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From
the ashes of tragedy a spirit has risen from within New York City
to unite the citizenry of our great nation. What was meant to
terrorize has galvanized us as Americans and awakened a sleeping
giant, which has shown its strength and courage. And it is that
strength that makes America great. It is not in our real estate,
or our government - it is in the spirit of our people. Hero's have
stepped up in a moment of crises to risk their lives simply
because they were needed to do so. Like the man who carried a
crippled woman down 48 flights of steps from within the World
Trade Center building, who, even when she begged for him to save
himself and put her down - he wouldn't, he couldn't. It has been
said that courage is bravery in spite of fear. Today, courage was
on display. New York City rallied with a one for all and all for
one unity of pride, love and shared struggle, and in doing so,
inspired a nation and the world. On this day, I am among many that
are proud to be a New Yorker and an American.
It
is Four O'clock AM Saturday September 15, 2001 and I am finishing
my last cup of coffee at the Moonstruck Dinner while I write down
these thoughts. I have just returned from Ground Zero. I am filled
with emotions as thick as the ashes and soot that covered
thousands of terrified people just over 72 hours ago. Certainly I
feel sad, but not just for the people lost and their surviving
loved ones, but also for the fact that someone, somewhere, felt
that they had the right to do this. How is it that you can so
coldly kill the innocent in the name of your god? More people have
died throughout history in the name of religion than any other
single motivation. Today, along with most of the world, God is
weeping.
Tuesday
September 11th, in the aftermath and confusion of the terrorist
attack, I sat and watched thousands of people walking up 2nd Ave.,
like an exodus in a movie scene. The streets were devoid of cars,
except for police, fire and emergency vehicles. Convoys of trucks,
earthmovers and specialized equipment would scream down the
avenues for the next few days, sometimes 10 at a time. This was a
war zone -- we were in the aftermath of war. But this was America
and no one had ever inflicted war on our mainland soil, not in
over 200 years. This was our wake up call.
Early
Friday evening, four women and I waited for the cross-town bus on
23rd Street. It didn't come. Finally a shuttle bus, which had been
working all day at Ground Zero, stopped to ask us where we were
going. "Cross-town" I said. "Jump in, I'll take you
as far as 2nd Ave." he replied. He had pain on his face and
exhaustion in his eyes, but like all New Yorker's that day
extended a hand to who ever needed it. As we rode I noticed the
seats filled with ashes, and we all spoke about what was
happening, right now, in New York City, our home. They attacked
our home !!! People were dying. As I left the bus I wished them
all safe journey and thanked the driver for his kindness, and he
said, "we all have to stick together at a time like
this". I agreed but asked "shouldn't we stick together
like this all the time?" He nodded, hesitating for a moment
to absorb the thought, then pulled off.
I
sat up until 2:AM Saturday morning when I was compelled to get up
and walk 40 blocks downtown to see first hand the aftermath at
Ground Zero, to have a chance to absorb what had really happened,
purge my grief, and connect with my neighbors. I used the walk to
clear my head and try and prepare myself for what I was about to
experience as I walked south down 9th Ave. towards Liberty and
Church Street where the towers once stood.
I
could never have prepared myself for what I found. There were
people everywhere, some sitting, some watching, some just mulling
around and strolling Canal Street, fulfilling a need to just be
close and feel connected to someone, anyone. Strangers would stop
and exchange a quiet moment, and some would hug just to feel life
close to them. Everyone was in a daze. A steady stream of workers,
city officials and volunteers moved to and from the site. From
Canal street I could see the smoke rising in the distance like a
Volcano that had recently erupted, now still and quiet
in the night. Despite the bustling of people and machinery, there
was a calm to the scene, a cold stillness that said, "life
will never be the same". This was one of those moments in
history that for a second froze us in time. For as far as I could
see there were people on the streets supporting the efforts going
on just up the block, wanting to do something, anything. So they
cheered the workers, like they were soldiers coming home from war.
They held up flags in unified solidarity and waved signs they had
made at home, things like "you are our hero's". Regular
men and women who were risking their lives in extreme
circumstances - they were hero's, each and every one of them. And
leading the way was a Mayor who in one swift action gave this city
courage and direction. There was no room for bullshit here, not
now. There was no politics or no name calling necessary. Mayor Rudolph
Guiliani stood up to be counted upon. This was his city to take
charge of and he delivered.
As I looked around there were people with binoculars trying to
follow what was happening at Ground Zero, while children to young
to understand were sitting on the corner steps eating popcorn. And
the flags were everywhere, on shirts, on hats, pins on lapels,
ribbon on shirts, and a man who had a full-length flag tied around
him like a cape, which he was wearing like a protection from the
evil that may still be lurking in the darkness. And just as I was
feeling strong with patriotism I came upon a vigil, with candles
and pictures, hundreds of pictures. Those that had had loved ones
missing were sitting, praying and hoping that somehow things would
get better. And others, not related to any of the pictures,
stopped and said prayers. Not because they were directed to as in
a large moment of silence, but because they were compelled to from
within there own hearts. Strangers, such as I, stopped to pray,
cry, and remember what once was.
So as I sit here and try to find the words to express this week of
horror and sadness, I am filled with so many emotions. In the
faces of my fellow New Yorkers I have truly seen the presence of
God, in their courage, their spirit and their love for one
another.
We have put men on the moon, sent spaceships to Mars, and yet
cannot find the tolerance around the world to live in peace in our
own small corner of the universe. May God watch over us until we
all learn that to kill anyone, is to strike at the heart of us
all, we are all one.
To all of those that have lost loved ones, the world cries with
you, for me personally this is a sorrow that I will carry for a
long time.
Copyright 2001 - All Rights Reserved
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