Robert Chase's blog

During the tenth anniversary weekend of September 11, I had the privilege of spending a lot of time in Battery Park, not far from where, a decade earlier, the horrific scene was unfolding as towers collapsed, clouds of toxic dust filled the streets, uncertainty reigned, people died.

Symbols matter.

For the 10th anniversary of 9/11, we invite you to participate in an event that will show a strong symbol of unity in the midst of the marvelously diverse mosaic that is not only New York City, but all of America and, indeed, the whole world.

When religious magazine Sojourners refused an ad that promoted acceptance of LGBT congregants, did it send a signal that GLAAD couldn’t squelch simply by placing a new ad?

Last night at the American Indian Cultural House, I had an opportunity to experience a profoundly symbolic expression of hope and healing.

In a few short weeks, people everywhere will commemorate the tenth anniversary of September 11, 2001. Ceremonies of remembrance will be particularly poignant here in New York where grief and loss still weigh heavy. Memories of last year’s vitriolic debate over proposed construction of a Muslim Community Center in lower Manhattan adds a layer of anxiety to an anniversary already fraught with emotion. It is a time to honor the past and yet it is also an opportunity to look forward to a time where differences among us are respected just as divisions between us are eliminated.

 Last week, President Obama had unprecedented opportunities on consecutive days to demonstrate his promised “change we can believe in.” On both occasions, he came up short. 

As the tenth anniversary of 9/11 approaches, I’ve noticed a concerted effort on the part of individuals across political, ideological and cultural spectrums who are seeking to have genuine conversations about what it means to build a diverse human tapestry in this city and beyond.

As Memorial Day weekend approaches I have found myself reflecting on the sacrifice that so many have made over the past decade in response to the terrible events of September 11, 2001. I am mindful of the often horrific cost to those who defend our country, sometimes leading to the mutilation of souls and bodies both in combat and in the incredibly difficult re-entry process into a society largely disconnected to the ravages of war.  

On Monday, Intersections made a statement in light of events surrounding Osama bin Laden’s death. I then shared this statement as a blog entry on our Prepare New York web site, the multifaith effort here in New York to help equip residents of this city and beyond to “have the conversation we never had, post 9/11.” The spike in traffic this week on that site has been extraordinary, which means that our work is beginning to pay off: people are seeing this as a place to gather (virtually, and eventually, face-to-face) to share stories across lines of faith, culture and differences in life experience as we approach the 10th anniversary of September 11, 2001.

Last summer, New York was embroiled in a controversy over the development of a Muslim Community Center in lower Manhattan that quickly escalated into a vitriolic debate that exposed deep feelings of unresolved grief from attacks on the World Trade Center in 2001 and about the place of American Muslims within the fabric of our society. It became evident that there was a conversation that we thought we had—but didn’t—after the tragic events of September 11, 2001.