Although a more important question might be – nine years later where would we like to be in regards to 9/11?
The events of 9/11 were so traumatic that most of us can recall with ease what we were doing when we heard about the tragedy. I can vividly recall immediately where I was when I heard about both space shuttles crashing and when I heard about President Kennedy’s assassination (even though I was a kid). In the case of September 11, I just happened to be in Washington DC.
My DC Story
For the preceding year, I had been participating in a leadership program with the Council on Excellence in Government. On September 11, 2001, the approximately 200 individuals who had taken part of this program gathered at the National Press Club building in downtown DC for our final meeting and graduation. I had flown in from Denver the day before and was staying at a hotel not far from the Pentagon. That morning I rode the Metro from the Pentagon City station downtown to my meeting. I had passed by the Pentagon just moments before the tragic events unfolded.
I gathered with the smaller group of 25 or so other individuals with whom I had been working off and on for the past 12 months as a part of this program. Our coach was about to begin our day’s session when he was called out of the room. Meanwhile, a member of my group who worked at the Pentagon received a cell phone call and became visibly shaken. He started saying something about the country being under attack and the offices where he worked being destroyed. He was visibly distraught as he expressed concern over hearing that some of his coworkers had been killed.
Before any of us could process that information, our coach came back into the room and indicated that there was a national emergency and that our meeting was being canceled. He said that all of the PC-based attendees should go home immediately, if possible. Those of us who were from out of town were instructed to stay there at the Press Club offices. We were informed that the Metro had stopped running and there was no way for us to get back to our hotels. At that point, everyone left except about 30 or 40 of us – a few of the coaches, certain council executives and the out-of-town people, such as myself.
First we gathered around television and watched the events unfold. Like most Americans we were in shock. Finally, our coaches decided to use this as a teaching moment and brought us together for a discussion. Although it was still unclear who was at fault for the tragedy, they used the situation to discuss our leadership thoughts as to how America should respond. This process was much like what we had done all year long in benchmarking companies and government agencies and then debriefing our visits to distill and identify what we had learned as leaders.
In considering this day’s events, most of the individuals in the room spoke in terms of our military options and retaliation. There were a couple of us who suggested that this moment created an opportunity for America to become closer with the rest of the world. I recall pointing out that when we hear of tragedies on the other side of the world, their distance from where we live tends to remove them from our circle of care and concern. We may be saddened, but the impact is short-lived. We don’t frequently feel deeply connected to tragedies are far away. I stated my hope that after the perpetrators were brought to justice, these events might cause us to feel more connected when “bad things” happened on the other side of the world and that the events of 9/11 would open the hearts of the rest of the world to Americans. I can still recall that only a couple of people in the room seemed to be getting my point.
9/11′s Effect on the World?
In a sense, 9/11 did shrink the world. It’s my perception that the world’s heart was opened to the United States in the time immediately afterwards. It’s also my perception that the United States’ heart has been expanded as represented by the degree of our humanitarian efforts after the Indian Ocean tsunami and the earthquake in Haiti. In the past nine years I’ve seen evidence of large numbers of people around the world who do seem to have expanded their circle of care and concern to include those in distant countries.
On the other hand, there is unfortunate evidence that since 9/11 there appear to be many more people who express greater degrees of distrust, dislike and fear of those who are different from them. For evidence, one need look no further than the current controversy over the proposed building of the Islamic Center a few blocks from Ground Zero. It seems that in the past nine years there appears to be a greater experience of polarization among people. There is one group of people who seem to have expanded their love for others and another group of people who have expanded their hatred. What’s your perception on this? Where has 9/11 changed you? Have you moved towards one of these extremes?
The Saga Continues
Later on that fateful day, we were informed the Metro was again running and we could return to our hotels. As we walked to the station, it felt as if we were in one of those Armageddon movies as the normally busy downtown streets were totally vacant except for the handful of us. To be walking the streets of downtown DC and no one, I repeat, no one else to be there was one of the most eerie moments of my life.
Next in Part Two: Stuck in DC. Getting unstuck from our fears.
Mark Gilbert
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Rev. Mark,
Thank you for this. I was in Salt Lake City but more importantly I had just discovered New Thought and Religious Science. I had just decided to take the Foundations class and Sept 11 th was our second class. I distinctly remember coming to class and asking the minister to explain the events of the day. I know I was not alone in trying to make sense of it all. There were a lot of tears, anger, grief, confusion and fear present int he room. That evening, and the following Sunday, my minister spoke to the concept of collateral GOOD. He taught me that regardless of the appearances or the judgments I was creating about the event, there must be some GOOD somewhere in it all. He also taught that it may be some time, in fact it could be many years before we understood what GOOD may come from that day and yet asked us to stand in faith that GOD must be present on that day, just as GOD is always present and look for, dig for, explore all we could and find the GOOD. I have many times believed I found the GOOD and yet it continues to find me. The current debate over the Islamic Community center is another example of the GOOD coming from that horrific day. As we approach the anniversary of Sept 11 I pray each of us can look inside and as you suggest determine where we were then and where we are not. Back then I was just dipping my toe into the world of New Thought, today I am less than one year away from being a licensed minister. I know I have come a long way in the past decade and I believe the entire human race has as well. While there are still many wishing for the good old days I stand in the knowing that there was GOOD that day and that GOOD continues to propel my life forward.
Thank you for the opportunity to share and I look forward to the second installment of this series.
NAMASTE
Robert Brzezinski R.Sc.P.
Thank you for sharing your story, Robert.
I would like to trust that the building of a Mosque near ground Zero could be a good thing. Are the Islamic people really trying to be peaceful? Is part of their Religion about being true to themselves and killing those who do not believe as they do? If I am understanding correctly, they even kill those in their families who try to leave thier religion. If their allegiance is always to their Religion/Country, and that is true if they are Americans, then how can they agree to become American when in doing so their allegiance SHOULD then be to America?? And how do you think those who died in 9/11 would feel if we allow that Ground Zero to be used for a Mosque??
Thanks, Dottie, for the comments and questions….I think your comment reflects the confusing feelings that many Americans have over the issue…and I honor you for raising the points you did.
A few thoughts on your questions….the vast majority of Islamic people are peaceful….the ones who get the news are the violent extreme minority. Sort of like the news coverage given to this Florida minister who was going to burn Korans…if all one sees is such behavior of Christians, then one tends to get a limited view of what Christianity is about. Unfortunately, we frequently get a skewed media presentation of Islam by the media and others who have their personal reasons for presenting this limited version of this faith.
Islam, like Christianity and Judism has a wide range of believers who have differences in their interpretation of their teachings. Each has an extreme that takes a very limited and conservative approach to what their teachings are about. This extreme fundamentalism of each faith is attractive to those who have a need for black/white thinking….in spiral dynamics or integral theory language, one might consider that we are talking about “pre-rational” or “pre-modern” or “traditional” type of thinking….they gain some comfort in pointing at a limited interpretation of their holy book….but it the Koran or the Bible….and saying “my book says this is true and there is no debate about it”…..so, yes, there are some extremes in Islam who teach what you understand about attempting to leave their religion, but it would be incorrect to say that this belief represents anything more than a limited fringe of Islamic fundamentalism.
I’m sorry, but I really don’t understand the question you are asking or point you are making re “allegiance” to country. I am aware of many Islamic people who are devout Americans….but again, not sure what you are saying.
Re the feeling fo those who died in 9/11 and their feelings about an Islamic center being built near Ground Zero…of course, there is no way to answer that question…..however, I could imagine that they might hope that those of us who are still here would not let the principles of our country be jeopardized over the actions of a few extremists. America was founded on the basis of religious tolerance and freedom. Our founders included many from other countries who had been persecuted in their home countries for their religious beliefs. They came here so that they could practice their beliefs free from persecution. Our freedom of religion….all religion…..is one of the strengths of America. If we let a few extremists (who did not represent the entire religion of Islam) make us back off one of our key freedoms, then they accomplished more destruction beyond what they did on 9/11. What better way to honor those who lost their lives and to tell the extremists that they cannot change our principles with such violent behavior, than to return to our core principle of freedom of religion and say “we will not let you take that away!”
Mark