The Day We All Cried

Ramsey Seikaly

Los Angeles -- In the aftermath of the worst deadly attack on our nation's soil since Pearl, our sense of invincibility may have taken a hit but our will and determination to not succumb to the evil that was thrust upon our national psyche, gradually gave way to our resolve to heal and move forward, without regrets, without remorse and above all else without surrendering one iota of the tenants, and core principles that made our nation the best place to live upon this blue marble we call Earth.  

Today marks the 12th anniversary of the deadly attack when two commercial passenger jetliners crashed into the World Trade Center resulting in the collapse of the famed twin towers and along with the destruction of these pillars of American Capitalism and economic success, some 3,000 innocent lives swept away by the folly of a misguided belief, and the rage of hate rationalized through the invocation of God.   The spill over from that day will undoubtedly pierce the splinters of not only our memory but for coming generations, as Pearl Harbor has done for the last 75 years.  

No one can predict the future.  But we can prepare for a future that is peaceful, prosperous and safe for our children and for their children.  No one who has been at war has ever promoted military conflict as a first resort.   Below is an outline  of a speech given at a time that the world was completely at war.  The message remains the untimely truth for peace and understanding.  Let us read it and mediate on its message for if we don't find a way to resolve our issues peaceably then will be condemned to repeat our mistakes for all eternity.


• Now that the wars are over, I wish you to find happiness through peace.

• May all mortals live from now on in harmony, as one nation, for the sake of common prosperity.


• Consider the world as your country, with common laws, governed by men of merit, 
regardless of race.


• I do not distinguish between Greeks and barbarians, as do the narrow-minded.


• I am not interested in the country or race of origin of people.


• I only distinguish people according to their virtues.


• To me every virtuous foreigner is Greek and each non-virtuous Greek is worse than a barbarian.


• If you are ever faced with differences, do not resort to arms, but resolve them peacefully. If need be, I can act as your arbitrator.


• God should not be viewed as an authoritarian ruler, but as our common father.


• As for myself, I consider all persons, black or white, as equals.


• I wish you to be my partners and not just members of our commonwealth.


• As far as I am able, I shall see to it that all my promises come true.


• Regard this oath as a symbol of love.

                                                                                                           Alexander of Macedon 324 BC

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