September/October 2001

Standing United

Early last month, the top news story was whether Michael Jordan would play basketball again. It seems like a lifetime ago. During the last month, we Americans have endured a staggering array of emotions—shock, disbelief, anger, grief, fear, and deep sadness. One newspaper columnist put it this way: “You feel like the son who gets halfway to the telephone to call mom before remembering that she died three weeks ago.” Our world has changed forever. We’ve lost a kind of trust and sense of security that we took for granted. But amid all these raw emotions and unfathomable tragedy, there is a light. People are coming together like most of us have never seen before.

During this very difficult time, Americans are demonstrating a remarkable outpouring of love, compassion, and kindness. On the very day of the attack, droves of Americans went to donate blood—so many that some had to wait hours before it was their turn. Local firefighters in communities across the country took to the streets to collect donations from commuters on their way to work; the money would be sent to the New York City Fire Department. Newspapers, banks, businesses, and all sorts of organizations asked people to donate what they could for the victims and families of the worst terrorist attack on U.S. soil.

The Akron Beacon Journal collected more than $1.3 million in donations from its readers to buy new equipment for the New York City Fire Department; its original goal was $325,000. A celebrity benefit televised in more than 200 countries raised $150 million. People from all walks of life - all ages, all religions, all socioeconomic levels, and all colors - have come together, and continue to come together, to work on the common goal of helping those who have suffered from this atrocity.

While we were initially filled with a sense of devastation and emptiness, we are recovering, slowly but surely. Americans have recovered from losses before, and we will only be stronger in the end. To be sure, this terrible crime has ripped at our hearts, but it has also showed how we can open our hearts to our fellow Americans and prevail in the worst of circumstances.

Heroes Among Us
An August 18 issue of The Plain Dealer cites a poll in which 1,000 Americans were asked to identify a hero. Sixteen percent of those polled said they did not have a hero, and another 7 percent weren’t sure. That means about one in four Americans couldn’t identify a hero just over a month ago.

Things have certainly made a dramatic turnaround. We now easily point to our heroes. They include firefighters, rescue workers, survivors of the terrorist attack, and volunteers. They include men and women like John Paul DeVito who was able to lead most of his 12 employees to safety down 87 flights of stairs after their office, located in the first tower, was struck by a hijacked plane. They include Harry Ramos, who directed confused strangers into the stairwell to make their escape, but who then stayed behind in the doomed tower with an injured employee. They include Nicole Blackman and her band of volunteers at the ground zero site where they tirelessly serve coffee, sandwiches, energy bars, and vitamins to rescue workers. They include Omar Wasow, a 30-year-old Internet executive, who rescued an injured stranger after the second tower collapsed, finding a wheelchair and wheeling him five blocks to a hospital. And Kerry McGinnis, a 30-year-old worker at Manhattan’s Humane Society, who saved more than 200 pets from the lower Manhattan’s evacuated apartments and reunited them with their owners.

These people and countless more like them have showed that our nation is filled with heroes. These people did not ask to be heroes, and most of them would say they weren’t heroes, they were just doing what they needed to do. But the rest of us recognize these everyday people as the true heroes they are. Their courage, strength, and perseverance have been an inspiration for us all - indeed, for the entire world. They reaffirm our faith in humanity and help us heal from these tragic events.

Not Alone in Our Grief
Europe and much of the rest of the world demonstrated a spontaneous and extensive outpouring of sympathy for the victims of the attacks on New York City and Washington last month. Citizens, government leaders, royalty, and even critics of the United States expressed messages of support and solidarity. American embassies in Moscow, Berlin, Beijing, and countless others were covered with flowers, American flags, and messages of grief and hope. All across Europe, flags flew at half mast, citizens waited for hours to sign official condolence books, all activities stopped in bustling cities and small towns to observe a moment of silence, churches were filled with mourners, and concerts and sports events were postponed.

Americans living or visiting abroad say they have received heartfelt phone calls from friends, e-mailed poems and prayers, and words of sorrow from strangers who recognize their accent. At Queen Elizabeth’s order, Buckingham Palace staged a special Changing of the Guard dedicated to the victims of the attack. A military band played “The Star Spangled Banner,” while tourists and Britons stood quietly holding American flags and crying.

This tragedy not only has brought Americans closer together, it also has united much of the world. British Prime Minister Tony Blair said, “It is important that the Americans know that their allies and friends around the world do stand shoulder to shoulder with them.”

Charity Adds Up
Charity may begin at home, but it also has its place in more and more businesses today. Employers have discovered that allowing their workers to volunteer during the traditional workday offers many benefits. For example, at Andersen, a Chicago-based company, workers from its offices across the country lend a hand to Habitat for Humanity. As 1,200 of its employees roll up their sleeves and drive nails into wood, their efforts hit home. Team building reaches an all-time high, employees are re-energized, and the traditional walls between employees and supervisors crumble. Andersen’s recruiting director says its employees are more satisfied knowing that their organization cares about them as well as their community.

At Hewitt Associates, employees volunteer during the traditional workday by tutoring school children, organizing activities at nursing homes, and helping build homes for Habitat for Humanity. The experience gives employees a chance to get to know one another outside of the work environment. It also provides them with a sense of pride and accomplishment as they give back to the community in which they live.

Embracing Our Diversity
All across the nation, cities are reaffirming their commitment to racial equality and taking a stand against intolerance. September 18 was Race Equality Day, organized by the National League of Cities. Many U.S. cities took part through programs, dialogue, and other events that promote ethnic tolerance - especially relevant now considering the recent anti-Arab attacks. “It’s not always easy to confront racism and ethnic intolerance, especially during a national tragedy like the recent attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon,” said Dennis W. Archer, mayor of Detroit and president of the National League of Cities. “However, as Americans and as city leaders, it is imperative for us to tackle this issue head-on with determination and creativity and not succumb to hatred or intolerance.” Last year, the National League of Cities initiated a campaign to end racism. Since then, over 700 communities have conducted town meetings and dialogues on racism, established special task forces, provided training for city workers and businesses, and pledged publicly to strive for racial equality.

This year’s events included the following:

(1) Gulfport, Florida’s “Teen Council,” which is organized like City Council but is comprised of residents aged 13 to 18, sponsored an outdoor event that featured live music, speeches by city leaders, and a poster display.

(2) Orlando, Florida, held an interfaith council to improve understanding across faiths and cultures, a mentor program for at-risk youth, and a six-day “community-change” program for youth.

(3) Gainesville, Georgia, held a seminar on the “Business of Diversity,” which helped educate employers about discrimination in the workplace.

(4) Among its many race equality efforts, Denver, Colorado, adopted new policies and reporting procedures to help its police department identify any racial bias when stopping people suspected of offenses.

How Can We Move On?
The events of September 11 touched every American. Even those who were not directly affected by the events - those who didn’t lose a loved one in the attack or even those who have never been to New York City - have been moved in a profound way. There are physical symptoms - insomnia and poor eating habits - and then there are emotional symptoms, which are impossible to measure. How can we overcome these troubles and start healing?

The best way to alleviate your own misery, says one expert, is to help alleviate someone else’s misery. “If you practice acts of loving kindness with people around you and even with strangers, you will start to feel better,” he says. Helping others allows you to channel anger or anxiety into positive energy that can help restore a sense of control and order. Give blood, donate money, volunteer, write letters of comfort, and check in with your neighbors, especially those who are elderly, ill, or handicapped. Physical exercise, creative outlets, and a healthy diet help the body cope with stress. Also, prayer, faith, and fellowship help relieve anxiety, while fostering hope and community spirit. While children do not necessarily need a complete explanation of what is happening, they do need increased attention and affection. Extra time with them just for talking, listening, and playing will make them feel safe and well cared for. By restoring balance and recovery in our own lives, the country can heal, one person at a time.