The impact of 9/11 has had far reaching effects that span the globe and beyond. So many questions unanswered, including who holds responsibility for the deaths of thousands of innocent people both in New York City and at the Pentagon. The bottom line --- we ALL share responsibility in some way.

No .. it was not Osama Bin Laden's fault. He was and is a product of his culture, a culture which professes peace, yet supports murder. Its been said over and over again that the Moslem religion is one of peace and love, but that peace and love does not extend beyond its border. Those who do not follow the Qu'ran are considered infidels and its o.k. to kill them. If you follow the directive and kill the infidels, martyring yourself in the process, you are considered saintly and will be gifted with 70 virgins when you reach heaven, or something akin to that. O.K. that is their belief and I am not mocking it -- however, when it comes down to it -- killing is not o.k.

That brings me to our situation here in the US. When a young man or woman reaches the age of 18, our military gives them a gun, trains them to kill in the name of God and Country, but yet .. they are not allowed to buy alcohol until they reach the age of 21. What kind of message is that? Go out and kill in the name of your country, but don't even consider drinking a beer until you are old enough to vote! That brings up another thought ... you can kill for your country but can't vote for who runs the place.

The whole idea of what happened on September 11, 2001 turns my stomach inside out. I lived in the New York Metropolitan area growing up. The Twin Towers were a big part of my life. I watched them go up and alter the skyline from my perspective. After graduating high school, I worked in lower Manhattan and remember clearly the first day the Path Tubes used the new WTC terminal, never to see the old Hudson Terminal again. It was exciting just to go to work every day. The top of the towers was a favorite place to go and hang out offering a clear 360 degree view of the surrounding areas. I could pick out places in the skyline where I used to go and do certain things, like the 'bay' at the foot of Caven Point Road in Jersey City which is now Liberty State Park, and the Verranzano Bridge between Brooklyn and Staten Island, the Jersey City Medical Center, the Colgate Building at Exchange Place -- places of familiarity that made me feel like myself and were part of my identity. Funny ... even though I was raised in Jersey City, across the river from Manhattan, I still considered myself a New Yorker. New York City was my backyard. That all changed on September 11, 2001.

I am still the same person, but part of me went down with the towers. Not that the destruction of the Pentagon is discounted in my heart, by no means. It is just that the Pentagon belonged to us as a whole - a nation; those towers were mine.

in retrospect now, six years later, I haven't seen much change in our world since 9/11. I would have thought that the unity we felt as a world after 9/11 would have continued on, making us grow closer. Instead, I feel that we have pulled further apart. There is so much dissention; conspiracy theories abound, some of which are temptingly realistic. The thought that our beloved government could have had a hand in bringing down the towers and blowing up the Pentagon is just unthinkable to me. However .... it is important to research all sides of the story before making a decision. Don't just blindly believe everything that you see and hear.

The towers hit home on a personal level, as well. In 1981 I lost my husband in a drowning accident in upstate New York where I was living at the time. On the night of July 4, 1981, there were two drowinings in Steuben County - one was my husband, Edward, and the other was a near-drowning accident of a local man named Ed Beyea. My Edward died; Ed Beyea lived. I often wondered how the man who lived had prospered. I learned that he became a parapalegic after his near drowning accident, being paralyzed from the neck down. I understand that he did have some control over his arms, though very little. He was sent to a rehabilitation hospital on Roosevelt Island between Manhattan and Queens where he learned to cope with his handicap and moved on to have a life for himself. He had friends and a job and lived. That is, until September 11, 2001 -- twenty years later. Ed Beyea was one of those non-ambulatory folks who died on the 27th floor lobby that they coudln't evacuate any further before the towers collapsed.

I think of his life, how he had prospered from his near fatal injury and then think of my husband who's life was cut short at age Twenty-eight and have to ask ... which of them faired better? And, really, did it matter. Both men were vital, expressive human beings prior to July 4, 1981. Today, both have transitioned and moved on to another existence beyond the physical life. Both are free now, free from restrictions that bound them -- Ed Beyea free of his paralysis and wheel chair, my Edward free of his personal demons and torment that eventually ended his life in a foolish diving accident.

We move on -- as a country, as a world, and as personal individuals. The impact of September 11th has scarred us permanently, made us realize that as a nation, we are not invincible - what we deal out to other countries can effect us on our own soil. This is karma at its finest, I dare say. You know that old adage .. "You reap what you sow" ... ? We have sown the seeds and now are watching them bloom, like it or not -- believe it or not. Its happening now before our own eyes.

I would like to think that we learned something. That Ed Beyea and others didn't die without reason or purpose. How could we possibly think that something good can come out of the deaths of 3000 people who did nothing wrong other than to go to work every day in the World Trade Center or the Pentagon?

Well ... there is something good here in this story. The good is in our hearts.

We have the power to make changes in our world. We have the power to bless this world, bless those who are in control of our governments, and bless our adversaries -- every day, every moment of our lives. We can live a purposeful life, like Ed Beyea did, and overcome the obstacles in our paths to blossom into who we truly are -- a gifted, blessed Being of light and love. Fighting fire with fire gets us nowhere. It hasn't worked in the past, and it isn't going to work in the now. It is time to take a stand for positive change on a global level

Use the power of the "vote" and place in office those who we believe will effect positive change. Don't refrain from voting out of fear or out of the negative belief that it won't matter. What doesn't matter is the thought that it doesn't matter! Everything matters here on Earthschool. Explore all candidates, do your homework and exercise your right to vote for whomever you feel would represent your beliefs and values. Sometimes it is a matter of choosing the lesser evil. Vote anyway.

Take charge of your life and work hard at eradicating hatred, anger and fear. Hatred is our worst enemy. Don't hate someone because they have a different belief system and/or culture -- send them love instead. Remove fear from your mind and know that the Universe in Its Divine Wisdom through the Creator Source will provide for our needs by placing us in the circumstances that offer opportunity for growth and forward movement. Use your free will to make choices that will effect us globally.

Consider recycling, burning bio-fuels, and renewable alternative methods of power.

Teach yourself how to grow a garden and preserve foods for future use. Even if you live in the city, you can still grow pot herbs, lettuce, and tomatoes on your fire escape or balcony in containers.

Invest in a water filtration system - even something as simple as a Britta container with extra cartridges. Our bodies are mostly made up of fluids and in any emergency, clean water is imperative for survival.

Read everything you can on survival techniques. Learn how to protect yourself and loved ones in an emergency or disaster.

Don't sit back and let the world go by. Do something for yourself and your world. The effects will be far reaching.

And, lastly ... rely on the power of positive thinking. As you think, so will you manifest. Send out positive energy to the world, heal the earth with your actions, thoughts and deeds. Smile more often .. at yourself, your neighbor, a stranger. Don't be afraid to give.

There are lessons to be learned from 9/11. Take these lessons and use them wisely. Apply this knowledge inwardly and outwardly to effect positive change. We can grow from this experience.

Warmly