A moment of Silence

It has been eight years since that horrible day in 2001 when two planes went into the Twin Towers in NY, a third into the Pentagon, and the fourth was taken down in Pennsylvania by the passengers at the expense of their lives before it could reach its destination.

That single time affected just about everyone born at the time. Not just those of the United States, but all those other countries from South Africa to Australia to Russia that had citizens working in the Towers and the rest of the world which watched the painful video replay over and over on the news for days and weeks after.

It shifted the face of the wars we had been fighting from those of government against government for political and economic reasons to non-government, asymmetrical battles for concepts that most of us will never comprehend. From the Geneva Convention Laws of War to completely uncontrolled conflict with one side being proud to murder civilians while giving up their own lives in the process.

A good friend’s brother was on the 96th floor of one building that day, in town for a single day meeting. An investor from Australia was able to call his family to say good-bye before the building in which he was standing collapsed. The majority of fireman from one of the close station houses died while rescuing as many as possible. Policemen, childcare workers, visitors – none of them mattered to the bombers.

In the immediate aftermath as well as the months and years of the following clean up operations, the outpouring of support for family and friends of those involved has been tremendous. Yet, it can not undo the damage that was done, the wars that were started, the civil rights that have been abridged in the name of making the US citizenry safe.

No matter where in the world you are as you read this go watch Exhibit 13 by Blue Man Group and spend a moment of Silence for those that were killed and the innocence that we, the whole world, lost that day. Not since Hiroshima and Nagasaki has such violence been perpetrated on an unsuspecting civilian population.  Obviously, the human race has evolved in the last half century and not for the better.

A moment of Silence for all the civilians and services members who have lost their lives, been killed or wounded since that day in service of their country or just being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

I don’t see an end anytime soon to conflict, war, or the willingness of many to die as they attempt to impose their will on others. Our children are inheriting a vastly different world than the one into which I was born.  May they be better stewards than their parents generation and the next generation even more responsible.

– Holly

And the work of the righteousness shall be peace, and the effect of righteousness, quietness and confidence forever. Nation shall not life up sword against nation; neither shall they learn war any more.

from the Prayer Book for Jewish Personnel in the Armed Forces of the United States – 1984 JWB.