As long as I live I will never forget that feeling of absolute terror in the pit of my stomach when I turned on the television the early morning of September 11, 2001, to pictures of the World Trade Center towers being hit by those planes, and how frightened I was when I finally realized that our beloved America was under attack. Can it really have been ten years, a whole decade, since that horrible day when the “evil ones” tore at our hearts with their attacks on New York and Washington D.C.? While it seems in some ways like it was just yesterday, in many ways it feels like that day was a hundred years ago, and so much has changed since then about what it means to live as an American. We live now in a more cynical world, a world with less freedom, a world where the very idea of terrorists attacking Americans on our own soil is no longer a far-fetched notion.
For the first time since World War II those of us who work in the public arena are being charged with the responsibility to be vigilant each and every day against actual terrorist attacks on our public buildings, in our malls, and, yes, against our school houses. Even in places like Roseburg (perhaps especially in places like Roseburg) we educators are training ourselves to look at the world through different and more worldly eyes than before the horror of 9/11, and we are gradually coming to understand that life may never be the same again.
But my heart goes out most especially to our children, the little ones who may never know what it was like to be able to walk around their neighborhoods without being frightened and suspicious of strangers, who will probably never experience boarding an airplane without x-rays and pat-downs, and who live in a world where the next terror strike is a matter of “when” not “if”. I am saddened that every day and for the rest of their lives our children will surely see and hear how much Americans are despised by angry men and women who shout their hatred toward the United States and who would strike us down if only given the chance. We are all frightened speechless by what we witness on the news each evening, and I can only imagine how terrifying it must for a child living in these times.
So on this day as we remember the horrors of 9/11 and honor our fallen heroes, I am not going to ask you to pay special attention for terrorists lurking among us. I am not even going to ask you to talk with your children about those brave men and women who on that day and every day since have sacrificed their lives for us. Instead, let September 11, 2011, be the day we, every one of us, simply and unashamedly love our children. Let this be remembered by our kids as the day we enveloped them in a blanket of love so strong that just for this one day they felt secure again, and protected, and safe. It may very well be the most important gift we can give them, and the most respectful way we can remember those who fell ten short years ago.
We’ll talk again…
Larry Parsons
Superintendent
Roseburg Public Schools
September 6, 2011 at 10:56 pm |
I too recall that day and remember the faces of horror and uncertainty that were worn by my drafting students. Although stunned by disbelief, my students soon began to ask me what I was going to do. My reply, “I am already doing it. I am going to teach harder and with more diligence than any of those enemies that would do harm to you or my children.”
I will hold that commitment as long as I am able to teach.
-rmcguire
September 9, 2011 at 5:03 pm |
I remember that day, listening to the radio, not able to fully believe what I was hearing. Then when that last plane went down with those brave passengers I couldn’t help but let down and shed some tears. We would never be the same.In that moment I thought about what really matters. I thought about the things that divide us and cause suffering. So many souls leaving this world at once and those divisions no longer mattered.
I had to go pick up a student and take him to school at that time. At 7 years old, he was not aware of what had happened. I wanted him to enjoy that innocence as long as possible. I said “Good morning, are you ready for a good day at school?”. Soon enough he would hear the news, hopefully safe at home with loving parents to explain it all and reassure him.
This test of our courage and resolve, to stand together, to help our neighbors, to walk our talk has been difficult. 9/11 was just the beginning of the tests we would share. I’ve wittnessed the members of our community show compassion and great courage like never before. Sometimes triumph can be born of tragedy. We are still standing strong, the light of freedom, no matter what else we might disagree on. For those whom much has been sacrificed, much is expected.
It was a day in history I will never forget. It is a day that made me mindful of each conversation, act and thought. I’m more aware of what really matters, more likely to guard freedoms for myself and others, and very grateful for each day there after.