No one can forget what happened and the way this country changed-- the way people were impacted. Words like freedom and America have different meanings attached to them. The culture in this country has shifted, in ways that are just now becoming visible.
For me, I was in 9th grade geometry, getting ready to start a quiz. When the teacher came in, however, he didn't say a word to us. He went for the TV and the room fell silent.
I was 14 then, living in Indianapolis, Indiana, and I felt far away from what was happening in New York and Washington. I didn't understand that our nation's sense of safety had vanished; I didn't understand the fragility of life at that time. The moment was terrible and tragic and unreal, but only now am I becoming aware of how that single day has altered the reality and identity of this country.
Despite the evil deed and the tragedy that impacted people nation and world-wide, we as humans are resilient. This country, thanks to the support of public officials and volunteers nation wide, is healing and moving. We might find many reasons to be scared, but we should also find so many reasons to be encouraged and uplifted--the overwhelming response to this tragedy has been unbelievable in the past decade. Everyone has heard a story of courage, bravery, or goodness that has come from this moment in our history.
Despite what happened, people refuse to live in fear, and people are reaching out to one another for strength and support in the uncertainty of our time.
Take, for example, this e-mail I received from the Co-founder of Meetup.com last night.
"Dear Meetupers,
I don't write to our whole community often, but this week is
special because it's the 10th anniversary of 9/11 and many
people don't know that Meetup is a 9/11 baby.
Let me tell you the Meetup story. I was living a couple miles
from the Twin Towers, and I was the kind of person who thought
local community doesn't matter much if we've got the internet
and tv. The only time I thought about my neighbors was when I
hoped they wouldn't bother me.
When the towers fell, I found myself talking to more neighbors
in the days after 9/11 than ever before. People said hello to
neighbors (next-door and across the city) who they'd normally
ignore. People were looking after each other, helping each
other, and meeting up with each other. You know, being
neighborly.
A lot of people were thinking that maybe 9/11 could bring
people together in a lasting way. So the idea for Meetup was
born: Could we use the internet to get off the internet -- and
grow local communities?
We didn't know if it would work. Most people thought it was a
crazy idea -- especially because terrorism is designed to make
people distrust one another.
A small team came together, and we launched Meetup 9 months
after 9/11.
Today, almost 10 years and 10 million Meetuppers later, it's
working. Every day, thousands of Meetups happen. Moms Meetups,
Small Business Meetups, Fitness Meetups... a wild variety of
100,000 Meetup Groups with not much in common -- except one
thing.
Every Meetup starts with people simply saying hello to
neighbors. And what often happens next is still amazing to me.
They grow businesses and bands together, they teach and
motivate each other, they babysit each other's kids and find
other ways to work together. They have fun and find solace
together. They make friends and form powerful community. It's
powerful stuff.
It's a wonderful revolution in local community, and it's thanks
to everyone who shows up.
Meetups aren't about 9/11, but they may not be happening if it
weren't for 9/11.
9/11 didn't make us too scared to go outside or talk to
strangers. 9/11 didn't rip us apart. No, we're building new
community together!!!!
The towers fell, but we rise up. And we're just getting started
with these Meetups."
Meetup was born from the idea that having community makes our nation stronger. Meetup demonstrates that community and trust and love is the way to heal and overcome hardships--not as individuals but as a whole. This is key--the strength is in our numbers and our bonds, not in our individual freedoms and agendas.
In other examples of positivity in light of this terrible anniversary, an aquaintance on Facebook writes,
"Everyone my age & near my age, remember how helpless and scared and sad and mad you felt 10 years ago. Our country's still here, and none of us are helpless 8th graders anymore. America's been through a lot, but it's still great, and now it's your turn. Looking at all my friends and classmates, I'm only encouraged."
President Obama said, "Even the smallest act of service, the simplest act of kindness, is a way to honor those we lost, a way to reclaim that spirit of unity that followed 9/11."
We have to continue to believe in the goodness of humanity. It is the only way. 9/11 was a terrible tragedy, and we cannot change what happened, but in light of it, we must become better.
--Megan
--Megan
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