Terrorists thrive on hatred. As Americans, we have learned to accept differences because we believe in freedom. That is what we are fighting for now: FREEDOM!
If we fight ourselves by hurting people who look different, then the real terrorists succeed: They use us as ammunition (like they used our planes, filled with our citizens) against our own country.
“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”
—MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR., Strength to Love, 1963
FROM AN AOL POST, 9/14/2001 10:41 PM EDT
SUBJECT: COMPASSION AND REVENGE
Many will be asking your opinion of these events. Each question is an opportunity for you to contribute to the love that is in the world or to the fear that is in the world. This is the same opportunity that presents itself to you at each moment.
If you hate those who hate, you become like them. You add to the violence and the destructive energy that now fills our world. As you make the decision to see with clarity and compassion, you will see that those who committed these acts of violence were in extreme pain and that they were fueled by the violent parts of ourselves—the parts that judge without mercy, strike in anger, and rejoice in the suffering of others. They were our proxy representatives. If you can look with compassion upon those who have suffered and those who have committed acts of cruelty alike, then you will see that all are suffering. The remedy for suffering is not to inflict more suffering.
This is an opportunity for a massive expression of compassion. It is also an opportunity for a massive expression of revenge. Which world do you intend to live in—a world of revenge or a world of compassion?
“Now the entire city is out there cheering and clapping and sending letters and just really showing their signs of support for the cops. You know what that’s doing for them? It’s boosting and enhancing the morale, it’s making it, as bad as it is, as tragic as it is, so much better.”
—POLICE COMMISSIONER BERNARD KERIK, The New York Times 9/17/2001
FROM AN AOL POST, 9/15/2001 1:15 AM EDT
SUBJECT: I FELL IN LOVE
This week I fell in love with every firefighter on the planet. I want nothing more than to marry a firefighter. They are the most amazing people in the world. I also fell deeply in love with America and NYC. Aren’t we just a beautiful brave country?
“There’s love in the air.”
—WOMAN AT A CANDLELIGHT VIGIL, Entertainment Weekly 9/28/2001
FROM AN AOL POST, 9/23/2001 12:33 PM EDT
SUBJECT: THIS GAVE ME CHILLS! BUT IT’S TRUE!
Every two weeks I keep my six grandchildren, all under seven years of age, for the night. Last night was the night. As they were all outside talking about what happened—and yes, they all know something bad did—they wanted to know what they could do for the children who died.
I was dumbfounded, and didn’t have an answer, so I asked them what they thought they could do. We live in the country, so they looked around for a while, then my six-year-old baby said, “I know, let’s pick them some flowers.”
So off the six of them went, picking wildflowers until they all had bunches. I asked them what they were going to do with the flowers. They said they were going to send them to the children who died. I asked them how. And they told me they were going to lay them on the picnic table and have angels pick them up and take them to the children.
I was busying myself trying to get the bonfire ready and make supper, but in the back of my mind, I reminded myself to remove the flowers—even though I felt guilty trying to fool them, I didn’t want to break their hearts.
But after the chore of getting six children ready for bed, I forgot about the flowers.
My heart fell to my toes when I heard my granddaughter say this Sunday morning, “Hey guys, I heard a lot of birds’ wings last night, lets go see if the angels came and got our flowers.”
She opened up the door, and they all started yelling “They’re gone! They’re gone, Grammy!”
I rejoiced with them, and silently vowed to thank my husband for remembering to remove them. But when I did, he was just as shocked, for he had not done it either.
I do not go to church, but I believe in God and teach the children about God. Did angels take them? I don’t know, I just know they were gone. The innocence of a child . . . You decide where they went . . .
“America is a willingness of the heart.”
—F. SCOTT FITZGERALD, The Crack-up
FROM AN AOL POST, 9/21/2001 3:17 PM EDT
SUBJECT: FROM A 21-YEAR-OLD PAKISTANI MUSLIM WHO WORKED IN THE WTC
I was on my back, facing this massive cloud that was approaching. It must have been 600 feet off, and everything was already dark.
I normally wear a pendant around my neck, inscribed with an Arabic prayer for safety; it looks similar to the cross. A Hasidic Jewish man came up to me and held the pendant in his hand and looked at it. He read the Arabic out loud for a second.
What he said next, I will never forget. With a deep Brooklyn accent, he said, “Brother, if you don’t mind, there is a cloud of glass coming at us, grab my hand, let’s get the hell out of here.”
He helped me stand up, and we ran for what seemed like forever without looking back. He was the last person I would ever have thought would help me. If it weren’t for him, I probably would have been engulfed in shattered glass and debris.
As the world continues to reel from this tragedy, people in the streets are lashing out.
Not far from my home, a Pakistani woman was run over on purpose as she was crossing the parking lot to put groceries in her car. Her only fault? That she had her head covered and was wearing the traditional clothing of my homeland. I am afraid for my family’s well-being within our community. My older sister is too scared to take the subway into work now. My eight-year-old sister’s school is under lockdown and armed watch by police.
Violence only begets violence, and by lashing out at each other in fear and hatred, we will become no better than the faceless cowards who committed this atrocity. If it weren’t for that man who helped me get up, I would most likely be in the hospital right now, if not dead. Help came from the least expected place, and goes only to show that we are all in this together—regardless of race, religion, or ethnicity.
Ask yourselves now how you can help those people in New York and Washington. You can donate blood, you can send clothing, food, and money. Funds have been set up in the New York area to help the families of fallen firefighters, policemen, and emergency personnel.
The one thing that won’t help is if we fight among ourselves, because it is then that we are doing exactly what they want us to do, and I know that nobody here wants to do that.
FROM AN AOL POST, 9/15/2001 8:27 PM EDT
SUBJECT: HELP HEAL OTHERS
In this time of great confusion and unbelievable emotion, let’s remember to lend our hearts to loved ones and neighbors. Let’s open up a piece of ourselves and share our love with whoever will take it and particularly to those who won’t.
Live.
Breathe.
Love.
Believe.
“Love is the vital essence that pervades and permeates, from the center to the circumference, the graduating circles of all thought and action. . . . Love is the talisman of human weal and woe—the open sesame to every soul.”
—ELIZABETH CADY STANTON, 1860
“There have been people on Fifth Avenue hugging us.”
—NEW YORK CITY POLICE OFFICER STEVE PETRILLO OF THE 19TH PRECINCT, New York Observer 9/24/2001
FROM AN AOL POST, 9/20/2001 9:38 PM EDT
SUBJECT: PLEASE GIVE ME YOUR THOUGHTS
The Power of One
One
person killed thousands,
made towers fall,
buildings burn,
created fear in our hearts,
and saddened all.
One
flag unites us,
under stars forever shining,
red stripes for the blood shed
forever blazing
white stripes for
the light of hope
in our hearts.
One
person can
end the hate,
love all,
stop the cycle of
killing,
unite us,
and make tomorrow a
better day for all.
One person can do anything. Do what you can to help us all.
FROM AN AOL POST, 9/15/2001 4:39 PM EDT
SUBJECT: VOICES FROM HEAVEN
Tuesday’s news has brought a number of deep emotions out in all of us. I find myself struggling between bouts of anger, confusion, fear, and, of course, sadness. The times when my emotions are the strongest are when I see pictures and hear stories of the victims, and I wonder what they must have gone through on the morning of Tuesday the 11th. But I also wonder what they may be saying now.
If I were to guess, I would say it would be, “Don’t let hatred breed more hatred, use my death to create life, use this negativity to create foundations of love and compassion for your fellow man. Use your confusion to create peace.”
“From the devastated buildings and the crashing airplanes, people cried the most important words they could find. They’re the words of love. Love can’t fail. Love always wins.
“Today is a day of sorrow, but today is also the day of the victory of love. These people who died by the terrorist attack aren’t victims, they’re heroes. They’re heroes of love and true humanity. We want them to hear us: We love you, too!”
—THE REVEREND VLADIMIR ALEXEEV, HOLY TRINITY ORTHODOX CHURCH, BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, The New York Times 9/17/2001
FROM AN AOL POST, 9/20/2001 2:21 PM EDT
SUBJECT: SEEN, BUT NOT THOUGHT OF, MEDIA
When you found out the World Trade Center was attacked, I bet every one of you turned on a TV, turned on a radio, signed online, or some combination thereof.
You turned to the people who are always there in a time of crisis, disaster, celebration—the news reporters. We depend on them to report the news objectively. To not declare anyone wrong or right. To not show emotion.
David Letterman had Dan Rather on his show earlier this week. Dan Rather broke down twice on air. Dan Rather! You just don’t expect that.
David Letterman said something to him that brought tears to my eyes and made my heart surge with pride for our news reporters. David said something to this effect, “I know people depend on you to be strong, but, damn it, you’re human too.”
I want to thank them for this. For being strong. For not letting their voice crack when they report that someone they knew is dead. For staying there at Ground Zero when anyone else in their position would have wanted to run home and hug everyone they could and maybe even cry. For reporting the news that every one of us was riveted to.
“I never loved you more, New York!”
—A CARD AMONG FLOWERS, FLAGS AND PHOTOGRAPHS BY A LAMPPOST ON HOUSTON STREET, Newsday 9/17/2001
GENEROUS
“But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him,
“And went to him, and bound up his wounds . . . and took care of him.”
—LUKE 10:33-34
FROM AN AOL POST, 9/15/2001 5:17 PM EDT
SUBJECT: THANK YOU FOR SAVING MY LIFE
I was frozen, and you stopped and cried, “Run, run, run!” When I didn’t move, you grabbed my hand and pulled me along. I ran with you. We ducked into doorways and dodged the falling debris. We didn’t stop until we got to Murray Street and ran around the corner.
I turned to look back at Church Street and I let go of your hand.
And then you were gone. I don’t know your name. I didn’t see your face. I couldn’t guess at your age. I didn’t notice your race. I only know you saved my life.
Thank you, thank you, thank you. God bless you.
FROM AN AOL POST, 9/24/2001 4:21 PM EDT
SUBJECT: I OWE MY LIFE TO THE KINDNESS OF A STRANGER
A complete stranger saved my life. I work at 130 Liberty Street, on the 25th floor, which is directly across the street from the WTC. I fell down while I was running from the collapsing building.
A massive cloud came rushing toward us. I could not pick myself off the ground because my legs were numb from running down the 25 flights of my building. I was buried with ash and debris from the collapsed tower.
I thought it was the end of the world. It was so black that you could not see your hand in front of your eyes. I thought I was dying because with every breath I took more ash and debris went down my throat and into my eyes and nose. A stranger tripped over me while I was lying in the darkness on the sidewalk. All of a sudden I felt a hand pick me up off the ground and drag me into a building to safety.
I thank Jesus Christ for my life and for that kind and wonderful stranger.
“Good and kind people outnumber all others by thousands to one. Thus, in what I like to call the Great Asymmetry, every spectacular incident of evil will be balanced by 10,000 acts of kindness, too often unnoted and invisible as the ‘ordinary’ efforts of a vast majority.”
—STEPHEN JAY GOULD, The New York Times 9/26/2001
FROM AN AOL POST, 9/17/2001 5:29 PM EDT
SUBJECT: THANKS, NEW YORK
Lisa and her friend Phyllis escaped from the 19th floor of the Trade Center tower by walking down the stairs.
Police and firefighters kept the crowds calm and moving as rapidly as possible out of the danger zones.
A couple of blocks away, a woman proprietor of a local cleaners storefront let them use the telephone to make a call “anywhere . . . no charge” to let loved ones know they were safe.
A driver in a very crowded SUV insisted on giving them a ride when it was obvious that walking was a struggle.
BLESS YOU ALL for jumping in to render aid during a time of unspeakable horror . . . we will never forget . . .
“What is thine is mine, and all of mine is thine.”
—PLAUTUS
FROM AN AOL POST, 9/16/2001 2:57 PM EDT
SUBJECT: GIVING MY REBATE BACK
To those three brave men who fought to save so many lives, I have made out a check to President Bush and sent it off to help pay for the capture of all terrorists. This check is the $300 sent to me as a tax refund. I can’t think of a better place to spend it.
FROM AN AOL POST, 9/14/2001 5:31 PM EDT
SUBJECT: REBATES FOR RELIEF
We got our tax rebate check on Monday 9/10. “How should we spend it?” I thought. Seems so selfish to keep it for ourselves now. We didn’t budget for this income—it is like a lucky lottery ticket.
There are 50 million taxpayers sharing $40 billion in checks out there.
Maybe a lot of it has been spent, or at least planned for. But do some math. If two million or so taxpayers sent their refunds to charity for the East Coast victims and rescue costs, a billion dollars could be raised in a week!
I know I won’t miss our rebate knowing thousands need it RIGHT NOW far more than we do—I hope many more feel the same. Whether you’ve already spent the money or are yet to get it, consider who needs it now.
“I’m here to do whatever. I can hold hands, listen to stories, sweep the streets, whatever.”
—FORMER WORLD TRADE CENTER WORKER VOLUNTEERING AT RED CROSS HEADQUARTERS, The New York Times 9/13/2001
FROM AN AOL POST, 9/17/2001 12:29 AM EDT
SUBJECT: AS I WENT THROUGH NEW YORK . . .
As we passed through, American flags were held high and mounted on cars. While looking at New York, all we saw was smoke. We headed into Connecticut and made a pit stop at McDonalds.
As we were leaving, I saw some firefighters and asked them how to get back on Route 95. They told us they were from Nova Scotia, Canada, and they had just come back from New York.
I wanted to hug them and I knew I
couldn’t do enough. But my friend and I bought dinner for those 20 firefighters—of course they refused, but we insisted.
God bless this awesome country!
“The greatest grace of a gift, perhaps, is that it anticipates and admits of no return.”
—HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW, LETTER TO MRS. J. T. FIELDS, 2/28/1871
FROM AN AOL POST, 9/23/2001 10:34 AM EDT
SUBJECT: LEMONADE STAND
Yesterday I went to a crafts store. In front of the store sat a family with a lemonade stand. On an average day before September 11, 2001, this may have been a bit odd, but acceptable with the Georgia heat. Only on this day this lemonade stand was different. It was manned by about five young children who held signs saying all donations for the cups of lemonade would go to the Red Cross to help the victims and their families.
I was so touched by their innocence and sincere desire to help. This is the future of America, and they make us proud to be a part of this great nation!
“We were running and running everywhere handing out drinks to the men in ambulances and the firemen.”
“I feel kind of happy because we’re helping the people who need help.”
—CHRISTOPHER, 7, AND HIS COUSIN, AMANDA, 9, Newsday 9/13/2001
FROM AN AOL POST, 9/21/2001 2:33 AM EDT
SUBJECT: MAKES ME PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN
In this cloud of despair that hangs over our country, shining lights seem to be appearing to guide us through. One such story of American kindness that I wanted to share with my community is of two little girls that I babysit. They wanted to help our country, but what and how could little children help? They decided to do what they love best—baking.
They made cupcakes, brownies, and cookies and walked through their neighborhood to see if anyone would buy their baked goods so that they could raise money for the Red Cross. They went door to door to see if everyone’s heavy heart could be lightened with some sweet solidarity and a “God Bless You” to those who helped out in any way they could afford. They carried a full-size American flag with them, one that their dad took off the front of their house.
Because We Are Americans Page 5