The twin towers before collapse on 9/11/2001. Photo: UpsateNyer
Everyone remembers the moment they heard about (or witnessed) the attacks of September 11th, 2001. Some were commuting to work. Some were cooking eggs. Many East Coasters were actually surfing. In an ironic twist, Hurricane Erin pulsed rare, long-period swell to the shores of Long Island, generating pristine conditions across the Northeast. And yet just miles away, the most catastrophic foreign attack to ever take place on American soil willfully seared itself into the American consciousness. The twin towers, billowing with plumes of dark ash, crumbled to the earth in less than 102 minutes. Nearly 3,000 people died, many jumped from those burning buildings on live television. Over 3,000 children lost a parent that day, and 1,600 adults lost a spouse or significant other. Suddenly and completely – like never before – America understood what it meant to be absolutely vulnerable. We were afraid. We were angry. And the world as we knew it had changed before our eyes.
Ten years have passed since that horrific day, and the event has begun to acquire meaning in a broader context. The shared pain hasn’t lessened, as none of those precious lives lost have been returned, but the meaning of 9/11 has evolved – as has the concept of war. Suddenly, a network of ideologues divorced from national ties began to attack and kill with the express intention of perpetuating fear. The dispersion and inconsistency of this enemy has made it a difficult one to defeat, especially as its greatest ambition was to destabilize, not supplant.
Despite the devastation and shock to the American and global psyche, in these ten years we’ve learned to be mindful, but not fearful. Hopefully, we can take inspiration from the unity we felt on that day, the shared empathy only a shock of that magnitude can impose, and apply it to the days and years ahead. Often, our politics and general attitudes toward one another (even in the lineup – in a sport as trivial and gorgeous as surfing) seem to be uselessly antagonistic and lacking perspective. We’re all different, yes. It’s important to recognize and celebrate that, but I’m confident that we’re much more similar than we give ourselves credit for.
I came across a quote by Isa Upanishadf that expresses this idea quite succinctly. “He who sees all beings in his own Self, and his own Self in all beings, loses all fear.”
If we take this to heart, I think our future will continue to brighten. Good things are coming our way. Eventually, they always are.
In memory of September 11, 2001, we invite you to share your thoughts, experiences, and condolences below. Also, we recommend reviewing The New York Times’ extensive feature: The Reckoning. It provides a wealth of insightful reporting about the consequences of the attacks.
