On September 11. 2001 2,997 lost their lives. Our nation was the victim of a terrorist attack so evil we still can't get our heads around it. The terrorists were the devil. Their cunning, hatred and their sheer power to inflict pain are without parallel in modern history. Although their followers are trying to again plumb those depths.
We are once again in an election year here in the USA. It's the ugliest, most mean spirited, most delusional election in our history. There is a lot of talk about hate, hate speech, racism, misogamy, fanaticism and more. We would do well to get ride of the hyperbole and remember what real hate, real evil really is.
But if we look back on September 11th, we need to realize the that the real legacy is not hatred, but the 2,997 angels that should really be the focus of the story, our history.
Today, as I have every September 11th since 2006, I'm taking a time to remember Peter Hanson, the handsome, young software engineer, Sue Kim Hanson, his Korean-American bride, and their two old daughter, Christine.
The Hanson's were killed when United Flight 175 was hijacked by the terrorists and purposely crashed into the World Trade Center.
Sue Kim was a Doctoral Candidate at Boston University. She, Peter and Christine decided to take a vacation to Disneyland and to visit Sue Kim's father in California before she had to defend her Doctoral Thesis.
Blind hatred killed the Hanson's. The terrorists never knew them, because to know them might have lead to understanding, to doubt in their mission, to have concerns about the justness of their cause. The leader of the terrorists, Osama bin Laden didn't want to know people, he wanted to see numbers. Peter, Sue Kim and Christine weren't people to the terrorists, they were just the number 3. Just 3 out of 2,997. We need to remember them, as angels.
Please take a few minutes today to remember Peter, Sue Kim and Christine. Say a prayer for them and their families. Say a prayer for us all. Remember people today, not numbers.
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In 2006 a blogger project was begun on the fifth anniversary of 9-11. Called the "2,996 Project" volunteers were asked to write a short remembrance for each of the victims of the September 11, 2001.attack. I was randomly assigned Sue Kim Hanson. Each year since I have repeated my effort to honor Sue Kim and her family. You can read each of my essays following the links below:
September 11, 2006 - Susan Kim Hanson
September 11, 2007 - Remembering Sue Kim Hanson
September 11, 2008 - Remembering Sue Kim Hanson
September 11, 2009 - Remembering the Reality: 9-11-2001: Sue Kim Hanson
September 11, 2010 - Reflections on the Life of Sue Kim Hanson
September 11, 2011 - Tears in Tragedy - Remembering Sue Kim Hanson
September 11, 2012 - Honoring the Memory of Peter, Sue and Christine Hanson
Spetember 11, 2013 - The Tragedy of War, The Victims of Hate, Remembering Peter, Sue Kim and Christine Hanson
September 11, 2014 - Will Hatred Ever Be Replaced with Understanding? Remembering Sue Kim Hanson on 9/11
2 comments:
Excellent posting!
Thank you Lee.
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