911 is about all of us, as a person, a nation, and as human beings all across the world.
However, there is nothing unique I can add to this subject other than to express how I feel and how I try to relate to such a horrible tragedy. How I relate, is by remembering the biggest tragedy of my life: the day my mother passed away.
I can honestly say that the day 911 occurred, I was as confused as the day I fell into a canal as a 12 year old boy, and almost drowned. I was confused by seeing images of my mother jumping in and showing me unconditional love, thinking only one thing: "I need to save my son". The same kind of unconditional love and heroism all NYPD and NYFD showed in risking their lives for those they didn't even know.
The sadness I felt on 911, was the same sadness I felt when I found out that she died trying to save me. The same sadness countless family members felt when discovering that their loved ones perished in the service of saving strangers.
The pride I felt in knowing she had the courage to do what she did, was the same pride every American should feel... in knowing that our serviceman, firefighters, police officers, and EMT's, have the guts and the moxy, as well as the unconditional love to risk their lives...to risk the relationships they share with their families, inorder to help others keep their families intact. It's amazing the courage these people possess.
As I said, this isn't about me, and I hope this is taken in the spirit I intended. But attempting to understand such a tragedy is hard, and the only way I can do so is through personal experience. All I can do is hold back the tears and try to do right by the heros of 911 and their families.
So to them I say: "I salute you all, and the sacrifices you've made. The words I type are unworthy of the valor you expressed."
--ian
