One thing I don’t want to do in the midst of the current dismal state of our society is let the memory of that horrible day on September 11, 2001 get lost in the barrage of all the depressing news around us. Not that we need another bleak something to focus on, but it is so important that we never forget…
Never forget the day terrorists flew planes into the North and South Towers of the World Trade Towers, ultimately bringing them down, along with the lives of 2,977 people.
Never forget the day that terrorists flew planes into the Pentagon, causing the partial collapse of the buildings west side and killing 175 people.
Never forget the day that brave passengers aboard the fourth plane that had been hijacked by terrorists, stood up to the hijackers and forced the plane to crash in a field in Pennsylvania. The plane had been headed to Washington D.C.
Those facts just barely scratch the surface of the extent of the devastation and ramifications of that horrible day. Thousands and thousands of people were affected by the immediate carnage. Wives lost husbands. Husbands lost wives. Children lost mothers, fathers. Mothers and fathers lost children.
And on and on into extended families, aunts, uncles, grandmothers, sisters, brothers, cousins. Like circles in the water of a pond when a stone is dropped in.
The long term effects include health problems experienced by first-responders because of the toxins in the debris left by the collapse of the buildings, as well as those lost and injured in the wars that followed the attack. Latest statistics I could find state that 7,000 U.S. troops have been killed in war from 2001 through the end of 2018: 2,298 in Afghanistan and 4,572 U.S. troops in Iraq. Over 250,000 service men and women have been wounded in those wars.
Again, think of the ripples in that pond.
The history of atrocities that mankind inflicts upon mankind should never be forgotten. At least until maybe it never happens again. Do we dare hope?
No more wars
No more holocausts
No more genocide
No more Trail of Tears
No more slavery
And…
Sadly, that list could go on and on.
I didn’t write this to make people sad. I wrote it in the vain hope that it might stir some hearts to do one kind thing and see how far that particular ripple could go in our world.
Go ahead. Drop your pebble.
That’s all from me for today, folks. I do hope you have a safe and happy weekend. Whatever you have planned, I hope it brings you joy.
As always, I welcome comments. If you’d like to add to my list of things we shouldn’t forget, please do. Maybe even some bright moments in history that give us hope.