Much of what I’ve read, both in print and online, written in remembrance of the sixth anniversary of 9/11 has been quite remarkably partisan. More than a few lefties are taking yet another opportunity to repeat the point that Bush derailed the war on terror by invading Iraq. More than a few righties are seizing the day to imply that those who oppose Bush are sabotaging the war on terror. And I’ve seen writers on each side imply that the other side is dishonoring the memory of the 9/11.
These writers themselves are dishonoring the memory, very much, if you ask me.
The people who died in the World Trade Center weren’t left or right, rich or poor, old or young, male or female. They couldn’t even be stereotyped as Americans, by any means; there were victims from 90 different countries, from Antigua to Zambia.
And in the first days after the event, partisanship fell away. I remember a time — a very brief time — when, aside from a few obscenely jaded political operatives, some of whom would soon sharply influence the course of events — almost all of us were shocked out of our daily routines to see each other not by labels and stereotypes, but simply as people. Fellow human beings. There were gay victims, and illegal immigrant victims, and gun-toting NRA victims, and wingtip-shoe-wearing victims; in their passing, they were all the same. And in observing their loss, we were all the same, too.
Remember that?
Beyond these borders, as the world mourned its own victims and ours, moments of silence were observed across Europe, and memorial vigils were held from Japan to Iran. For a moment, in our grief, humanity became the only thing that mattered.
We promised we would never forget. And look how much we — all of us — have forgotten already.
Six years later, I think that’s what we’ve lost. That’s what we keep losing every day.
I think maybe that’s what we ought to remember.
And then we should act on that memory, every day, like it matters. Then we’ll be honoring the victims of September 11th.
My two cents, anyway.