Re After September 11, The Messy Table, Sept. 12 blog entry
As an American living in Canada I am always subject to the subtle and not – so – subtle anti – Americanism I encounter. Sept. 11 temporarily silenced that. For a time (weeks even) there was nothing but love and respect given to me by my Canadian brothers and sisters. Each year that love and care returns; if only for a few days. It is a nice feeling—solidarity.
But all the pomp is, in my mind, too high a price to pay. Remember the attack, yes, but let us keep perspective here. Don’t feel too sorry for one of—if not still—the most powerful and prosperous nations on earth. Nearly 3,000 people died that day and they deserve to be remembered. But 3,000 people died today just from malaria. Three thousand more died the day before that and 3,000 more will die tomorrow as well… and on… and on. If as a people we truly care about the lives lost on Sept. 11 then let us show it; not with a moment of silence or by watching tributes on television but by doing what we can to save the lives of others being needlessly lost each day.
The author of The Messy Table responds:
You’re right—there is so much ongoing loss and suffering throughout the world that it does seem strange to look back 10 years in order to mourn and to wonder.
But I think that remembering Sept. 11 is important, because it was such a strong and sudden reminder of human brokenness. The scale of violence shocked us. That it was caused by divisions between peoples didn’t.
In remembering Sept. 11, 2001, we aren’t just mourning the dead—we are, I hope, mourning the human brokenness that causes this kind of human violence. And you’re right—pomp gets in the way here. Because we are all implicated in human brokenness. We are not all guilty, but we are implicated.
katie munnik, online
