Here at Notre Dame, there is much excitement in the air, as the Fightin' Irish prepare to take on perhaps their biggest rival, the University of Michigan Wolverines (although, really, isn't everyone their biggest rival? It sure seems that way). I can't help but post this video clip from one of my all-time favorite shows, The West Wing: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6F1RrKDNlbE, demonstrating the "importance" of this game, fought between the two winning-est college football teams.
Much more importantly, however, we solemnly recall the anniversary of the tragic events of Sept. 11, 2001. I do not need to recount, in this space, what occurred on that day, here in the United States of America. Each year, we witness memorials to that event, as this country remembers those who lost their lives on that day.
This year, there are two other events swirling around that directly effect one's emotional state of mind. There has been an ongoing battle regarding whether it is right and appropriate to erect a mosque on the rather hallowed area called "Ground Zero", where the twin towers and several other buildings went down on that fateful day. And, in response, there is the threat by a southern Pastor and his 50 member "church" to burn the Qur'an. This threat is causing all sorts of responses worldwide--most in anger and opposition. Not only are devout Muslims protesting his threat; but also, most faithful Christians, who see it as a foolish act which will accomplish nothing good and only serve to further escalate the violent and unjustified actions by extremist Muslims throughout the world. I am concerned for my students in Egypt, lest they get caught up in some sort of protest that turns anti-American. It is not as if any of them have any connection to either of these two events. It matters not in this turbulent world. Most people who are injured or lose their lives to terrorism are totally innocent--they are neither combatants nor politicians responsible for policy.
In the midst of all of this, I find I am rather in a quandary today. Obviously, I cannot wait to watch the Irish tear apart the Wolverines. But I remember back to that day in 2001. Every adult remembers where he or she was when the news of the the attacks was announced. I remember actually having to go to work after that point and, as a Realtor, show property! I was stunned when the clients still insisted on going out, because it felt as if it was a day of national mourning, not to mention utter shock. I remember that all airplanes were grounded across the country, and I shuddered a bit the first time I saw a commercial airliner in the skies again, a week or so later. I recall the nervousness and anxiety I felt the first time I boarded a plane after those horrific events. Sporting events were cancelled across the country and late night talk shows gave way to ongoing news reports. It did not seem at all appropriate to watch some silly, flippant comedian commenting on insignificant events. They, themselves, realized this and opted to remain off the air for some time. It was a long time before things returned to normal, although I believe that we have never really returned to whatever constituted normal prior to September 11, 2001.
However, I would argue that, in a way that is, perhaps, impossible to avoid, we have "forgotten." I don't mean that in the sense that we don't remember what happened. What we cannot recall, nor hang onto, are the powerful emotions that we all experienced during those horrible days. Shock, sorrow, agony, grief, astonishment, disbelief, rage, resolve, and, yes, even intense hatred. Psychologically, it is probably impossible to recall those emotions such that we feel them in the same way as we did nine years ago. I think that is what allows us to move forward. Still, it somehow seems inappropriate, in the midst of all that is happening, to be excited about a football game.
However, if we do mire ourselves in those sorts of attitudes and emotions, I suppose life would not go on. Next to the events of September 11, everything in my daily life and around me seems so insignificant. Clearly, it is not right, nor helpful to sit in a chair in a dark room and mourn and grieve and ponder those events for the rest of our lives. Life has to go on. But we do have to remember, and we need to find ways that resurrect, if only for a moment, some of those feelings and emotions we experienced on that day. By doing so, we retain our unwavering resoluteness to, as much as is possible, right the wrongs that occurred that day. The lives can never be brought back, but we must never fail to honor them. Their sacrifice can never take a back seat.
I have pondered the two issues--the burning of the Qur'an and the building of the Mosque. I am opposed to that idiotic pastor and his community's wish to go forward with this stupid and misguided idea. However, I must defend, without exception or reservation, his right to freedom of expression. That is what sets America apart from many countries. I think the guy is a right idiot, but the bigger wrong is to allow official or government intervention prohibiting his actions. Our national clinging to personal rights and freedoms is, in one sense, why others sought to attack us; and they used those very rights and freedoms, which we see as sacred, against us. I was horrified to find out that Saudi citizens came to our country, were admitted freely and then were taking flying lessons a mere 25 miles from where I was living so that they would know how to pilot a commercial airliner into the World Trade Center. Does that mean we should close our borders to everyone? Does that mean we should corral all people in this country who arrived from the Middle East and deport them? Emotionally, I want to scream YES!!!! Quit letting people in that may do us harm! Send the rest away, at least for now, because we cannot determine who is here to harm us and who is here innocently. As a reasonable person, however, I realize that is not the right thing to do and to respond with extreme fear would do us, as a nation and a people, much more harm than good.
As for the mosque...I do not believe it should be built there. In the same way I do not believe any sane person should burn the Qur'an, I do not believe any sane person should build a mosque on what is considered hallowed ground. Both actions show intense disrespect and both actions are inciting hatred. It does not HAVE to be done and, despite all claims, it will accomplish nothing positive and will only serve to further divisiveness amongst people. I would claim that they have the right to build their center there, if they can purchase the land and get the permits, but, as I have said many times before, just because we have a right, it does not mean we have to take the opportunity. Having a right and doing the right thing--often two separate things.
Well, in the end, I am going to watch the ND/U of M football game today. But I will not forget, and will go through great lengths to try and recall those very intense emotions that I felt on Sept. 11, 2001. I'll continue to pray, most fervently, for those poor and innocent victims who tragically and horrifically lost their lives, and, most hopefully pray for some sort of peace in this world. I'm going to post a link to the Thomas More Law Center. There is a video entitled "Lest We Forget". I have seen many, many tributes to the victims of that day, but this one, at least for me, is the most powerful. It is difficult to watch--with graphic pictures and sounds, but I believe we owe it to those who lost their lives that day to "remember". http://www.thomasmore.org/default-sb_thomasmore.html?781316483.
I wish, most of all, that all of the battles in this world could be confined to the football field...
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