9/11 - Five Years Later We're All Still in This Together
by Cindy Price
The dog frolicked across the four-lane highway as I drove past. In the rear mirror I saw it happily prance in the fast-moving traffic, blissfully unaware of the grave danger. What if that was my dog? I thought. I would want someone to stop and save it. Two blocks later I decided my urgent errand wasn't really that important. I made a U-turn across the busy lanes, afraid I would be too late.
Another car had pulled over with the same intent. Through rolled-down windows we shouted to each other. "Is that your dog?" I asked the couple. "No, but it ran across the road," he said. She added sadly, "We couldn't get it." Just then the dog crossed back towards our idling cars. We stopped and got out, calling to the lucky dog that so far had beat the odds.
She enticed it with a stick of red licorice, and I grabbed the loose collar. No tags. The three of us congratulated each other on our successful rescue. Now I had in my hand a big wet muddy stray dog.
"I have a sleeping baby in the back, so I don't want the dog in my car," she said. I understood. "That's OK," I said. "I'll put it in my car and take it right to the animal shelter." The dog jumped readily into my back seat. The couple and I thanked each other again, waved and parted.
At the animal shelter I was assured that a friendly family dog like this would be picked up soon by its distraught owner.
Back on my errand, I felt good about the dog rescue. I was pleased for the dog and for the family that surely would claim it. I had done my good deed for the day, I thought.
As I drove on, my feeling of goodness, of human-ness, continued. I started letting cars cut in line. The drivers waved their thanks. I held doors open for people. I extended every courtesy I could for my fellow man. If someone cut me off, instead of getting angry, I felt pity for the person who, for whatever reason, felt like they had to be rushed and discourteous.
I felt such oneness and closeness to strangers. Then I realized I recognized this feeling - I had felt it before in the distant past. But when?
Then I remembered. It was right after September 11, 2001. Do you remember? Do you remember the oneness, the courtesy, the gentleness and thoughtfulness we all felt for each other after that terrible day? Across the country in every state, that horrific tragedy reminded us that we are all in this together. We are all our brother's keepers.
We still are. It doesn't matter what religion you are, if you're pro-war or anti-war, Democrat or Republican, native-born or immigrant, if you're from New Orleans or Houston or New York City, we are all in this together.
A reminder is on the back of every US dollar: E Pluribus Unum. Out of many, one. United we stand.
With the anniversary of 9/11, I hope we Americans will remember the oneness we felt much too briefly, and will rekindle our care for each other. Let this be the lasting legacy of 9/11 - our connectedness and humanity towards each other. For one thing has not changed: We are all still in this together.
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