I Need To Discuss This...



I guess one of the hazards of blogsurfing is that you will come across all kinds of opinions. And it is perfectly okay to disagree with those opinions or ignore them or whatever. But sometimes, you run across something you don't expect, something that (make room for the Texan in me) really chaps your hide.

This evening, while drumming up traffic for IR Haven blogsurfing, I ran across reactions to the fifth anniversary of 9.11.01 -- and they were cold. Unlike the 9-11 Truth conspirators, who at least sympathize that people died, what I happened upon were the "What's the big deal?" and "The U.S. doesn't really care about the people who died, it just got its ego bruised" crowd. I won't dignify the blog site with a link...

For the people who would trivialize 9.11.01, especially to those from other countries such as Canada and Europe and elsewhere, let me put things in a bit more universal -- or global -- context for you:

• If 3000 of your neighbors, fellow countrymen and women -- your mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters were wiped out in a couple of hours, dying in terror and confusion, would you not grieve for them?


• If it were an attack unlike any other in the history of your country, using a method designed to cause the most damage and death possible in the area struck, would you not memorialize the day to honor those who died?


• Even if you did not lose one of your relatives or close friends in the attack, would you not feel an ounce of sympathy for those who did? Children who no longer have parents, wives who no longer have husbands and vice-versa, people who no longer have people whom they loved more dearly than their own lives?


• And what about the people who suffered devastating injuries and disfigurements, even though they survived? Those people will have to live with that the rest of their lives, in addition to any loved ones they lost. That can't be trivialized or ignored. None of this can...but people try and I feel obligated to appeal to those who might not have considered these points.

I'm not talking politics here, I'm not talking reasons why it happened, I'm not talking the Iraq war or the Middle East conflict. I'm talking about basic regard for Life and Love. I'm talking about Family and Friendship.

I'm talking about what it means to be a Human Being, regardless of personal ideologies, preferences, ethnicities, genders or any other differentiating factors.

If we lose our ability to empathize with the suffering of others, then we lose a part of our humanity. In that moment, we become self-important judges of who deserves our sympathy and respect, who deserves to live and die. That's what leads to the rise of true dictatorships. That's what breeds true extremism. When life loses its value and meaning.

I know for a fact I am not any better than anyone else. I am just one of billions of human beings traversing the sands of space and time on this world, hoping to contribute a little something good along the way.

I find value in every life, even the ones who don't share my point of view. I hope you do, too.

Best Wishes,
Allen