tp63.xml
Title
tp63.xml
Source
born-digital
Media Type
story
Date Entered
2003-02-28
TomPaine Story: Story
Toward A More Perfect Union: Lessons Learned - Or Not - Since 9/11
How will September 11, 2001 be remembered in the years to come? As the beginning of the end? As one more day that woke us up for a while until we drifted back to sleep? Or could it go down in history as a terrible wound inflicted that awakened us to the need for healing? Maybe we could be like the man who has a heart attack (bad news, right?), but his trip to the emergency room results in the discovery of a cancer that is then successfully treated.
Albert Einstein referred to nationalism as a disease. I believe that, as is so often the case, the challenge is to put things into a reasonable and realistic perspective. Anyone who genuinely wants to contribute to healing must resist the temptation to approach global politics like it's a team sport or an Arnold Schwarzenegger movie. We must not let our identity as Americans keep us from seeing our place in the bigger picture as members of the human race and guardians of planet earth.
September 11 has helped me to realize that our hearts and our minds are intended to work together, in partnership, neither one imposing itself on the other. The emotions that have been stirred in us during this past year are important; they are vital. The analysis that has been generated is just as important. Our challenge, as Americans and as citizens of the world, is to put the two together, to allow our hearts to fuel us and our minds to direct us--- and specifically direct us to break free of old familiar, circular patterns of behavior that ultimately solve nothing. If you are only of one mind, one unanimous opinion about all that is going on in our world, I will be so bold as to suggest that you are hiding behind simplicity and all-or-none thinking.
We must not run and hide behind over- simplifications and scenarios full of good guys and bad guys. I hope we can listen better to our hearts and minds; they are hard at work. I hope we can remind ourselves --- and each other --- that the community in most danger here is not America, but humanity.
The solutions we so desperately need will not be found in a contest to see who the toughest guy on the block is, but in a partnership that begins within each of us and expands to become a global sense of community. September 11 should inspire all of us to get involved with trying to make a difference in this world, to become pro-active. Don't just think about volunteering; volunteer. Don't just complain about government; participate, change it. Don't just disagree with this article; write a letter to the editor.
Einstein once said, ""We cannot simultaneously prepare for war and for peace.""
September 11 has taught me that violence is never an answer, in self-defense is it only acceptable. I hope September 11 will remind us all how fragile life is and that we are all connected as humans.
So as we reach this very important anniversary in our country's history, let us make the solid decision to open our hearts and minds to dealing with the problems we now face in new and creative ways. By all means, God bless America. But let's not forget to add, ""God bless us all.""
How will September 11, 2001 be remembered in the years to come? As the beginning of the end? As one more day that woke us up for a while until we drifted back to sleep? Or could it go down in history as a terrible wound inflicted that awakened us to the need for healing? Maybe we could be like the man who has a heart attack (bad news, right?), but his trip to the emergency room results in the discovery of a cancer that is then successfully treated.
Albert Einstein referred to nationalism as a disease. I believe that, as is so often the case, the challenge is to put things into a reasonable and realistic perspective. Anyone who genuinely wants to contribute to healing must resist the temptation to approach global politics like it's a team sport or an Arnold Schwarzenegger movie. We must not let our identity as Americans keep us from seeing our place in the bigger picture as members of the human race and guardians of planet earth.
September 11 has helped me to realize that our hearts and our minds are intended to work together, in partnership, neither one imposing itself on the other. The emotions that have been stirred in us during this past year are important; they are vital. The analysis that has been generated is just as important. Our challenge, as Americans and as citizens of the world, is to put the two together, to allow our hearts to fuel us and our minds to direct us--- and specifically direct us to break free of old familiar, circular patterns of behavior that ultimately solve nothing. If you are only of one mind, one unanimous opinion about all that is going on in our world, I will be so bold as to suggest that you are hiding behind simplicity and all-or-none thinking.
We must not run and hide behind over- simplifications and scenarios full of good guys and bad guys. I hope we can listen better to our hearts and minds; they are hard at work. I hope we can remind ourselves --- and each other --- that the community in most danger here is not America, but humanity.
The solutions we so desperately need will not be found in a contest to see who the toughest guy on the block is, but in a partnership that begins within each of us and expands to become a global sense of community. September 11 should inspire all of us to get involved with trying to make a difference in this world, to become pro-active. Don't just think about volunteering; volunteer. Don't just complain about government; participate, change it. Don't just disagree with this article; write a letter to the editor.
Einstein once said, ""We cannot simultaneously prepare for war and for peace.""
September 11 has taught me that violence is never an answer, in self-defense is it only acceptable. I hope September 11 will remind us all how fragile life is and that we are all connected as humans.
So as we reach this very important anniversary in our country's history, let us make the solid decision to open our hearts and minds to dealing with the problems we now face in new and creative ways. By all means, God bless America. But let's not forget to add, ""God bless us all.""
Collection
Citation
“tp63.xml,” September 11 Digital Archive, accessed November 15, 2024, https://911digitalarchive.org/items/show/698.