A Way to Remember


Today is the anniversary of a defining day of a generation. Just like our parents remember where they were at the attack on Pearl Harbor, and many of us remember the assasination of President Kennedy, we and our children will remember the attacks on 9/11/2001 forever. While there are lots of political angles, I want to focus on two things in this brief post. I want to remember that time, right after 9/11 when, still reeling with vulnerability, our people reached out to one another in ways that had been unprecedented in our modern world- from volunteers rushing to help in NYC, Washington and Shanksville, to the simple act of speaking and smiling, and greeting our neighbors or even the people we passed on the street. In the days and months following 9/11, we moved beyond racial differences, socioeconomic differences, political differences... and were simply Americans.

There are many ways to commemorate this day, the sacrifices that have been made and the heroism and selflessness that marked that day and the days and weeks following, but for me, one of the most meaningful is myGoodDeed.org

This site encourages Americans to honor this day by pledging to do something selfless by volunteering time or money to a cause that helps others. It was this site that encouraged me to take my desires to help children and take the step of pledging to and becoming a CASA worker to honor the memory of the many heroes of that day and beyond. No matter how limited your resources , you can pledge to do something and that something will make a difference in someone's life. Visit the My Good Deed website and see the simple kindnesses that many have already pledged and make your own pledge... and remember the heroes of 9/11 by showing the goodness and caring that is the best of America, of our world, every day.

Comments

Anonymous said…
Deborah, I knew you were soulful from your food posts but I know even more now. CASA is a wonderful organization. My hat is off to you.
Deborah Dowd said…
Ronnie- It is a great organization and what a rewarding way to make a difference in the life of a child... and there are always more children in need of a Casa than volunteers!
Barbara said…
I lost a childhood friend on 9-11. He was a NYC firefighter who was one of the first to arrive at the towers.
Deborah Dowd said…
Barbara-So sorry to hear that the attacks on 9/11 touched you in such a personal way. We were all changed on that day and the only thing we can do to make sense of what happened and do what we can to show respect for the many sacrifices made.
Susan said…
Having been an extreme eye-witness to the NY attacks, as well as month after month of the very raw aftermath, I was just as humbled by the acts of compassion as the violence. To this day, my heart breaks recalling when I learned of the Jewish community's perpetual shifts at Ground Zero, praying for the dead and unrecovered, fulfilling mitzvah. My Good Deed is a wonderful way to ensure kindness triumphs over cruelty. Thanks for sharing this.
Anonymous said…
Thanks for this post. Before reading this, I almost felt like September 11th came and went without anyone remembering or flinching from the events of 6 years before. I'm glad you told us all about that Web site, and I can't believe it has been 6 years. It feels like just yesterday.
Deborah Dowd said…
Susan- I can't imagine what you must've gone through, but finding something to hang on to that is good is the only way we can try to make sense of that day.

Hillary- It is incumbent upon all of us to never forget. I, too was surprised that so few people commented. I know some people think it is dredging up the past, but I think we need to honor those victims and their families by doing something worthy ofthe sacrifices they made.