It’s difficult to know what to say on Sept. 11.
The destruction of the Twin Towers and the death of 2,977 people was terrible the day it happened, and it’s terrible to remember today.
But the thing I think about often is how different life is these days than what I imagined my future would be. There are so many wars: Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, and Syria. I don’t see how they’re ever going to end.
There is so much hate in the world. Radical terrorists hate us; we send our troops to more countries, and they hate us more.
How will it end? Will we ever have peace? I don’t know. But continual wars and the constant emphasis on fighting terrorism makes a daily life much more stressful than I’d ever imagined.
Compounding the world situation is a president who is divisive and arrogant. Does he really think waging war on North Korea is a viable option?
I was in Madrid visiting my daughter In Madrid when the 9-11 attacks occurred. I was having a nap, trying to get over jet lag, when my daughter burst in to tell me about the first terrorist attack. I was too groggy to understand the enormity of what she was saying. When I woke up two hours later, I was horrified.
What can be said today that is hopeful? One place I would usually look would be to the president. However, President Trump’s 9-11 message was how great our military is and how we face evil and “horrible, horrible enemies – enemies like we've never seen before.” How “we are making it plain to these savage killers that there is no dark corner beyond our reach, no sanctuary beyond our grasp, and nowhere to hide anywhere on this very large Earth.”
So, we need to find our own hopeful message. Maybe it’s that we all need to do what we can to make a contribution to democracy; be involved in our communities and make them work as effectively as they can for all citizens. And, be active on the state and national level, too.
I’ll keep researching and writing about consumer issues. That’s what gives me hope in these dark times.
Speak up, shine your light.
