Wednesday, September 17, 2003
What to do with September 11
Last week's anniversary of the 9/11 bombings brought much pondering in the press on the "meaning" of the day. The amount of self-questioning suggested that there'd been a lot of naval gazing by the media regarding its own coverage. Of course, that's their favorite subject.
The gist was a feeling that somehow there was something missing in the remembrance celebrations. And not a few pointed out that while we all agreed "the world had changed" since that awful day, no one was confident that anything had been done to make it better.
Allow us to make a suggestion.
Let's make September 11 "Community Service Day" all across the country. A day when all able citizens go out and do things for the community: bring toys to orphanages and clothes to veterans shelters, visit nursing homes, work at soup kitchens -- all the things we intend to do but don't get around to.
What better way is there to memorialize the victims of 9/11, who were killed simply because they were Americans, than to show our national and community spirit, resolve, and dedication? How better to show our enemies that we can't be conquered by fear, and that attacks will only makes us stronger and more unified?
It comes down to this: let's make America better because of 9/11. And all we have to do is do it.
Americans were attacked on 9/11 because of who we are. Let's turn that hatred towards us around and respond by helping Americans simply because they are Americans.
We'll be helping those who in need, memorializing those we lost with deeds and not just tears, and best of all, we'll be saying to our enemies, "if you attack us we will only stand together stronger."
Let's make September 11 "National Community Service Day."
The gist was a feeling that somehow there was something missing in the remembrance celebrations. And not a few pointed out that while we all agreed "the world had changed" since that awful day, no one was confident that anything had been done to make it better.
Allow us to make a suggestion.
Let's make September 11 "Community Service Day" all across the country. A day when all able citizens go out and do things for the community: bring toys to orphanages and clothes to veterans shelters, visit nursing homes, work at soup kitchens -- all the things we intend to do but don't get around to.
What better way is there to memorialize the victims of 9/11, who were killed simply because they were Americans, than to show our national and community spirit, resolve, and dedication? How better to show our enemies that we can't be conquered by fear, and that attacks will only makes us stronger and more unified?
It comes down to this: let's make America better because of 9/11. And all we have to do is do it.
Americans were attacked on 9/11 because of who we are. Let's turn that hatred towards us around and respond by helping Americans simply because they are Americans.
We'll be helping those who in need, memorializing those we lost with deeds and not just tears, and best of all, we'll be saying to our enemies, "if you attack us we will only stand together stronger."
Let's make September 11 "National Community Service Day."
