Rubbing Salt In a Wound
Posted: Saturday, September 11, 2010
by Joyce Dunn
It has been just over nine years since September 11, 2001, now referred to as simply 9/11.
It is a day that will live on in history indefinitely, in much the same way December 7, 1941 does. There are similarities in both days, Americans were attacked on their own soil. In both cases America must share a small part of the blame due to lack of vigilance, breakdowns in communication and a degree of complacency.
In the aftermath of 12/7/1941 there was a surge of anti Japanese sentiment, causing hundreds of Japanese American citizens to be incarcerated in compounds, simply because of their Japanese heritage. I think most Americans today would agree that was not one of our country's finer moments.
Today, following 9/11, we direct our hate and fear at anyone who practices the Muslim religion. In my opinion we encourage this kind of hatred by loudly re-parading the pain that day caused every time the calendar circles around to the next September 11th.
Do we need to remember that day? Of course we do. We need to remember the mistakes that helped to allow it to happen. We need to remember the attack was carried out by a small group of individuals with the twisted idea that their way is the only right way. Even if you include all of Al Qaeda, it is still a small group of people in the grand scheme of things. No person, group or religion should ever be conceited enough to believe that their way is the only right way.
We don't need to remember it by fanning the pain it produced; we don't need to remember it by threatening to burn the Holy book of a religion we choose not to practice; we don't need to remember it by dictating where another religion chooses to build their place of worship.
Those kinds of remembrances are simply a way of rubbing salt in a wound, keeping it open and painful. It's time we look for ways to help heal that pain.
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More commentsI think you are right Joyce. I know this is very painful for the people who lost loved ones but how long do we keep televising it. I don't think they should build the mosque so close to the site of the twin towers and I don't think the gentleman should be burning the Koran, because I think these are acts of revenge and that is only my personal opinion and I could be wrong.Thanks Linda. Can't say I agree about the mosque, but the book burning is definitely nothing but an act of hat.Blessings to you.
This is such a wonderful article, Joyce, if I could rate it ten times I would! You bring the most perfect sanity and wisdom to this problem, and show the kind of inner strength that the world really needs right now.Thanks Jennifer. Gerry has some excellent thoughts about all this too. Wonder when we will start learning from our history?
Each period in time has had its own interpretation of a 911 event. The names of the places and players in the events have changed but the results have been the same. Innocent people needlessly slaughtered, territorial conquests claimed, religious beliefs challenged and finally social structures altered forever. Hail the victor!If we do not learn from the events of the past then there is no guarantee that the future will be any brighter for ourselves or our children. The legacy of knowledge and hope we could bequeath our children will only become a paltry dowry of fear, doubt, suspicion and ignorance.Granted that the events of September 11, 2001 were horrific and a planned act of terroism against humanity. The emotional pain and the personal loss of life and limb that day should be mourned and the victims' lives duly remembered each year. But let the memorial celebration's overall theme be filled with love and hope and spiritual renewal.Let's not have the memories of our loved ones serve merely as the line drawn in the sand promoting hatred, bigotry, doubt and suspicion. Memorials are meant to promote closure and acceptance and not encourage disparate lines of animosity hiding behind the facade of caring and righteousness.Good article Joyce.Excellent thoughts, Gerry. I've always been amazed at how resistant the human race seems to be about remembering, and LEARNING from history. Thanks for your comments.
I agree with your point, it is sad to see the actions of a few painted as the actions of a large group, perhaps someday we will learn.Thanks for your comment Richard. Let's hope that someday comes sooner rather than later.
Agree with you 100% Joyce. There will always be those who step outside the bounds of convention but let us not hate a group as a whole because of it.GraceThanks for your comment Grace. Yes, there will always be those who think they know best, won't there? The rest of us need to silence them by not buying into their hate.
Very nice article...Ma'am...Regards, CPThanks for reading and commenting, C P. Have a good day.
Hi Joyce.You are so very right. I've never gotten over a personal emotional hurt by constantly revisiting my "grievance." All that does is continue to remind me of the hurt rather than allow me to move past it into a healthier frame of mind. Doesn't mean I don't do it though. People, me, can be stupid that way and so can whole societies. Time for a change!Great job!Hugs, DianneThanks Dianne, It is easy to fall into "wallowing" isn't it? Definitely is time for a change!
I agree Joyce! I never understood why people would burn holy books, even for symbolic purposes. Oh and by the way, my birthday is December 7th! So even though I was not alive in the 40s, that day will always have special meaning to me! (wink) Thanks for the article! -Bromberg
Thanks Brombergs. People do have strange ideas about how to get a message across, don't they? Thanks for joining my fan club, and have a Happy Birthday, in a couple months, plus. :)
Just like the JFK story, I would simply like to know the "whole trueth". I don't believe the investigation was as thorough or complete as it needs to be.You think we weren't told the whole story about the threatened book burning? You could be right. Thanks for commenting.
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