Soapbox

The past two weeks have been a blur. It has felt as though I've mindlessly moved from one task to the next, with no awareness of time passing. Only recently have I been able to not spend the entire day on the verge of tears. I think as a nation, we are all moving from numbness to our 'normal' routine. (although we all know things will never be 'normal' again)

A woman on the WL discussion list summed it up best. America has now learned that 'anything CAN happen'. Previously, the average American went about their life aware, but not involved in, the violence of the world. We had our own troubles to worry about, and two great oceans provided a barrier against the introduction of more. Our attention was focused on an economy perched on recession, schools that are no longer safe for our children, and the price of gasoline. We had soccer practice for the kids, breakfast meetings, and yardwork to deal with. Maybe we'd blurt out a brief 'hello' to a neighbor as we hustled here and there. We were busy.

The attack on the World Trade Center towers and the Pentagon also marked the end of our self-absorbed mind-set. You would be hard pressed to find a local merchant NOT collecting for the relief effort. There are benefit concerts, telethons, and prayer services nationally and locally. An appointment is now required to donate blood. A familiar look of dazed, but determined, unity has become common on all our faces. We have been shown just how fragile life is. Perhaps we can now treat each other with more compassion and reverence.

If it can be said that any blessing came out of September 11th, it the realization that we are all in this together, as a country and as a species. The people who died that day were just average people going about their business. Finding the culprits of this act is not an act of vengence, because no punishment can ever repair the damage done. It will be insurance that it will never happen again....anywhere.

In collectively picking ourselves up, joining with nations around the world to face this head on, we can all make the statement that terrorism upon any people will not be tolerated anywhere in the world. Whether you live in Belfast, London, Kabul, or Tokyo, it is a human right to live free of terror.

all the best,

Catie

 © copyright 2001 WomanLinks.com

About the Author : Catie Hayes is founder/editor of WomanLinks.com; a community of support, spirituality, growth and empowerment for women. She is a freelance writer, the single homeschooling mom of two, and an avid fan of laughter, spontaneous dancing, cats and chocolate (not necessarily in that order).