Reliving 9/11

Flipping through the television channels tonight with my children, the Discovery channel was showing "Inside the Twin Towers." We watched the program. We relived the events. They now understand what started the current war. They also now understand that there are "bad guys" out there. They went to bed with questions and concerns about more terrorist attacks. My eight year old said, "Dad, I'm worried. There might be more terrorists, then more war, then more terrorists, then more war." Then he said, "Luckily, we don't live near anything terrorists want." I didn't tell him that we are the things terrorists want to attack. I didn't tell him that they kill numbers, not people. I didn't tell him that there is no safe place in this world of ours from terrorism or "bad guys."

I cried as I watched the show. My children held back their tears. I remembered what the families of the people who perished in 9/11 remember every moment of every day. I remembered that there are children without parents, wives without husbands, friends without friends - because of the terrorists.

Some say I shouldn't have let my children watch the television program. Afterall, it was graphic and scary. But this is the world we live in. I want my children to know that all people are not good. That they need to trust their gut instincts when it comes to their own lives. That if they are uncomfortable, or feel they have to leave a dangerous situation, then they need to react - they need to act - on their feelings.

I always say that I wish I could do something for the families that lost family members in 9/11. But I often think, how on earth do we keep our own families safe? How far out can we move - away from the dangers that lurk...Then I have to think - do we live our lives or let them control it with fear?

There is no right or wrong answer. We can't run from dangers. We can do our best to live good lives and steer clear from overt dangers, but there will always be the unseen dangers. It is horrific that the world is what it is today.

My heart goes out to the victims and their families (of 9/11). My heart goes out to the brave firemen and civilians who saved other people's lives instead of their own. Their courage seems beyond comprehension.

I think everyone should watch this documentary at least once each year to remember the brave, the victims, our world.