I’ve been enlightened and uplifted by the many articles and TV specials commemorating the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks.
It’s important and appropriate that we pause to honor with reverence and gratitude the lives lost and mangled and the noble efforts of those who struggled mightily to rescue them.
We should learn the lesson that life is fragile. We’re all vulnerable, not merely to terrorism, but to various sudden external forces, from car collisions to cancer. This reminder should not make us fearful or insecure; rather, it should inspire gratitude for every precious moment of life.
We should also be reminded that 9/11 brought out the best in us – compassion, empathy, charity, and a sense of unity.
In another week, however, I suspect our memories and feelings about this catastrophe will, once again, become more muted and less painful. That’s how it should be.
Life-changing tragic events dot the lives of all of us – the death of a loved one, the end of a marriage, the loss of a home or business. How we cope with these calamities often determines the quality of our lives.
We must not be imprisoned by anxiety or grief by events like 9/11. It’s not healthy or helpful to repeatedly re-experience the pain of old wounds. Self-inflicted suffering is pointless and damaging.
We shouldn’t forget what happened but we are entitled to live happy lives, and that requires us to let go of the grief of terrib
le times and to move on.
This is Michael Josephson reminding you that character counts.
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Good insight – remember and let go. There is a time for everything a time to mourn and a time to laugh.
Well put. We do not honor others by making ourselves miserable but by remembering them with love and thanksgiving and by living out the best that they have given to us.
Michael,
I have thought for a long time before leaving a comment about this particular commentary for a lot of reason but ow I think I am ready to do so. It is very, very hard to so called move on beyond 9-11 and all the events surronding what happen there whenever the people who commited such a horrible act upon so many inocent people continue to do so to other inocent people in the name of there so called religion, we and a great part of the world wants to excuse it as a few radicals but the people I see on TV are multitudes of everyday people like you and me killing, burning and draging the dead bodies of Americans through the streets all because someone made a movie they consider offensive towards their so called religious leader and many in our country including our president say islam is a religion of tolerance……. if our leaders want us to move on then have the courage to say what needs to be said and that is we will not tolerate that kind of hatred from anyone for any reason; no one has the right to kill others because their so called religion or any other reason.
George, many (most?) of the Muslims of Libya were outraged by the behavior of the group which attacked the consulate.