JS Tip 127: From the Diversity Workshops: Lessons Learned

The beginning of this tip is almost word-for-word the tip we ran one year ago. It’s worth repeating.

Sunday morning, at 8:46 EDT, we observe a grim anniversary.

It’s been ten years.

What must we learn?

The courage and sacrifice. All the brave men and women. Fire Captain Patrick (“Paddy”) Brown, on being told, “Come back. It’s too dangerous,” responding, “We got a job to do.”  

The love and caring. Cell phone calls from the upper floors—recorded as voice messages—were filled with love and caring: “Remember that I’ll always love you.” “Tell the kids I love them.” Love. Not anger or bitterness. And certainly not fear.

The support and inclusiveness. On September 12th, 2001, the French newspaper Le Monde bannered the headline, “Nous Sommes Tous Américains.” “We Are All Americans.” The editor wrote, “How can we not feel profound solidarity with those people, that country, the United States, to whom we are so close and to whom we owe our freedom, and therefore our solidarity?”

When we needed them, others were there. We remember the good things.

Now. A warning.

Greg Toppo, of USA Today, warns, “Though most adults have vivid memories of the events of 9/11, an estimated one in five Americans either have no memory of them or weren't born yet. Most of the members of this fall's high school freshman class were in preschool at the time.”

We need to remember, and we need to pass along the memories. Of the good things.