I've written a few things on and about September 11th since the beginning of this blog. My personal experience was here and more thoughts about the date were here.
I've been thinking about the anniversary for a while now, but not for the typical reasons. I have been watching a tv series for years now, and they were airing the series finale (the end of the show) to coincide with the 10 year anniversary. Makes sense, since the show is about a bunch of NYC firefighters, many of which were there (fictionally) on that day.
I haven't managed to gather my thoughts into anything coherent, so here they are as they've come.
-One of our young women today wanted to find a scripture that kind of 'went with' September
11th for the opening exercises. I looked up liberty in the index, and we came up with 2nd Nephi 1:7
Wherefore, this aland is consecrated unto him whom he shall bring. And if it so be that they shall serve him according to the commandments which he hath given, it shall be a land of blibertyunto them; wherefore, they shall never be brought down into captivity; if so, it shall be because of iniquity; for if iniquity shall abound ccursed shall be the land for their sakes, but unto the righteous it shall be blessed forever.
When you think about when and why this land was founded and the government (although not perfect by any stretch of the imagination) was established it's quite remarkable. I do have a
testimony that the Lord needed to establish a land that would be (somewhat) tolerable to new ideas and would be a place that the gospel could be restored.
-My heart doesn't break anymore for those who lost their lives in the September 11th attacks. It's for those people that are still here and are missing someone today. The people that lost their lives in the buildings and planes left behind loved ones that probably hurt a little more whenever we come up to the anniversary.
-It's struck me how quickly we can forget -as a nation. I don't think that's always such a bad
thing either. If all we did was remember, it would be difficult to 'get on with life'. Some of the young women in class today were as young as 2 years old when the attack happened. We can't expect them to feel an emotional attachment to the event. I think there are ways to remember and to rebuild and move on without forgetting. I hope that is something that I will be able to teach my children.
-The world is a different place. I don't think we could kid ourselves and believe that there was not terrorism and fanatics and lunatics in the world before 9/11. But, I think the average American (and English, Indian, Greek -just about every nationality we're not unique) is much more aware of the threats and harm that can come to us at anytime. I obviously did not grow up during the height of the Cold War, but I have to believe it was a bit easier to handle one, identifiable threat. The threat of a nuclear war was in the air, just as the threat of continued terrorist attacks are a constant threat in the back of our minds.
-One last thought. (As if any of you as still reading this). I left to serve a mission 3 weeks following 9/11. For those weeks I couldn't help but feel extremely patriotic and love for my country while American flags were hung from every spare space, marque's posted genuine sentiments for those that lost their lives, and schools and cities had services to remember those who died and honor those who were still working in the rubble. I spent two and a half weeks happily secluded in the MTC oblivious to the political saga that was unfolding. In New Zealand I was shocked to hear anti-American sentiments and criticism about the actions the government was taking in the Middle East. I'm not sure we responded correctly, and I'm not sure what we continue to do is helpful in the long run, but I don't think that changes how we feel about
September 11th. It might be strange to say this, but I am glad that I was old enough to know and remember what that day meant to me.
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