9/11  richer or poorer

Arts Media & CultureLife & Human Experience
Written By MaryJane Nordgren

 Poorer for the stunning shock and pain

 

Richer for those who ran into the burning building

Richer for the courage of those who were hurt or died helping others

 

Poorer for the loss of family and friends hijacked in the planes or present in the buildings deliberately attacked.

 

Richer for the warm togetherness we felt for a little while as Americans caring about and for each other           

 

Poorer for our first reaction of hatred for all Moslems

 

Richer for those who could distinguish between guilt and association, for those who worked to help us overcome hatred, who built community and the maturity needed to recognize how some others in the world truly feel about us and to acknowledge that we are not always right or righteous. It is a needed step in developing the humbleness that sees others with respect as fellow human beings.

MaryJane Nordgren

Author of the Nandria Series, MaryJane is a retired family practice physician who grew up in the Midwest but now lives in the Pacific Northwest.

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