Hello everyone,
Today, 5/30/02 was the official end of the World Trade Center clean-up. With an empty stretcher bearing a folded American flag, New York marked the end of the recovery of human remains and ruins of the World Trade Center with a brief but dignified ceremony. The empty stretcher symbolized those who were killed, but whose remains were never found (about 1,800 victims). May they rest in peace--Amitabha.
Being a New Yorker, it's difficult to remain impartial to it all. I must admit that I was very emotional today, along with many other people who suffered somehow because of Sept. 11, but never quite got over it.
Some of you might know my story. Basically, I was able to avoid being inside a collapsing Tower 1 because for some strange reason, I overslept by 15 minutes that morning. I felt very lucky and grateful for this, but at the same time I was overwhelmed and devastated--if these words could even come close to how it actually felt. In my heart, I prayed that I would give my life if someone else's could be spared for it, because I could not bear to see so much suffering.
The teachings of impermanence show us not to have attachment, but the undeniable heart never forgets. For some of us, today represents a day where we can begin to let go, and realize that new beginnings can emerge from the depths of sorrow and heartache. The victims remaining unidentified won't have a proper burial or anything like that, but they will have a proper place to rest inside the hearts of each and every one of us.
A solemn tribute to all the victims and their families, all the rescue workers, and all of those whose lives were changed by the events of Sept. 11.
If I may, the lyrics to a song which was popularized in New York (maybe elsewhere too) because of this day:
"Hero" by Enrique Iglesias
Would you dance
if I asked you to dance?
Would you run
and never look back?
Would you cry
if you saw me cry?
And would you save my soul, tonight?
Would you tremble
if I touched your lips?
Would you laugh?
Oh please tell me this.
Now would you die
for the one you loved?
Hold me in your arms, tonight.
I can be your hero, baby.
I can kiss away the pain.
I will stand by you forever.
You can take my breath away.
Would you swear
that you'll always be mine?
Or would you lie?
would you run and hide?
Am I in too deep?
Have I lost my mind?
I don't care...
You're here tonight.
I can be your hero, baby.
I can kiss away the pain.
I will stand by you forever.
You can take my breath away.
Oh, I just want to hold you.
I just want to hold you.
Am I in too deep?
Have I lost my mind?
I don't care...
You're here tonight.
I can be your hero, baby.
I can kiss away the pain.
I will stand by your forever.
You can take my breath away.
I can be your hero.
I can kiss away the pain.
And I will stand by you forever.
You can take my breath away.
You can take my breath away.
I can be your hero.
Om mani padme hum
Lu
Today, 5/30/02 was the official end of the World Trade Center clean-up. With an empty stretcher bearing a folded American flag, New York marked the end of the recovery of human remains and ruins of the World Trade Center with a brief but dignified ceremony. The empty stretcher symbolized those who were killed, but whose remains were never found (about 1,800 victims). May they rest in peace--Amitabha.
Being a New Yorker, it's difficult to remain impartial to it all. I must admit that I was very emotional today, along with many other people who suffered somehow because of Sept. 11, but never quite got over it.
Some of you might know my story. Basically, I was able to avoid being inside a collapsing Tower 1 because for some strange reason, I overslept by 15 minutes that morning. I felt very lucky and grateful for this, but at the same time I was overwhelmed and devastated--if these words could even come close to how it actually felt. In my heart, I prayed that I would give my life if someone else's could be spared for it, because I could not bear to see so much suffering.
The teachings of impermanence show us not to have attachment, but the undeniable heart never forgets. For some of us, today represents a day where we can begin to let go, and realize that new beginnings can emerge from the depths of sorrow and heartache. The victims remaining unidentified won't have a proper burial or anything like that, but they will have a proper place to rest inside the hearts of each and every one of us.
A solemn tribute to all the victims and their families, all the rescue workers, and all of those whose lives were changed by the events of Sept. 11.
If I may, the lyrics to a song which was popularized in New York (maybe elsewhere too) because of this day:
"Hero" by Enrique Iglesias
Would you dance
if I asked you to dance?
Would you run
and never look back?
Would you cry
if you saw me cry?
And would you save my soul, tonight?
Would you tremble
if I touched your lips?
Would you laugh?
Oh please tell me this.
Now would you die
for the one you loved?
Hold me in your arms, tonight.
I can be your hero, baby.
I can kiss away the pain.
I will stand by you forever.
You can take my breath away.
Would you swear
that you'll always be mine?
Or would you lie?
would you run and hide?
Am I in too deep?
Have I lost my mind?
I don't care...
You're here tonight.
I can be your hero, baby.
I can kiss away the pain.
I will stand by you forever.
You can take my breath away.
Oh, I just want to hold you.
I just want to hold you.
Am I in too deep?
Have I lost my mind?
I don't care...
You're here tonight.
I can be your hero, baby.
I can kiss away the pain.
I will stand by your forever.
You can take my breath away.
I can be your hero.
I can kiss away the pain.
And I will stand by you forever.
You can take my breath away.
You can take my breath away.
I can be your hero.
Om mani padme hum
Lu
Last edited 05/31/02 at 00:02:32 by Luljeta