This September 11th marks the first anniversary of the terrorist attacks on America. We reacted with shock and horror at the callous disregard for human life exhibited on that now-infamous day. Most of us swore that we'd never forget the loss of so many innocent people—and many of us vowed that our lives would be changed forever by the tragedies.

Now that the year has come full circle, what are the lessons we've learned from September 11th? Have we discovered that we are all connected, that we are one family within a proud and strong nation? In our hearts, have we found more compassion and love for our fellow citizens?

I'm sure that many of us have gained renewed patriotism and increased faith from witnessing the disasters of last September. We came together as a country that terrible day, and our friends from all over the globe joined with us in our grief. But have we learned anything lasting from the tragedies—have we experienced an increase in personal growth since the day of multiple disasters?

A poll done by Forni and Sissa of the Johns Hopkins Civility Project (cited in "Why Courtesy Counts," Parade, August 25, 2002) concluded that 74% of the respondents believed "Americans had become more thoughtful and caring" post September 11th. Only about a third of those polled thought the increased compassion would last, however.

Have we gone back to business as usual in how we treat our fellow humans since September 11th? Evidence would indicate that we still exhibit the same rude and aggressive behaviors that have come to be a symptom of our hectic modern age. Road rage, lack of common courtesy, and bad-mannered customer service are typical examples of incivility in action.

The new compassion that we shared subsequent to the tragedies seems to have faded away with the passing of days. Memories can be short, even when events are incredibly horrific.

When we join together on September 11, 2002, in a day of remembrance and honor for those who did not survive the terrorist attacks, it may be beneficial to remind ourselves that we are in this life together. As fellow human beings, we owe each other kindness, respect, and compassion. If we remember the men and women who performed heroic deeds that day, we will recognize the most noble human behavior possible. We can learn the greatest lesson of all from the heroes who thought of the safety of others first on September 11th. The lesson is: love thy neighbor.

© Kathy Sanborn
Life Channels Staff Writer
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