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Picking up the Pieces

© Lianne Bruynell Lopes

After the senseless tragedy and loss of life in the attack on New York City's World Trade Center on September 11, how can Americans pick up the pieces and move on? Maybe the ones to ask are the Irish.

The Irish are no strangers to terrorist violence. They have lived with it for years...decades. But it is doubtful any in Ireland were prepared for "Black Tuesday's" sights. Workers in Ireland's world trade center stopped and stared at TV screens in shock and disbelief. It was an all too familiar scene, explosions, flames engulfing buildings, loss of life...the ensuing hatred and anger caused by such cowardly acts. Day two, the Irish again stop their work, this time to remember the victims and share in the grief of their collegues across the ocean. They know the pain. They've been there.

For years Irish-Americans have made up the core of New York fire fighters and police forces. At this time of tragedy, it is certain that many such police officers and fire fighters who lost their lives in the September 11 attack were Americans of Irish descent. The First Deputy fire commisioner, Mr. Meehan, and Roman Catholic fire chaplain, Mychal Judge, both with Irish-American names, were among the dead.

The Irish loss of life does not end there. A Cork woman and her four year old daughter, according to the Irish Times, were on one of the planes that crashed into the WTC towers. Several other Irish–two men who were supposed to meet a relative in New York and never showed–and others, are feared dead. Cantor Fitzgerald, a company who employed a number of young Irish, took a direct hit from the first suicide plane. It is doubtful there are any survivors.

The Irish consulate in New York has been operating on a 24-hour basis, and Irish officials will be sent to the United States as soon as commercial flights resume, to help with identifying bodies and consoling those who lost relatives.

Friday, September 14 has been declared a national day of mourning in Ireland, and many other countries of the European Union.

What words of wisdom might the Irish give us at this time? I can only hope some will respond right here, but I can guess that they would say that ALL terrorism is cowardly and evil. But maybe that's just common sense. You'd think so.

Commentaries and discussions greatly welcomed.

**Most information for this article was found in articles of the Irish Times. See their website at: http://www.ireland.com/newspaper/front/2...

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