I was fortunate to travel to New York City from time-to-time in the early 1970’s. My father and I took these opportunities to watch the construction of the World Trade Center. After we watched the towers fall in 2001, it crossed my mind that Red Skelton was right. Red believed we are put on earth “to create and not to destroy.” Yet, it is so much easier to destroy than to create. Any misguided or delusional fool with a gun, or a bomb, or an airplane can destroy the work of countless others in mere seconds. What took decades or centuries to build can be undone by the ignorant or malicious – those who answer only to their political ideology or their self-centered ideas of God.
I was outraged when I learned a band of zealots had committed pre-meditated mass murder. To me, the twin towers symbolized common ground – people from all over the world creating a better future through free commerce. These buildings also signified what many people could accomplish when they worked together. I think most of us agreed that those who planned these attacks should be tracked down and punished. And I think most of us truly wanted to stand together, regardless of political party, religion, gender, ethnicity, or skin color.
The trouble is, when we are outraged, motivated by an oversized sense of justice, and determined to settle the score, we can take things too far. We ended up wasting precious time and resources, we began to argue amongst ourselves, and we have become divided as a nation. Our sense of righteous indignation ultimately led us to attack each other. We are now doing all the things the terrorists hoped we would.
“Temperance” is one of the Four Cardinal Virtues. It means one has developed moderation, restraint, or self-control. When we lose our temper, we literally lose control. We bluster, shout each other down, point the finger of blame, lie about each other’s intentions, and spread distrust or hatred of anyone who disagrees with our party or tribe. When people get red in the face and make death threats over being asked to wear a face mask, I’d say things have gone too far. There is no temperance when people of good will become afraid to do their jobs.
On this anniversary of the heinous attacks of 20 years ago, I pray that we will find a way to realize the dream of “E Pluribus Unum.” We may never agree on everything, but it seems to me we can agree that we are stronger as a nation when we stop whining and bickering, stop trying to tear each other down, and stop being our own worst enemies.
Maybe we can be the kind of people who show others the way rather than trying to force others to do things our way. Maybe we can be a nation that builds rather than destroys. And, just maybe, if we create more of a city on a hill, all those who have died, either in the attacks of 9-11, or as first responders, or as members of the armed forces who gave their lives to keep us safe, will not have died in vain. We can win by uniting, or we can remain divided and let the terrorists win. It’s our choice.
MurrayWorks 