by Darrin Drda

On September 11, America witnessed a brutal assault against human life. Whether or not we knew any of the victims personally, we have all been deeply saddened by this loss. Perhaps more devastating than the immediate heartbreak, however, has been our lingering psychic pain. America has suffered an attack on its collective consciousness in which two of our most fundamental shared illusions have been reduced to rubble.

SEPARATISM
After our initial shock and subsequent grief, we as Americans are left to confront some difficult questions about who we are and what we represent as a nation. Given the strategic economic and military targets of the attack, we can safely conclude that the hatred of the perpetrators was directed at none other than American imperialism.

While we might feel a justifiable pride in the humanitarian ideals of democracy, freedom, and justice upon which our nation rests, we must also confront the truth that America was founded upon a spirit of ruthless imperialism in which the aforementioned ideals did not apply to non-whites. Even more difficult to face may be the fact that this same attitude continues to define US foreign policy, and helps to sustain the Super-Sized American standard of living.

The relative comfort and freedom which most of us enjoy allow us to forget too easily that we are part of a world in which a disturbing number of people have no access to even the most basic human needs and rights. As citizens of a global community, each of us has a responsibility to help create the conditions that foster the happiness and welfare of all people, regardless of race or beliefs. The agents of terror who violated so many lives obviously did not adhere to this philosophy of universal humanitarianism, but they have reminded us of the importance of living in accordance with such beliefs.

SECURITY
Another, perhaps more disturbing casualty of the attacks has been our overall sense of security. Most living Americans have never witnessed large-scale violence except on film, and we are among the fortunate few nations on earth that have rarely in their history - and not at all in recent history - experienced war within their own borders. But now the multi-billion-dollar fortress which we had believed to be impenetrable has been invaded, and we may never again be able to take our safety completely for granted.

Suddenly we all feel vulnerable and afraid, as if danger or death may be close at hand. Our fear turns to anger, which seeks to eliminate that by which we feel threatened. Our impulse is to wage war, hoping for a guarantee that we and those we love will be safeguarded from violence and harm. While it is natural to desire and to expect a certain amount of personal security, our reason should tell us that declaring a"war on terrorism" will offer no such assurance. In fact, any act of retaliatory aggression is likely to lead to an escalation of violence and fear within our own communities (to say nothing of those abroad), whereas no response at all on our part may well give a green light to mass murder, providing no further relief from our fear. The dilemma, then, is transformed from a political one to a fundamental, spiritual question underlying human existence itself: how to live with a fear of the inevitable, namely suffering and death.

Obviously, each of us must find our own way of coming to terms with these fears. There are as many methods as there are forms of human behavior. But as religion and experience tell us, the ultimate antidote to fear is none other than love. Therein we find the answer to the questions we face both as Americans at this challenging time and as human beings on this planet.

So let us wage peace in our own hearts, learning to extend kindness and compassion to our family and friends, our communities, our nation, and to the world at large, knowing that all beings are alike in desiring happiness and well being. Let us use our abilities and our unalienable rights to uphold freedom and oppose violence, repression, and injustice, wherever they manifest themselves.

Finally, let us learn from our assailants that life is precious, and not to be taken for granted. Let us live as if we were on a crashing plane, calling one other on our cellular phones to express our truest feelings: "I love you. I'm grateful for our time spent together on this Earth". If we can learn to embody this sentiment in our own lives, perhaps those who died will not have done so in vain.