As 9/11 approaches many people plan to commemorate this day in a variety of ways. Glenn Beck is throwing a shindig in Alaska at $65-200 a ticket. Terry Jones and the Dove World Outreach in Gainesville have declared it "International Burn a Koran Day" and plan to torch copies of religious text in a sanctimonious bonfire.
It just makes me sad, really.
Remember what the country was like in those devastating hours and days following 9/11, when it ceased being a date and became a turning point? People were a little nicer. The country was a little more cohesive. We stumbled but we did not fall - because we were unafraid to hold each other up. Strangers embraced each other and the government stopped playing the blame game just long enough to lead the charge. The entire world came together and mourned our lost and shared our despair.
For a moment - we were of one race, one mind and one heart.
Beauty was able to rise out of ashes.
Hatred brought about that tragic day. Intolerance and bigotry, fear and hatred drove extremists to attack those they did not know and kill innocent victims - regardless of religion, race, age or gender. People ceased to be human and became collateral damage for "the greater cause".
A statement was made.
Therefore I don't think we need an "International Koran Burning Day"; it feeds into that same intolerance and bigotry, fear and hatred. This is not a statement to radical Islam, it's the deliberate statement that says "we're justified in hating what you believe, simply because it's different".
I think we had enough of that on 9/11/2001.
It's time for a new statement.
As far as I can tell there is no "International Nice Day" - and I think there really should be. We can recapture - for one day - that sense of community and purpose that we had back then. It shouldn't take another tragedy to bring out the best in us.
If we bring out the best in us, maybe there won't be another tragedy.
What's say we give it a try?
On Saturday lead the charge to reach out and inspire the "nice" all around you. Post nice news stories or songs of encouragement, turn the tide in community events by dousing the anger with words of peace and encouragement. Promote the causes of your favorite charities to inspire good works, instead of empty words.
Let's make it happen.
Just one day. One very important day....
Be nice.
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