Saving my frippery for another day. Seven years ago I had just returned from NYC's financial district after an interview. Just prior to hitting NYC, I had been in Italy ... so I was still pretty jet-lagged and awoke in the wee hours in California, doing my usual move of flipping on CNN for background noise.
Eventually I observed the entire onslaught. From the very first words regarding an explosion in the WTC, to live film of the planes hitting ... and all the devastation that followed.
I phoned a dear friend of mine as it was happening, urging him to wake up and turn on CNN because I thought we were under attack. We watched it unfold together, sharing our shock and horror via telephone.
I was responsible in our division for enacting our business continuity plans in case of emergency. Because I worked for a major brokerage company, this obviously meant coordination (or attempted coordination, I should say) with our NY operations.
It was a horrible, horrible time. Indescribable.
It carried on with me daily for some time, and on through the NY Time's heartbreaking yet important memorialization of all who were lost.
There really aren't any words sufficient to describe what occurred, or the aftermath.
And yet, countless others in nations throughout the world have suffered and continue to suffer far worse. Does one outweigh or justify the other?
On an individual level, perhaps. I have friends who say the United States and its citizens have little right for outcry, given all the wrongs they have perpetrated in the world.
So, on a national or world level, I say most likely, no. Our loss of 3,000 lives can not really justify the loss of tens (perhaps hundreds) of thousands of innocent civilian lives that have come about as revenge.
In any event, today I mourn for the innocent families who still bear the marks, the pain of that awful Tuesday 7 years ago.
(photo from www.theharrowgroup.com)
