke and dust billowing out of lower Manhattan and armed soldiers in a normally crowded U.S. city played throughout the day.  One striking image sticks out above the rest.  During the collapse of the Twin Towers, concrete dust flew like volcanic ash through the skyscraper valleys of New York City.  Anything and anyone within several blocks was coated in  a layer of the gray powder.  As the cloud settled, a new race emerged; not black, not white, not Hispanic, not Asian, nor any other race seen before.  This new gray race of humanity emerged, bonded together by their circumstance, united against an enemy.

The American race stepped out, stepped up, and headed back into the fray.  News reporters, fire and rescue workers, police officers, and onlookers all became part of one team.  One nation under God.  One nation under attack.  No attention was paid to ancestry, sex, or age.  No mention was made of income, or political party  Each member of the gray race gave his or her all to the others.  Mutual respect was a necessity; dignity, a given; love, a standard.  For the next few hours, no minority rights were infringed upon.  Not one quibble was made about which agenda to follow.  No argument was made about the task at hand.  In the midst of the terrorist-created rubble pile; peace, unity, and equality reigned.

As is true in all American crises, the walls of the bubble of equality began to crumble with time.  The first signs of decay came after a few days as reports trickled in of attacks on Afghan-Americans by citizens seeking an outlet for their frustration.  Lack of faith in the U.S. was seen when the stock market re-opened and quickly plummeted.  Commuters resumed their road rage and most Americans commenced Operation: Normal.  Wisps of patriotism and equality lingered, but shrapnel for the bubble continued to fall.  As the pieces hit, people blamed their neighbors, and equality once again took a back seat to personal interest.

It is hard to tell now what will become of the U.S.  Only time will reveal how true Americans are to their standards of patriotism and equality.  Will the stars and stripes continue to fly from car antennas?  Will courtesy and equality survive?  No one knows. One thing is for sure: another day will come when an enemy will rear its head, Americans will be startled, and a bubble of equality will begin to form again.

I don't really have much to add to this except to thank all those who stepped up that fateful day 8 years ago and helped someone who needed it.  I also want to acknowledge and thank those who serve or have served in our military to keep our country safe.  This includes specifically, three of my brothers-in-law, teens I've had the privilege of youth pastoring, and several members of my church.  Thank you all!