How Will You Teach Me?

Exactly 5 years, 148 days, 15 hours, and 21 minutes before I was born, on September 11, 2001 some people set in motion a series of events that will affect me throughout my lifetime, and perhaps even my children in their lifetimes. Because some grown-ups that I have never met could not reach an agreement with each other without fighting over it, thousands of innocent people have died and more are dying each day.

Today is Patriot Day, named so in rememberence of what brought you all together as a nation on September 11, 2001...when the unthinkable was thought up and then carried out.

Because I am only 7 months old, I can't remember what it was like on that day, but I know that you all who are reading this can. You can remember the pain, but I ask you not to dwell on that. Nor do I want to see you reminisce the feelings of vengence or anger that may have burned in your heart when the reality of those tragic events set upon you.

As a child that sees how all of you deal with the bad and the good, I ask you to remember the feeling of unity that flowed through all Americans in the aftermath of those terrorist attacks. I ask you to remember how you all stood together, united and strong, regardless of race, creed, religious preference, or sexuality. I ask you to remember the humanity of that time and savor the pricelessness of it. Times such as this test the fabric of our society and we have withstood that test thus far, even though our fabric is made up of many colors, textures, and threads.

I learn how to deal with those who are different from those that I look up to. Please teach me tolerance and love rather than prejudice and ignorance so that when I grow up I may be able to be as strong as you all were on this day.

Love and Peace-Be-With-You-All,

Benjamin G. Ross