Our own Nikki Stern offered a moving commentary for tolerance on the CBS Sunday Morning show, and she hoped for better understanding for the 10th anniversary of 9/11. But images over the weekend saw battling demonstrations against us and by us.
Nikki's commentary reminded me of a personal story reflecting the depth of caring for America in the days and weeks following 9/11/2001, when the world was with us, and we were with the world.
My husband died from cancer soon after that awful day, while the world was grieving for Americans the way my friends were grieving for me. My personal loss and slow healing was a microcosm in the macrocosm of America in late 2001. There was shock and disbelief, and then caring and support. Except for despising Al Qaeda, there was minimal blame on either side. We did not hate all Muslims, and most countries were extolling our virtues as a beacon of freedom.
The depth of the world's empathy in late 2001 came in a remarkable, healing invitation: Florence, Italy wanted to show its connection to New York. This magnificent city was officially inviting a group of New Yorkers to show their solidarity with the United States. Symbolically, they invited a deputy mayor, a worker at the site, a service man, an artist, businessman, actor and so forth. And I, to my complete surprise and delight, was chosen as the writer.
I remember the joy I felt, the first real joy since my beloved husband had died. I felt grateful that I would be able to partake in such an unselfish and giving experience.
The government of Florence flew us to Italy, and put us up at a vintage hotel on the Arno. The Florentine mayor joined us for dinner, where toasts were made throughout the evening, extolling New York. Our tears mingled. We talked and listened, laughed and cried.
Our hosts tried to show connections in every way, even driving us to the nearby Tuscan village where Giovanni da Verrazzo was born, knowing that one of New York City's bridges was named after him. They literally opened their doors to us in every way possible: We visited at the home of the very private Ferragamos, the shoe designers, and at a final banquet the mayor kept open the Pitti Palace and lighted gardens just for our small group.
"The world loves America," the Florentine officials kept saying. "We are New York today. We are you. How can we show you how much we care?"
What has happened in the past nine years? How could we have come so far from that open invitation, when the world felt our pain, when outpourings of support and love in some ways like the one I experienced were happening throughout the world.
Now at this moment, right after 9/11, 2010 the world no longer feels our pain. Many feel us a pain, and many --too many -- wish us pain. Riots erupt in Muslim countries against an American zealot who threatened to burn the Koran, and indeed at least three Americans did just that heinous symbolic act this past Saturday. Many of our fellow citizens demonize American Muslims and many foreigners demonize us for our intolerance.
More and more, we are considered by much of the world as an intolerant, radical nation: America, a country founded on the concept of tolerance.
Can we do anything about this? For starters, politicians and business leaders must be held accountable for hypocrisy, bigotry, abuse, and lying. The media must be called out for lazy and craven reporting. We must be brave, and stand up for civil liberties through our writings and our conversations and our actions.
We need to think this through, right now, right after the ninth anniversary of 9/11, so that on the tenth anniversary we can gain back some respect in the world.
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Comments
I heard Ben Laden say that one attack was all they would need. America would implode with self pity and revenge. The way we have behaved since 9/11 will bring us down if we dont catch our fall and bring some honor to this country.
I loathe what's going on -- and more importantly, what's not going on -- with the media. They have dribbled away whatever gravitas there once was in presenting fair and unbiased reportage. They do not tell the truth about Iraq and Afghanistan nor the internal strife that threatens us all.
Where's Walter Cronkite when you need him? Answer: There IS no Walter Cronkite.
Of course, that response would not have stood, and not just because of the leadership of the US . . . I understand our human knee-jerk response of wanting revenge . . . but how many eyes must be put out before the whole world is blind?
I don't have an answer. We are here . . . wherever that is. And we've gotta take it from here.
Owl, I sometimes feel as if we deserve what is happening. Nobody seems to have the balls to say the truth and damn the consequences.
We still got it!
It's not just about being "loud and boorish." It's about a foreign policy of multiple occupations and coups. Murder for financial gains in the name of "our best interests" or "national security."
Went on back then and does to this day. We are indeed UGLY in the view of (at least a good portion of) the rest of the planet's citizens.
Trig, I never read the book, but it the traits seem to be something that have only increased.
We have lost everything we had going into this century and millenium, and my own radical opinions about pure capitalism being unsustainable are being proven correct.
We need to return to democracy as our political imprint.
As for the crazies - sometimes I'm glad that they are out where we can seethem, not hiding in bunkers amassing weapons. Sometimes, as with everything leading up to Saturday, I can't believe most of the media (mostly owned by three major corporations) is causing bloodshed in Muslim countries by giving 24/7 coverage to a wingnut in Florida.
Your Florence experience is wonderful and remarkable. I hope we can find ways , as you do, dear Lea, to reach out to the world and prove our worth as individuals and as a nation.
(BTW, things are going well here in Massachusetts, with our socialized medicine, our decriminalized marijuana, and our gay marriages. Our economy is not great, but is stupendous statistically in comparison to much of the rest of the country. I know, we're all pinko commies and are going to hell, but life is ok here.)
The comments I got on my commentary weren't all supportive. I looked at the rants, the anger, the absolute certainty that I was a fool, a dupe, an elitist (tolerance being, apparently, an elite preoccupation) and a pathetic idiot who didn't understand the real intent of Islam. The idea that supporting moderates might be smart as well as ethical never occurred to my naysayers.
Honestly, I get tired of arguing, but I have resolved to drink some Red Bull or take a nap and then take on the haters. I am working up a righteous lather about unreasonable twits, which aren't people who disagree with me, btw, but people who believe they are in possession of absolute truth. To those who believe in balance, tolerance and dialogue, I'm afraid before we get there, we're gonna have to wear down the opposition. And that means we're gonna have to grow a set and take 'em on.
The main thing is to elect the better people. But Nov seems too soon to do much . 2012 is the more realistic goal.
And the state dept should use you as a spokesperson for tolerance!
Our foreign policy sucks the big egg and our bully tactics have turned the world against us. Rightfully so.
Let's hope it's not too late that we can somehow return to the wondrous nation that the world sought help and leadership from rather than despised.
Once upon a time, dear Sandra No Longer Miller (she is much missed) characterized me as a pragmatic romantic, and I accept that characterization. As I see it, it doesn't matter if one is an idealist who sees the glass half-full or a pessimist who sees it half-empty. What matters is if the water is safe to drink.
These days, the glass doesn't contain water, but kool-aid, and as long as so many blindly swallow the poisonous concoctions of Limbo, Beck, Palin and the rest of Pirate Murdoch's pinheaded provocateurs, the future doesn't look bright -- save for a possible nuclear holocaust.
That's not to say that on some grand and glorious future morn, the zombies won't awaken from their slumber and chase the Merchants of Venom from their vipers' nest at Fux News. But until that day, I am reluctant to bet the farm on Wall Street -- or the future on Main Street.
(And as far as OS goes, I guess it's now Sandra No Longer.)
Tom, I guess most things degenerate, and then perhaps regenerate. Have no idea where we are in the cycle, except that more people post more often, and that means with less care. And cohorts have ruled around here as the place has gotten bigger. The good news is that the good ones often take a break and return. I really miss Jimmy Mac, another good guy.
You are a hopeful one, Kathy. I can't imagine it will get much better with Boehner as speaker of the house.
Sheba, I guess that means you agree with me, not a commenter. We all kind of agree things aren't going too well.
Guest contributor Nikki Stern: 9/11 Widow Sick and Tired of Anger
The paragraph was particularly resonant:
"... politicians and business leaders must be held accountable for hypocrisy, bigotry, abuse, and lying. The media must be called out for lazy and craven reporting. We must be brave, and stand up for civil liberties through our writings and our conversations and our actions."
If we could only fit that on a bumber sticker. You are so spot on here, but so much needs changing that I worry we may never get there.
Babe, another bumper sticker might be, "Shut up and listen to the world, America."
Thanks Joan. I know where your heart is, too.
(Lovely picture of the Arno, BTW.)
While ugly stuff happens in Europe, I think in general Europeans are more careful about the hate and the crazy. That's because they went through two world wars and countless bloodbaths before those. As Americans we've forgotten our terrible Civil War. So we play with matches, and may soon start a fire we can't stop.
Blu, apathy is one thing. Intolerance and stupidity, another.
Luminous, thanks. The fire has started, I'm afraid. And we have cu back on firefighters.
Roy, when that didn't happen I knew we were in big trouble.
John, remember the 6os, when we thought we could do that kind of thing. No one seems to think that anymore. Where is the Peace Corps or Americorps? You never hear of them.
All: I subscribe to several reports issued by the Pew Research Center. Here are some good ones: The first presents an overview of religious attitudes in the US; the second is a recent survey on global attitudes towards the US (sorry, I don't yet know how to create a link in comments). They are, as always, eye-openers.
http://pewforum.org/
http://pewglobal.org/database/?indicator=1
In 2009/2010, a survey asked those living in Egypt, Turkey, Jordon, the Palestine territories and Lebanon if the U.S gave their countries' concerns due consideration in making international policy decisions. More than 80% of residents of those states responded "not too much" or "not at all" -- these results are very similar to those posted in 2002, btw.
Great post!