Karen and I, along with millions of others watched as the events of
September 11th unfolded.
How to express the unexpressible. The sight of the second Trade Tower
in New York collapsing. The chills on my skin. The hollow feeling as the
enormity of the loss of life sank in.
I wish I could light a candle to every person who died, but I’m not
interested in setting the world on fire. Let fanatics do that. Let zealots
who only want to spread fear and hate.
So, here are just a few candles to light the dark.
 A candle to commemorate
the honored dead in the World Trade Center complex and the Pentagon.
A candle for the
firepersons and police officers who lost their lives trying to save the
lives of others.
A candle for the
citizen’s of New York, whose response to the crisis was to band together
and try and help.
A candle for those
who died in Flights 11, 175, 77 and 93.
A candle for the
crew and passengers aboard flight 93 who chose to try and overpower the
hijackers which helped prevent the loss of further life.
A candle for every
person who went and gave blood.
A candle for every
person whose response was a desire to help.
Because life am good isn’t just about rosey colored glasses, its
about choices. Some choose to take life. Give their lives to causes that
lead to destruction. And then there are those who choose to build. Who
choose to help others. Its all about how you choose to view the world.
So, here is a candle for my hope that we, as Americans, as humans, can
move forward with resolution to find those who planned this act and give
justice to the dead.
With resolution, but without blind hatred. Muslims are not to blame.
People with dark skin are not to blame.
Fanaticism is to blame. The blind belief in one version of the truth,
with intolerance of all others, is to blame.
My tears and heart go to those the dead leave behind and the hope that
when the numbness and the pain wears away that someday, life can be good
again.
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