10 years since the “world stopped turning”
Written by Uilleam Mac Gafraidh
Normally I would write a September 11th blog post, but as circumstances would have it, I will be gone down to Orange County for a wedding of two of my friends this weekend so I will not manage to get it done.
September 11th is always a difficult time for me, people remember a lot of the things that really should not be brought out at this time. There is a constant fear that there will be another “attack” on the anniversary, there will always be fear.
It also makes me think on what I was doing and where I was during September 11th when the news broke. I wrote a question on my facebook page asking where were you when the world stopped turning (a phrase that is so commonly associated with September 11th due to a great song by Alan Jackson) and I got some really cool answers, some folks were at school, some at work, some in bed. The thing that struck me was, everyone knew where they were.
Personally, it’s hard for me to forget also, I had just came out of a meeting with my boss, I was working for an American Company that had 2 floors in both towers (Morgan Stanley) I came out of that meeting, the meeting had overrun, and was due to take my break, I noticed people flocking to the TV lounges, as I had 15 minutes to burn, I went there, I missed the first plane, but saw the second one live courtesy of SKY news.
Now when something like that happens, your normal priorities go out of the window, I had given up on politics as I had helped Tony Blair get elected in 1997 in the Great Britain landslide victory (ironically the only time I have ever voted anything other than the Scottish National Party) but was suitably impressed by Britain’s stance of solidarizing itself with the USA during their time of mourning. (I guess it is true that in times of crisis, you really find out who your friends are)
Just like Alan Jackson’s song was a breath of fresh air for all who needed it post 9/11, I think he had a point when he said “faith, hope and love are the three things he gave us, and the greatest is love” quoting from 1st Corinthians 13. When the song came out, America was hurting, people were wanting vengeance, wanting profiling and various other things that would have been deemed as revenge, Jackson reminded us in the best possible way, that the greatest thing we have is our love.
I started to fly shortly before 9/11 so I had a little taste of what it was like under relaxed conditions. I have also seen profiling in action, in JFK airport, a middle eastern looking chap was before me in the line, British passport, Arsenal soccer shirt, cockney accent, and we were chatting informally about soccer, well he went before me and got so much hassle prior to being whisked away by 2 TSA folks. Now I have no idea whether the guy was innocent or whether he was someone who was “flagged” but it certainly does not look good. (In fact I looked dodgier, I had a rugby shirt and kilt on!)
America is known as being a lot more patriotic than I am used to, where I am from flags are usually carried to divide rather than unify. Coming over here, it certainly is refreshing to see so many patriots, I am hoping that once Scotland gets it’s independence, then we will have that level of pride in our colours. (You will notice that this post is done in Red white and blue for my support of the USA)
Lastly I ask that you spare a thought and prayer for the families of folks who lost folks due to the tragedy on 9/11, for the folks who have lost sons, daughters or folks in conflicts fighting for either Britain or America for a greater freedom on a war on terror, In my book, they are heroes all, whether they be Armed Forces, FDNY, NYPD, or just civilians who came when their country needed them, 9/11 affected so many folks, at so many different levels. Also pray for our enemies, pray for a change in their hearts.
You may be surprised to hear that from me, but to quote Pastor Marc Unger, who lost his son Daniel, who is a local pastor at Exeter Baptist Church in Exeter, CA he said “For ten years, I prayed that Osama bin Laden would turn from his sins and repent. He chose his own destruction,” Now for me, that is true Christianity, Marc gave the best of his best, he gave his oldest son for his country, and he prayed for the souls of the ones who sent his son home to heaven.
So I leave you with a question, where were you when the World stopped turning?
God bless
Uilleam Mac Gafraidh
Your blog is excellent. You’re right about our attitude towards the Muslims. Jesus died for their sins as well as ours. It’s hard to get past all the jihad violence that so many Muslims perform throughout the world. But God is God nonetheless, and the entire world will eventually go His way- mot the Muslim way, not the communist way, not even the American way, but His way.