RUBBING SALT IN A WOUND

It has been just over nine years since September 11, 2001, now referred to as simply 9/11.

It is a day that will live on in history indefinitely, in much the same way December 7, 1941 does. There are similarities in both days, Americans were attacked on their own soil. In both cases America must share a small part of the blame due to lack of vigilance, breakdowns in communication and a degree of complacency.

There are differences between these two days. In 1941 we were attacked by a foreign military; in 2001 the attack was carried out by a small group of radical civilians. In 1941 we responded by declaring war on Japan. In the aftermath of 9/11 we attacked a nation that was not directly involved in the attack.

In the aftermath of 12/7/194l there was a surge of anti Japanese sentiment, causing hundreds of Japanese American citizens to be incarcerated in compounds, simply because of their Japanese heritage. I think most Americans today would agree that was not one of our country’s finer moments.

Today, following 9/11, we direct our hate and fear at anyone who practices the Muslim religion. In my opinion we encourage this kind of hatred by loudly re-parading the pain that day caused every time the calendar circles around to the next September 11th.

Do we need to remember that day? Of course we do. We need to remember the mistakes that helped to allow it to happen. We need to remember the attack was carried out by a small group of individuals with the twisted idea that their way is the only right way. Even if you include all of Al Qaeda, it is still a small group of people in the grand scheme of things. No person, group or religion should ever be conceited enough to believe that their way is the only right way.

We don’t need to remember it by fanning the pain it produced; we don’t need to remember it by threatening to burn the Holy book of a religion we choose not to practice; we don’t need to remember it by dictating where another religion chooses to build their place of worship.

Those kinds of remembrances are simply a way of rubbing salt in a wound, keeping it open and painful. It’s time we look for ways to help heal that pain.