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A Day of Infamy

© Keri

As a student, I learned that the attack on Pearl Harbor was "a day of infamy." Infamy is defined as "an evil or criminal act that is publicly known." The events of September 11, 2001 certainly meet this definition. Like many around the world, I was dismayed as I watched the events unfold on the television screen.

Many thoughts and fears cascaded through my mind that day and continue as the ripples spread. The total costs, both physically and economically, have yet to be determined. Truly, it may take years before the ripples stop and the final effect is known.

In an interview on the BBC shortly after the incidents, former Israeli Prime Minister Barak indicated that this was an attack on civilization and that "the world will not be the same after today." Sadly, I believe that he is correct. As the US mobilizes military forces, world leaders echo his warning. One Arab leader was quoted as saying that this is the beginning of World War Three. These are indeed frightening words.

However, in the midst of world politics, one cannot ignore the very human stories that occurred that day. As the wife of a firefighter, I am grieved by the loss of so many in New York City. Those men and women knew what was required when they hired on the department. They knew that it was dangerous and might one day require the ultimate sacrifice. The scope of destruction on "Black Tuesday" did not stop them from doing the job. As survivors streamed out, firefighters, police officers, and emergency medical personnel went in. Even though they knew that there was little hope of actually winning the fight, it was their job to try and they gave their best.

There are many more heroes of these events, many stories that we may never hear. We have some idea of what may have occurred on United Flight 93 over Pennsylvania from the cellular phone communications and on American Airlines Flight 11 from the open microphone in the cockpit. We don't know the stories of the nearly 5,000 who are missing in New York. So many human-interest stories that the American media usually enjoy magnifying for effect. The events of the past week need no magnification. They are etched in the memories of the World Community.

How we all respond to these events will be critical. Our world truly may never be the same, but as citizens of this planet we have an obligation to our children to insure that it is better not worse. We can choose to isolate one ethnic group and designate them as "the enemy" or we can choose to find and stop those individuals who are responsible for this destruction.

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