Remembering 9/11:
In light of Katrina, we will be seeing things in a different perspective.

As another anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks approaches, a nation will once again be called to prayer. Millions of us will be involved in public liturgies of countless varieties. Will these ceremonies be up to the task? Further, while the nation struggles in the aftermath of one of the greatest natural disasters ever, we may see things in a different light.

In years past, many of us have been appalled by the ways in which politicians tried to turn the threat of terrorist attacks and the memory of 9/11 to political advantage. I believe that the majority of Americans can now see through this sort of thing more clearly than ever before. With the tragedy of Katrina still unfolding before our eyes and tearing at our heartstrings, we suddenly have a greater sense of perspective. Whatever the final death toll from the great hurricane may be, it is clear that there are some profound differences between it and the terror of 9/11. First, the nation's attention is focused on the fact that so many of Katrina's victims were desperately poor to begin with. Large numbers did not have the resources necessary to flee the storm, and those who did have little or nothing called "home" to return to even after the flood waters recede and rubble on the ground is cleared away. But even more important, this time there is no distant enemy to demonize.

The fault lies closer to home: budgets for repair of the levies in New Orleans were cut so that the city remained vulnerable to such storms; wetlands upriver were exploited for commercial and residential development, leaving nowhere for flood waters to go; National Guard units fighting in Iraq were unavailable to help with the relief efforts here at home. There will be time enough to diagnose such problems, and hopefully correct them.

For now, the nation needs to unite in grieving the victims of this century's two greatest domestic disasters, even as we minister to those who remain in need, while marshaling whatever hope we can find for the future.

The year, more than ever, the Sept 11 memorials should not be about justifying present or future wars, or seeking vengeance, but rather about seeking justice. These services should be truly inspirational, even evangelical in challenging a people to become the peace makers and advocates for justice that God wants us to be. For those, like myself, who will be involved in religious observances, Sept 11 can be the perfect time to affirm the reality of a just and loving God. It is time to sing praises to the God who lives even in the midst of both tragedy and terror. Doing all this is not easy. It requires the deepest resources of faith, intelligence and imagination that we bring to the task, as well as something more: the grace of Almighty God.

I've located some resources on the Internet that you might find helpful this year, whether you're engaged in organizing a public memorial, or simply engaged in your own, private acts of remembrance.

After reading this article you may want to discuss it here.