The Human Spirit

September 13, 2001
By Celine Chamberlin - uber@wvi.com

I grieve for all those directly affected by the attacks, I grieve for all of us in the U.S., and I grieve for the human race. The horror of what happened is at once unbelievable and undeniable.

At the same time, what has happened since the attacks has reenforced my already strong belief in the human spirit. We have and will continue to come together and rise above. We have to. We can't and won't let the terrorists and their supporters win. This country will go on, rebuild, and be stronger than it was before. The people who died will not have given their lives in vain. The injured, the family and friends of the victims will know we care.

The rescue workers and volunteers and those giving food, shelter, water, etc., are true heroes in every sense of the word. They are looking tragedy in the eye, despite the risk to their own lives, and are not backing down. The support from other countries lets us know we aren't alone. The support on the various mailing lists to which I belong, and the constant coverage on TV lets us know while most of us are far removed from NY and DC, we are all connected, we are all truly one.

We will put aside religion, race, and prejudice. There will be those who use this tragedy to further their hate, but the vast majority of us will use love to band together.

I am proud to be an American, and to be a part of the awesomeness that is the human race. In the midst of darkness, we are finding the light wherever we can find it. And we have to look no further than our own hearts. What we find there will be enough to overcome anything.

"In spite of everything, I still believe that people are really good at heart." -- Anne Frank

Peace,

Celine.