Message Still Resonates 20 Years Later
Note- I was honored by the New Jersey Broadcasters Association for a Hometown View that was originally broadcast on September 11, 2004. The segment received the NJBA's "Best of the Best" award and on this anniversary I wanted to note only share it with you but pose the question on how much has changed over the years. With all the turmoil in the world we might agree that the answer is not much.
HOMETOWN VIEW (September 11, 2004)
The third anniversary of the 9/11 disaster was marked with tributes and memorials all across the country. Almost all of them were to remind us of the thousands of innocent victims who lost their lives and as a nation we have pledged to "never forget." However I believe for the most part we have already forgotten what was a great lesson learned immediately following the tragedy of that September day just three years ago.
If there was anything positive that came out of 9/11 it was our willingness to not only unite but to understand the little obstacles we often face in life are just that...little. In other words we began putting things in proper perspective and for a period did not take things like like family, friends and good health for granted. We also showed tolerance and patience for one another and I remember commenting about how nice it was to see people going out of their way for complete strangers. Again it was the little things that stood out...saying PLEASE and THANK YOU...holding the door open for someone...letting a driver get in front of you.
Well three years later I believe that spirit has virtually disappeared and we are now back to the way things used to be. It's that "me me" philosophy all over again and the warmth and fuzziness of post 9/11 America has been replaced by looking out for #1.
Why is it that we need a tragedy to remind ourselves that while we are all different...we are also the same. Why can't the good feelings we had for one another...regardless of race, religion or social status continue? In some cases we are more divided now than before terrorists changed the way we live.
The answer might be simple. Maybe it's just that Americans are at their best when the chips are down...it's at that time we come together and for a period realize that the one thing we agree on is the red, white and blue may not be perfect...but it's better than anywhere else. We are the land of the free and the home of the brave...I just wish it didn't always take negatives to find our positives.
