The day after 9/11/01 our country in it’s disbelief of the horror that occurred the day before, saw an outpouring of strength, compassion and full hearts from people all over our nation. We watched on television how brave our firefighters, police officers, first responders and fellow citizens were in trying to save one another. We ourselves wondered over and over how we could help. We were one. No political parties, race or suspicion of one another's names.
The 912 Project according to the website was designed to bring people back to where they were on that day after the 9/11 attacks. Think about that last sentence and then look at the spectacle we watched unfold yesterday. Did you see any compassion for fellow citizens? Did you see anyone willing to help? Did you see a crowd of diverse people working as one to make life better for someone else? Did you see anyone fighting to save another’s life?
In Minnesota yesterday, President Obama held a rally that talked to 20,000 people about the importance of health care to our nation. The importance of it for every American, even those that hold signs that call him names that I will not even repeat. He explained to us that it could possibly be me or my child or that protester’s child carrying the sign that will find themselves without medical coverage, bankrupt or denied the possibility of life saving treatment. Those 20,000 people agreed in a loud roar that we all need to make sure everyone has a fighting chance. Just like so many of us tried with all of our strength on 9/11 and 9/12 to make sure that those caught in the horror had a fighting chance.
The 2008 campaign was about hope, change and making life better for the people of this nation. President Obama won because he brought us closer to the best of our angels, to that feeling we had on 9/12. We came together, worked with one another. I remember a film clip of the older gentleman in Colorado who had lost his wife and came to volunteer in one of the headquarters. How he had tears in his eyes when explaining the wonderful youth of our nation that he had worked side by side. They saw in him someone special too and were thrilled that he got the opportunity to meet the President.
We knocked on doors, talked to people that agreed and disagreed with us. Helped those that we discovered had concerns and problems and if we couldn’t help, we worked hard to find them a contact for that help. We held town hall meetings with those that stood up and told us the story of having no home and we helped find them shelter.
The polls last November showed that the majority of this nation believes that this IS the character of our country... .compassion, empathy, concern, open minds, open hearts. No matter the size of yesterday’s hate fest, the 912 Project failed its own mission.
Let us keep moving forward with strength, compassion and concern for one another in proper remembrance for all of those that showed us what 9/11 and the days that followed truly meant.