THE BLINDERS WE WEAR

For some months, I have posted a September 11th tribute. I wanted to remind people of how we felt that fateful day. I wanted to remind myself and others how after that shock our country came together. We sought our Lord. We gave each other solace. Then, righteously, we pursued the people who had hurt us, and we proceeded to put them out of business.

Then someone spoke to me, and they told me what they thought of the September 11th tribute. It made them think I am hateful. After that, I realized I was engaging in an exercise in futility. Because I had such a display on my website, I was undermining my own efforts. I was almost guaranteeing that I would be preaching to the choir.

We all wear blinders. We all have prejudices. We are all predisposed such that when we see certain things we form an immediate opinion.

Some people react to anger, and they is all the see. They do not want to see past the anger; they do not want to hear the reason for it. They want the anger to go and stay away. Others, sometimes oddly the same people, revel in hatred. Some seem to revel in “righteously” hating those they consider haters. Others it would seem just enjoy the feeling of superiority that seemingly comes from despising those we consider beneath us. All I know for certain is that I have hated, and I think I know why I hated. I hope I am a little wiser now.

War and violence is part of our world because war and violence are in us. Reconciliation requires that we understand each other. To understand each other, we must both listen with discernment and choose our words carefully.

Nonetheless, I still wanted people to remember the lessons of September 11th. I thought it important because there are only a few times in each generation when all Americans will forget for moment their differences and realize we are one nation. But what symbol of that occasion should I choose? After giving that some thought, I realized my error.

Folks wiser than I have already considered this matter. Although we often take them for granted, we have many good holidays. We have set aside several days each year to celebrate, give thanks, and to remember the price paid for our national identity. On one of these days we celebrate our independence with fireworks. On another, we join with family and friends and give thanks to the Lord for His benevolence. And on a third day, we remember the blood price our veterans have paid for our freedom.

Although September 11th is still too fresh in the memory of some, it is already memorialized with those three other days. On July 4th we celebrate our nation’s freedom to the present day. During Thanksgiving Day, we give thanks to Lord for His mercy and all His gifts. And Veteran’s Day stands as a memorial to all who have died on our behalf.

So I have not forgotten. I will try to remember, and I trust you will do the same.

And remember this day is a special day too. Please vote.