Tuesday, September 11, 2012

September 11

This year the anniversary of Sept. 11 snuck up on me.  I had become enmeshed in my own life and hadn't been paying much attention to what time of year it was.  Each year I do three things on 9/11:  pray, look through Life: One Nation, America Remembers September 11, 2001, and read Captain America: The New Deal.  People are often surprised at the last one - why would I read a comic book to remember 9/11?  Well, if you've read it you'll understand - and if you haven't, then you should!
(http://www.amazon.com/Captain-America-The-New-Deal/dp/B005M4SXC6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1347393359&sr=8-1&keywords=captain+america%3A+the+new+deal)

The first words are: "It doesn't matter where you thought you were going today." Then several panels later: "You're part of the bomb now." And on page two, with an amazingly poignant background:  "Oh, God...How could this happen here? We've got to be strong -- Stronger than we've ever been. If we lose hope here-- Bury our faith in this darkness -- Then nothing else matters.  They've won."   Then Cap, at the site searching for survivors - seeing and reaching for a hand, thinks:  "This time...This time...Let it not be...Too late"  Much of the book is written from the mind of Steve Rogers/Capt. America.  Still at the site he thinks (over several panels and two pages): "Is this the face of your Great Satan?  Is this your offering to your God?  Your worship?  Your prayer?  Butchers...Tell the children this is a holy war.  But we've seen what stands behind you.  Heard them screaming open.  The gates of hell."  It is incredibly written - incredibly drawn - it probably helps to know about the character, but I have found this to be the best way to remember, for it is not just pictures, but the story of one man's journey through his own guilt and pain, and betrayal.  I say through, for he does go right through - one would expect nothing less of Captain America.

My husband this morning said he remembered going to get breakfast that morning, 11 years ago.  We were in  a hotel on a road trip, in Anacortes, WA, just prior to boarding a ferry for San Juan Island - it all seemed so unreal.  Even once we arrived at our room in Roche Harbor, San Juan Island, and met up with his friend, we couldn't stop talking about it and watching it.  But when our then 2 year old began to fly his Hot Wheels Plane into the sides of things, we got the picture that it was time to turn the news off! 

Remember, pray, reflect.  Forgive. 

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