I did not post a message yesterday. Although I had not actually planned it that way, I think subconsciously I knew all along that I would not write anything on September 11. That is why I wrote about the date on the days leading up to it. And today's thoughts tie into the fallout of events created by September 11.
My gratitude today goes to Nikki Stern whose opinion video ran on CBS Sunday Morning. Nikki's husband died in one of the Twin Towers on September 11, 2001. She said she is sick and tired of the anger. I agree with her. She said we should be coming together instead of coming apart. All of this is in reference to the furor over the Islamic Community Center (with a mosque) being built in Manhattan near the site where the World Trade Center was located. Of course, there are mosques all over the country, many that need to either expand or rebuild. In many places Muslims are being harassed as never before, including children at school. Almost all of these communities have existed for many years before September 11, 2001, peacefully unknown to the rest of their neighbors until the neighbors decided to get angry about something unconnected to their community. These Muslims are our engineers, doctors, and teachers -- and have worked alongside us for decades. Why have some people suddenly become so suspicious and angry?
Nikki is right: We need to come together instead of fall apart. Isn't this America, land of the free and home of the brave?
Unfortunately, American history is rife with the demonizing of an "other." It's so ingrained in our culture, those who don't join in are on the fringe of the masses... which is sad. I'm not sure how we will change this culture, but hope that we find a way to make compassion the living truth of the majority, rather than separatism. It will take a while, but hopefully, the pendulum will eventually swing in the other direction.
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