 |
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
A Brief
Explanation The page begins with a brief reflection on the terrorist attack of 9-11. Below that, you will find a letter from Bob Kaufman. Bob and his wife Yael, as you will read, were able to tour ground zero shortly after the attack of 9-11. The letter gives a little background, and a link to the slideshow. Reflection on 9-11 It has been almost ten months since the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center in New York, and the day on which we celebrate the independence of this great nation gives us cause to pause and reflect. The world has been forever changed by the tragic events of that day, and it is important for us to remember the horror and destruction of those violent acts. Yet we should not use those memories to prolong our pain or maintain our anger. Rather, we should revisit the horror so that we might better understand and empathize with our brothers and sisters in foreign lands where terrorism and warfare are a way of life. We must never take for granted the freedom and security that comes with being an American citizen living in America. We have wealth and resources that dwarf most other nations, and we should use them to help and to heal. If any nation has the ability to go forth and be Christ in the world, it is the United States of America. It is not wrong to be patriotic. It is not wrong to be proud. We should be proud to be Americans, just as we are proud to be Christians. Yet "pride" should never be confused with "arrogance". Jesus showed us that we can be proud and humble at the same time. And we can rise to new levels by serving the people of the world. Just as Jesus washed the feet of the apostles, we must overcome our arrogance and begin cleansing and healing God's people around the world. And we are ALL God's people. Every one of us. Christian, Muslim, Jew, Buddhist, atheist, pagan... all have been created by God. It is not our place to judge. That task falls to the Lord. Our task is to go into the world and love one another as Jesus loves us. So as we enter a new year, let us reflect. Let us remember the heartache and horror of 9-11. But let us take a lesson from it as well. There are atrocities occurring in the world right now... as you read this. And they are no less atrocious simply because they are happening in a far away place. These things are incredibly real. And God's children are dying. Something needs to be done, and someone needs to do it. So... how does it feel to be someone? That's right. The Lord is calling your name... Bob and Yael Kaufman's Tour of Ground Zero Created by Bob Kaufman Four days after the World Trade Center attack, Yael and I had a rare opportunity to see a side of Ground Zero that has generally been off-limits to media and volunteers. We were given permission to take a few pictures. We wanted to share them with friends far and wide who don't live in New York. Hopefully, the [slideshow] will give you a sense of what it was really like. By way of background, on the Tuesday of the attacks, I was 5000 miles away in Anchorage on business. I couldn't concentrate on work, and I wanted to get back and be with Yael. Somehow, through a lucky combination of my being able to charter a flight to New York, Yael finding the only hardware store in Manhattan with hard hats and respirators left, and explaining our way through five layers of tight police security, Yael and I found ourselves 48 hours later at Ground Zero, working the rescue alongside a team of professional fireman, policeman, FBI, NYPD, CIA, and other federal agents. Two weeks and three days after the attacks, we look out our window in the West Village and see white smoke rising 15 blocks away where the World Trade Towers once stood. Bob P.S. Feel free to share this with others. ------------------------------------------ Click on the following link to view the presentation:
And thank you, dear visitor, for your
time. |
|||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||
