Last night I wondered how we’re going to teach our children what the significance of this date is. Today’s high schoole students were alive 14 years ago but they most likely have no memory of what happened in 2001. But I can tell you exactly where I was, what I was doing, who I was with. Everyone older than me and everyone at least ten years younger than me can do the same. That day changed the world our kids came in to. It’s a date similar to my grandparents’ generation with Pearl Harbor, a day that changed the world their kids lived in.
But as soon as I thought about how to teach my kids about terror and horror I immediately wondered what date on the calendar will mark their lives with their own terror and horror. What will be the date in their lives that they kneel down with the entire nation, with the entire world, and pray for peace, peace in their own hearts and peace in the world? And they way the world it going, it’s most likely going to be what date marks the start of the nuclear war that will forever change the world my grandchildren live in.
I will teach my children about terror and horror because those will be a reality in their world. But I think I’m going to spend more time teaching them about love, peace, faith, and hope because those will be what get them through this world.
I am an educator and PhD. I quilt, belly dance, run, read, and try to grow things. I am a Mormon. I am infertile. I am a daughter, sister, aunt, grand-daughter, friend, wife, and mom.
Brett L. Dennis
Mama g
Giggles
AmandaStretch
We can share our experiences with terrorism, terror, etc. and the long history it has. But in my opinion it is a feeling everyone has to learn themselves. Just like love and peace, we don’t really know it until we have felt it. Hopefully we can all feel more love and peace than terror. I can and will show love by loving. But I hope I can control myself from doing or being terrible.
Laresa and I were just talking about what massive event the next generation will have to experience, and if they’ll have any idea how it connects to previous massive events.
I’m sad remembering how sad and terrifying and horrifying everything was that day (and the days and months following), but I am full of gratitude for those who did everything–literally everything–they could to help. Those are the people I want to remember.
My parents went through Pearl Harbor and I learned about it, but it wasn’t until 9-11 that I truly felt the horror that I could truly empathize with them. You are so right to teach them love, faith and peace. That is what will carry them through anything they have to face.
If there’s any good that can come out of tragedy, it is that these events tend to refine us as a people. Patriotism was high after 9/11, and was high for decades after Pearl Harbor. I wonder what those decades might have been like otherwise. :brett: