Remembering
now, after 9/11
Unsystematic
Ideas
With
the passing of the first anniversary of
the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, I can still
feel a sense of grief and insecurity that
the ill-fated incidents left in the hearts
of the American people. Some of us seem
to have learned from them, being hopeful
of the positive changes that have taken
place globally since then — but still remembering
those who lost their lives.
However, many of us still cannot forget
the tragedy of the attacks, and are still
deeply affected by the event and constantly
worrying about possible future incidents
— so much so that our past grievances and
future fears prevent us from living the
present. But consider a different viewpoint
— by means of philosophy — for those of
us who moan of the past and worry of the
future too much.
I would like to propose that the human mind
perceives time in three ways, all of which
affect our lives differently. These three
concepts are: the past, present and future.
The past is made up of our memories, which
are the unforgettable moments — the highs
and lows — of our lives. It is important
because it gives us a sense of reality,
including who we are and what our purpose
is in life. However, the past is not real
anymore. It belongs to history, to something
that we cannot experience any longer.
In comparison, the future is made up of
our hopes, ambitions and challenges, along
with our desire to accomplish those dreams.
Our ideas of the future give us the affirmation
that we need to keep challenging this bittersweet
game of life. However, the fear of the unknown,
which belongs to the future and not to memories,
tends to scare us.
In contrast, the present signifies who we
are at this instant, including the perceived
reality of our world and our physical capabilities.
Unlike the past and the future, the present
is the only concept of time that affects
us instantly and physically. Therefore,
it is the solitary “real” moment of life
— the moment that we breathe, think, walk,
talk, love, etc.
In this sense, appreciating the present
is extremely crucial for human happiness.
However, certain unfortunate events, like
those of Sept. 11, can disorient our perception
of time, negatively affecting our thinking
and emotions. Thousands of innocent citizens
lost their lives in these incidents, creating
initial feelings of remorse and anger —
feelings that some of us couldn’t get over,
leading us to worry constantly about the
future.
We need to realize that Sept. 11 was the
wake-up call for the American government
to realize the scope of the threat of terrorism
— especially from Osama bin Laden and the
al Qaida network. Just as the lessons learned
from the Nazi persecution of the Jews proved
important to the advancement of human rights
and of democracy, al Qaida’s attack on the
most powerful nation in the world is proving
important in the global struggle against
terrorism.
Moreover, the events proved to be a reality
check concerning the lives that we were
taking for granted. The aftermath of Sept.
11 has in turn engendered an atmosphere
of national pride that has long been needed.
The point that I’m trying to make is simple:
The events were intrinsically evil and devastating,
but the responses that they have created
were, in the majority, morally and sentimentally
positive. Therefore, for the first anniversary
of the Sept. 11 attacks, we need to appreciate
the present situation.
Ultimately, realizing that we can neither
live in the past nor in the future, it is
better to stick to our daily lives, taking
one step at a time. I don’t mean to say
that we should forget the memory of those
who died or the controversial future that
awaits the United States and the rest of
the world. I simply mean to say that we
shouldn’t take for granted the importance
of today, so that we can enjoy and be grateful
for every single second of our earthly lives.
Barlas F. Esin is a senior journalism
and philosophy double major.
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