How do we move on? I believe that people of the United Sttes need to find meaningful ways to move beyond the tragic event and I do understand the lost of family and friends due to the attack. The reaction to the attack in many ways done a lot to hinder our understnding that we are a country governed by a constitution that is a working and living document. Inalienable rights have been ignored because of our cautious and/or hysterical reactions. The foray into Iraq was ill conceived and wasted resources much needed in other areas, e.g., education, social development, human development, etc.
Well, this isn't a rant but a reflection that while it takes a long time to forget tragic events of a national stature somehow the continuing remembrances may only hinder our need to move toward more humane and just ways of being human beings. A cartoon in this morning's Chronicle was interesting. It depicted a picture of a family wrapping their arms around each other in a tight hug - father, mother, and in between them their son and he asked: "seroiusly...do we really need to do this EVERY September 11th?" Or, as I asked myself .... how do we do a better job of reaching outside and beyond that circle of family?
We still remember Pearl Harbor Day and that was 70 yrs ago - December 7, 1941. It was another historical and tragic day and we remembered being attacked! We might want to remember what was done after World War II - when eventually via post-war development programs helped Japan and Germany, and other countries to be who they are today and reunited as a part of a more humane and just world community. Not perfect but there is progress even experiencing set backs from time to time.