growth and responsibilty

September 11th, 2001 was a very special day. Not since the British burned the president’s residence (which was subsequently painted white to cover the smoke stains and burns; hence came the name: White House) in the war of 1812 had a foreigner taken American lives and destroyed property on American soil. It was also the day we faced the grin reality that this rich powerful nation might have to finally grow up and swallow that very large pill called responsibility. Americans have always tried to pretend that if we ignored the world it would simply go away. America failed to join the League of Nations after World War I and of course the organization failed. That’s why we had World War II. Fortunately the world learned the depth of America’s isolationist streak and planted the newly formed United Nations in New York to keep the US from abandoning that forum too. It is only kicking and screaming that the US has finally recognized that people speaking a foreign language are not necessarily taking about them. And although it is very likely that soon English will be spoken universally around the world, currently the Spanish American population is changing America’s attitude about this being a strictly mono-lingual society.

Five years after the twin towers were transformed into a heaping pile of rubble; Americans still don’t ask themselves some very basic questions about that event: Why did they do that? And could it be possible that we might have done something to help precipitate such an attack? In simpler terms, do you think we might have pissed somebody off? It isn’t necessary for me to expound on US foreign policy in the Middle East: First try to bully them, if that doesn’t work then bomb them and if all the above fail then just buy them. It isn’t necessary to rehash how the Arab states felt about the creation of Israel. And God knows that if that region of the world wasn’t so rich in oil it is very unlikely that we would be so preoccupied with their transformation into free democratic states.

So I ask you this question: if I covet my neighbors wife, unbeknownst to him for years every day while I smile and wave at my neighbor. And one day he learns of her indiscretions and burns down my house (which is of course an illegal act) what responsibility do I shoulder as a moral educated civilized man? As I sit in court and the judge sentences my neighbor for burning my house does not the judge look at me with disdain. What responsibility do I bear? Can I stand before God and say that I am innocent? Can I demand justice?

Grow up America. September 11th is beyond memorials and holidays. More people died in Iraq this year than died on September 11th, 2001. It will cost more to rebuild Southern Lebanon then it will to reconstruct an unnecessary office complex in lower Manhattan. But then it does take growth to know that some lives are not worth more than others. And one must shoulder responsibility to know that they desire the same things as we: security, love, nourishment and happiness. And although it was easy to covet your neighbor’s wife, and of course now he sits in jail, but while rebuilding that burnt out hulk you once called home a spark of conscience and caution and respect should ignite within when you see the new neighbor moving in next door with his new wife.

Africa

At long last the “Dark Continent” has taken the world’s center spotlight in a very positive way. The journey to recovery is just beginning and it is still fraught with peril. Centuries of colonial depletion of animal, mineral and human resources has brought the birthplace of the human species to the brink of incomprehensible catastrophe. But all is not lost. Hope reigns supreme. It was the emergence of the new African nations after WWII that helped to spark the US civil rights movement. The US government suffered much embarrassment in the world forum preaching democracy and freedom while denying basic constitutional rights to its African American citizens. The new fledgling African nation states were quick to bring this fact to the world’s attention. And conversely, it was the constant pressure from the US civil rights organization that helped topple South Africa’s skewed society.

It is unnecessary to detail the issues that plague Africa: AIDS, poverty, poor education, lack of conservation, no infrastructure, et al. But most regrettably is the neglect and wayward treatment the world has shown to its mother. Remember, the DNA of every human alive now or who has ever lived traces back to a single African women. Why do we treat our mother’s home and our brothers and sisters so badly? Perhaps in our quest to civilize the world we forgot where we came from and lost our sense of home.

Clearly Africa was home. Perhaps if we sit still some small part of us can feel that time when a man knew he was just another of natures animals. Perhaps such an experience would take us back to Africa. No part of the earth more closely resembles the crib nature would prepare for an infant human animal.

So now that we have grown and stand tall on our own let us turn back and help to rebuild mother’s home. It’s the least we can do in memory for her who gave us life in the place where she lived.