Life is precious, therefore love and love unceasingly

"Life is so fragile and precious. Please love each other" ~ Julia Roberts

The year 2001 was an annus horribilis. In every nook and cranny of the world, humanity watched in horror. The skyline of New York City was irreversibly changed forever. More importantly, the odious cruelty of terrorism reared its hideous head and approximately 3,000 innocent lives were senselessly lost in the blink of an eye. The Twin Towers of the World Trade Centre collapsed like a horrific scene from a Hollywood movie. The extent of the heinous crime against humanity is comparable to the Holocaust for it shocked the entire world, which stood still while CNN delivered the breaking news.

The seemingly normal morning of 11 September, 2001 was blown to smithereens when 19 suicide terrorists from the Islamic extremist group, Al Qaeda under the leadership of the now deceased Osama bin Laden, crashed two planes into the iconic skyscrapers, a third one into the Pentagon and still another was targeted at a governmental site in Washington D.C. Their motivation was the demand for the release of imprisoned fellow terrorists.

The physical damage to the world-renown properties were on a scale never before experienced by any nation, let alone the most powerful in the world, America. Yet the unseen wound ~ the spirit of a nation ~ laid bare and in tatters in the immediate aftermath of the unspeakable catastrophe. America had suffered a blow below the belt, and many were worried that the Americans would not recover from such terrible acts against its people, against humanity.

Ten years on and tomorrow is the tenth anniversary of 9/11. It is a painful and sad milestone for the families of those who had perished in the disaster. The world stands in silence to honor those who lost their lives innocently. In mourning and with bowed heads, we ask ourselves, "What is worth fighting for?"

The preservation of innocent lives, to enjoy freedom without constant fear, the defense of the weak and the defenseless, a voice for the muffled cries of the oppressed. These are worth fighting for. Are they not the things that separate humans from beasts? Hate destroys all that it touches but love nurtures and protects. Life is too precious. Let the 9/11 deaths not be in vain.

Resources:

http://www.journeyofhearts.org/kirstimd/911_wake.htm