Can this date ever again be uttered or thought of without dramatic and vivid memories of a day that changed the world as we know it?
Doubtful.
And yet, as today approached, we were conflicted about what, if anything, to write about the anniversary of the terrorist attacks on the US. These attacks killed thousands of people. Wreaked havoc on tens of thousands of loved ones. Changed the way many of us think about freedom and liberty. And set in motion economic events that have affected thousands of businesses and millions of people.
For us, the events of 9/11 meant the death of a friend and neighbor who worked at the World Trade Center. It also led to investor jitters and management irresolution at the dot-com where we worked, and a month later, it, too was dead.
Thousands of others have stories. Most of them are far worse than ours.
We've survived. What more is there to say?
A few days ago, one of the widows of the 9/11 victims wrote a piece in The New York Times saying, essentially, that while she continues to grieve, she no longer is willing to be a victim.
Noble sentiments. We all should take a page from her book.
Last year, in writing about these events, we noted that "if a homily is to be found, perhaps it is best to turn to the greatest of all homilists, William Shakespeare. 'Readiness is all,' Shakespeare wrote in 'Hamlet.' It seems to us that if there is a single lesson to the events of the last year, that may be it."
This year, perhaps it seems more appropriate to quote a different philosopher, Tevye, from "Fiddler on the Roof."
"To life!" he exclaimed.
To life.
Doubtful.
And yet, as today approached, we were conflicted about what, if anything, to write about the anniversary of the terrorist attacks on the US. These attacks killed thousands of people. Wreaked havoc on tens of thousands of loved ones. Changed the way many of us think about freedom and liberty. And set in motion economic events that have affected thousands of businesses and millions of people.
For us, the events of 9/11 meant the death of a friend and neighbor who worked at the World Trade Center. It also led to investor jitters and management irresolution at the dot-com where we worked, and a month later, it, too was dead.
Thousands of others have stories. Most of them are far worse than ours.
We've survived. What more is there to say?
A few days ago, one of the widows of the 9/11 victims wrote a piece in The New York Times saying, essentially, that while she continues to grieve, she no longer is willing to be a victim.
Noble sentiments. We all should take a page from her book.
Last year, in writing about these events, we noted that "if a homily is to be found, perhaps it is best to turn to the greatest of all homilists, William Shakespeare. 'Readiness is all,' Shakespeare wrote in 'Hamlet.' It seems to us that if there is a single lesson to the events of the last year, that may be it."
This year, perhaps it seems more appropriate to quote a different philosopher, Tevye, from "Fiddler on the Roof."
"To life!" he exclaimed.
To life.
- KC's View:
