I hope no one thinks this is blasphemous or disrespectful, but I’d like to remind myself that some positive things may arise as we sort through the aftermath of the tragedy. Some are substantial, some are mundane. My list starts with:
Red Cross having more donors on the rolls
People at airports not griping so much about security and procedures
Air Marshalls available to arrest idiot passengers who commit “air rage”
Maybe Hollywood backing away from some projects that are gruesome/violent. At least for a while
The outpouring of support world wide displays a recognition that dispite our individual (ethnic, religious, racial, national, gender, orientation, whatever ) differences, we’re people responding in sympathy to people. (thanks Cranky)
Greater appreciation of life and what’s truly important – and it ain’t dying with the most toys.
A greater appreciation of our country, the liberties we have and the sacrifices others made to protect them. Guess you’d call that plain old patrotism.
Triggered a much-needed time-out (well, we’ll see) in the Israel-Palestine conflict that I can only hope would lead to something more permanent.
Americans motivated to learn about other cultures, countries and religious beliefs gain an appreciation of the historical and geo-political context in which the attack happened. A more informed electorate is always to be a good thing, especially in the world’s sole remaining superpower.
Who knows, maybe Americans will decide that we Eastern, urban, New Yorkers are worthy of having votes in Presidential elections that are equal to the votes of good rural Christian Midwestern people.
Spiritual crises. Thousands, millions, being moved to examine their faith, or lack of same, when they never really have before. And losing it or gaining it, it’s far better to do so after soul-searching than soul-shrugging.
The media will probably, finally, give Columbine a rest. With the national worry focused back on external threats, “zero tolerance” idiocies at schools all over the nation stand a better chance of fading and falling away.
Less complacency, more curiosity, more willingness to learn about issues more complex than who has a shot at the Superstanleyworldbowlcupseries this year. There’s definitely a snowball down in Hell rolling towards a bit less ignorance in the world.
Greater appreciation of police officers and firefighters
More charitable donations
More civility among politicians, at least for a while
More civility among fans of opposing sports teams
Better understanding by many people of the difference between Islam and the evil fanaticism that sometimes masquerades as spirituality; more tolerance (I hope, though there is a danger it could cut the other way and feed the flames of xenophobia)
Plug up various security problems, hopefully with little compromise of civil liberties
Rid the Earth of the scourge of Osama Bin Laden, the Taliban, and perhaps some other scumbags
Speaking personally, it’s made me re-examine everything – my knee-jerk responses and the prejudices behind them, my claimed ideals and my committment thereto, my tolerance for intolerance, and the day-to-day mundanities that really do make up my life and how much I haven’t been appreciating them.
possibly the best thing that has come out of this is that America now realises that it is not immune from terrorism and may now look at it in a different light.
Its all well and good when one country attacks another as the country can just respond. When you are attacked by terrorists there is no country that you can lash out at.
There is a need for vengance and no-one to aim it at!
Which makes the whole thing even more cowardly
My petty problems are in a different light now. The size of my butt, whether I’m having a good hair day, how the sales clerk didn’t speak to me in the right down of voice - well, those are minor, selfish things, aren’t they? Now I recognize them as such.
I see more of a community spirit worldwide. The more we can all see each other as “us”, instead of dividing humanity with invisible borders, the more unthinkable it becomes to kill each other. (Granted, this is a long slow process.)
People are responding to the needs of others. Money continues to pour in at an astounding pace; I’ve heard more people than ever before express a desire to learn emergency medical techniques, to volunteer with the local fire department, or to man tables for the Red Cross. We all seem to have learned that there is a world outside ourselves.
I don’t look the other way when somebody spouts racist crap anymore. I’ve (verbally) kicked an ass or two already, and there are more on the list. My Inner Warrior is running the show, under close supervision of my conscience.
Does anyone have a current tally of the monatary (sp?) donations for the vistims and their families? Someone I know said it was already in the millions.
I posted this question in GQ, but thought it might have a better home here. It is, after all, a positive outcome of the situation. People everywhere are joining together to give what they can to help those in need.
Maybe some will rethink their support of Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson, in view of their stupid remarks about God “lifting his protection from America” due to internet porn, abortion, feminism, and the activities of the ACLU
