AMERICANS MARK 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF 9/11 ATTACKS

TEARS UNITE AMERICANS
ON 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF 9/11

New York / Washington (US) - President Barack Obama joined thousands on Sunday at the World Trade Centre site in New York to pay tribute to the dead and reflect on the decade since terrorists toppled the Twin Towers, damaged the Pentagon in Washington and crashed a jetliner in Pennsylvania.  Obama joined predecessor George W. Bush, as they and their wives held hands while along a wall etched with the names of those who died at where the centre stood on Sept. 11, 2001. The four solemnly looked at the memorial’s waterfalls, and, then, shook hands and exchanged hugs with a group of family members and elected officials amid a heavy police presence.  Following a moment of silence, Obama read passages from the Bible. Then families of the victims started reading of the names, which were carved into stone at the reflecting pools.

Bush read a letter by Abraham Lincoln, to a mother, whose five sons were killed in battles, after the second pause.  New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg said, “Ten years have passed since a perfect blue sky morning turned into the blackest of nights. Since then, we’ve lived in sunshine and in shadow. And although we can never unsee what happened here, we can also see that children who lost their parents have grown into young adults, grandchildren have been born, and good works and public service have taken root to honor those we loved and lost.”  Obama, the first sitting president to attend the annual ceremony, gave the green light earlier this year for the military mission that killed Osama bin Laden, the mastermind behind the deadliest foreign attack on American soil.  Security was especially tight in Manhattan during all the day.

Tears flowed and bells tolled at Ground Zero today as Americans marked the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks in a rare moment of unity for a country still shaken by the horrific attacks.  President Barack Obama and George W. Bush stood together in New York for the main ceremony at the site of the destroyed Twin Towers.  Obama then flew on to lay wreaths at the crash site of Flight 93 in Pennsylvania and at the Pentagon outside Washington.  After ten years the wounds are not closed and the spirit of revenge is a latent reality today.

WHAT DO THE VEDIC TEACHINGS TELL US?

Indian saints have classified the nature of human beings in three broad groups - ‘Sattvika’, ‘Rajasika’ and ‘Tamasika’.  ‘Sattvika’ people are wise, sincere, generous and non violent.  As such they have an altruistic mentality and render disinterested (non-motivated) service.  ‘Rajasika’ people are egoists.  However they are active and do good to others with the motive of getting a return of their actions for self-aggrandizement.  They won’t tolerate harm to themselves.  They have got the spirit of taking revenge.  ‘Tamasika’ people are indolent, out and out egoists and of violent temper. ... As long as people have the conviction that their only interest lies in material prosperity and sensuous enjoyment, discord cannot be avoided.

Śrīla Bhakti Dayita Madhava Mahārāja :
“Realistic Solution for Diverse Humanity”
Speech at a ‘Spiritual Summit Conference’ - 1968 Calcutta.
Sree Chaitanya Gaudiya Math  -  www.sreecgmath.org
http://www.sreecgmath.org/scgmtimes/scgmsbdm.php