Take care of one another: Professor Wayne Fields comments on terrorist attacks
Tuesday evening, Sept. 11, 2001-
In a moment such as this, when so many families suffer so deeply,
so terribly-in a moment such as this, no matter how old we are,
it is family we most desire, parents and siblings, those who know
and love us best. In our anxiety, we want to be reassured: in our
grief, we want to be comforted: in our uncertainty, we want to be
loved. Amidst so much fear, we long for the haven of home. But
tonight many of us are far removed from our parents and our
siblings, miles away from where we long to be and from those to
whom we most naturally turn for solace and support. Rather we
are here, and we are together, and we must be as family to one
another, sustaining one another-every one of us- as sisters and
brothers do.
The test of a community, especially one so diverse and
contentious as ours, is the depth of our commitment to one
another, is its ability-our ability-in the midst of confusion
and doubt, to trust and uphold one another rather than to divide
and break. This country is being tried in a new and terrible
way; we are being tried in a new and terrible way. And the
greatest resource we bring to this difficult moment are the
people surrounding us, the affection that, as much as all of our
practical considerations, joins us together.
Tonight and in the days to come, we must do the work of sisters
and brothers, comforting, supporting, even protecting each other.
It is not enough that we merely live through the approaching
days; we must come through with decency as well as bravery,
humanity as well as courage; we must come through this together,
whole and complete. This-as much as justice-do we owe to those
who have been most wounded, to those who have died, and to their
families as well as to ourselves and to our families.
As a 60 year old child I am, this day, unashamedly afraid, afraid
for my country, afraid for myself and those I love, afraid for
the things I most believe are good and right. As a parent, I am
distraught with my powerlessness, the awful knowledge that I
cannot protect my children, cannot watch over them and keep them
from harm. As a child I ask for your comfort and support. As a
parent, speaking for all parents, I beg you -
Take care of one another.
Take care of one another.
Take care of one another.
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