Hell's Kitchen Journal: We Have Lost Something....

By David Mixner

Sep 12 2010 Yesterday I could not help myself and once again watched the memorial services and the endless recounting of the horrible day of September 11, 2001. Somehow, I wanted to pull back from it and move on but just could not bring myself to do so. Then I realized that we have not had closure. That the nation is still bleeding from the wounds inflicted on that day of infamy. That, indeed, the attackers that day took away a part of America that we have not yet recovered.
As we reflect from that day forward, the history of our nation has not been stellar. Yes, our soldiers and their families have responded with an unbelievable sacrifice and courage. Those we lost that day, the photographs and stories still have the capacity to bring us to tears. We came together right after the attacks as one nation, filled with love for each other and taking care of each other. None of us can forget the kindness of strangers, the never ending giving, the children remembering the fallen and entire communities coming together with new determination and spirit. Great poetry and music was written.
The entire world was by our side sending love and respect for the America they knew; tributes were held to our fallen. Never has there been such an outpouring of love and sympathy among the family of nations. One of the moments that brought me to my knees in tears was when Queen Elizabeth II ordered that our national anthem be played outside of Buckingham Palace. Who knows why, it was just one those moments for me.
That gift that emerged after 9/11 of a nation united, caring and loving has been tragically lost. We need it back or the extremists will have won and we will be denied our urgently needed closure, not to mention our very soul.
Since those moments we have had two very unpopular wars. Nearly 6,000 of our best and brightest young people have died in those wars. Close to 35,000 of our young have been injured many with massive head injuries or losing limbs. Some of those who represent our future have served three, four or five rotations in the hells of war.
The nation has run up a trillion dollars of debt in seeking some sort of revenge and retribution and a false sense that we can now, through force, create a secure world. Our privacy and sense of community have been invaded with massive positioning of cameras, dogs, guards, police and other trapping for internal security at every corner. We have been willing to sacrifice at times our basic constitutional rights for that very evasive and false sense of security.
Our schools are a disaster. Our poor get more hungry. America no longer has that international good will. The ability of our nation to be a beacon of democracy and hope increasing looks like a moment from our history that won't be recovered. Instead of number one in education we are not even in the top ten. As the wars have so consumed us, we have yielded our position of leadership in Africa and Latin America to other nations with more resources to do good. We are not building, producing, creating nor working in this new America.
Most importantly, the America we saw right after 9/11 of love, unity and determination seems to have dissolved into hate, bitterness, unemployment and mistrust. The American dream is slowly becoming a nightmare. Living in fear has lead us to living without hope. Our youth see a modern world where leaders, created by the media, have 50 followers who preach hate instead of heroes and heroines who are pioneers, scientists, artists and governmental leaders. We have worshipped at the alter of fame and greed and not the one of the legendary American spirit of caring for our neighbors.
We indeed lost something on that fateful day. We mourn and get angry because we have not been able to retrieve what was good, what was wise, what was distinctive for our children. Those of us who have seen the American experience in its full glory fear that the future will be about the American decline.
We must not honor those who perished with our own violence and intolerance. I promise you this, each and every person who gave their lives on 9/11 would want their families and friends to not inherit a world of hate, war and strife. They would want us to have good schools, safe streets, neighbors loving neighbors, the best that technology has to offer, that always golden college degree and a sense of hope and greatness.
Let's bring the needed closure. Let's put aside our anger and our fear and rediscover our love and power and humanity. Before it's too late.

Read more from David at Live From Hell's Kitchen.