9/11 -- Embedded Memories in an Empty Sky

I woke up this morning, and could barely breathe

Just an empty impression in the bed where you used to be
I want a kiss from your lips; I want an eye for an eye
I woke up this morning
To an Empty Sky         (Empty Sky, Bruce Springsteen, 2002) 

And so it goes… on this historic 10th Anniversary of 9/11!  The above song lyrics are from Bruce Springsteen’s “The Rising”, an album that captured the sense of loss Americans felt in the aftermath of the worst war-like attack this country has ever experienced. 

For me, the magnitude of suffering resonates from our fellow citizens, those tragic victims who took the brunt of the blows in the Towers, the Pentagon and in the airplanes commandeered by Islamic terrorists bent on destroying our values and way of life.  Evil men underestimated our resolve and ability to strike back.  Hence,  they awakened a sleeping giant and they continue to witness the on- going collapse of their Taliban organization and al Qaeda network; and finally the death of their leader Osama Bin Laden in May of this year.

But it was the suddenness of death and loss that is depicted in the above verse that always seemed to captivate me-- in a remorseful, melancholy way-- in the weeks and months after the attacks.  We find a man who wakes up the next morning and has to absorb the reality of “an empty impression” in his bed where his wife slept. No longer will he be able to get a simple kiss on the lips, a loving hug, and shared intimacy, or share a meal, raise their children and create memories of life.  As he looks out on the horizon, he can see the remnant of his anguish… an “empty sky” that formerly held a vista of a Manhattan skyline grasping two structures of behemoth proportions that once seemed as indestructible anthems to our American influence and work ethic, ever visible to the world.  And he is angry and cries out for revenge; an “eye for an eye” indeed!

I can still remember reading the biographies of the victims that were printed in the newspapers describing ordinary Americans, like you, like me, who left for work that day and never returned.  They were our “salt of the earth” types; workers from janitors to executives who languished daily to support themselves and their families.  Their faces were of mothers, fathers and children all humanly connected to a community of families and friends that loved them.  Firefighters, police officers, clergy and rescue workers all risking their lives (and many giving their lives) to save as many of the citizenry as possible.  Excruciating were the phone calls being made and recorded in homes, on cell phones of people saying goodbye forever in this life.  I can still remember my visit to New York in early October, 2001 and witnessing the photographs and flyers that lined every inch of space on poles, buildings and street corners around lower Manhattan.  Families hoping to find any last vestige of their loved ones improbable survival.  Accepting death was too hard and painful.  

Let’s also try and imagine the huge loss of co-workers that many of the survivors had to deal with in the various companies affected by the attacks.  We often spend more time with our friends, our colleagues and co-workers than we do with our own families.  Consider the example of Cantor- Fitzgerald, an investment banking firm which lost 658 employees, by far the most of any business that occupied the Towers.  Can you imagine reliving that nightmare every day after reporting back to work in the future weeks and months? Can you picture the anguish of a somber receptionist who has to answer the phone and gaze at an employee roster that is all but extinct?

Furthermore and terribly disturbing to me is the “choice” made by many victims caught on upper floors-- that were hit by American Flight 11and United Flight 175.  That choice was to jump to their death or burn to death in the existing jet-fueled inferno.  One can still watch footage of countless “jumpers” and the deafening sound of their bodies hitting the surfaces around the World Trade Center complex.  Can anyone place themselves in that horrifying predicament?

Surely life and the world have changed drastically for people in any way connected to the nearly 3000 people who lost their lives in the vicious attacks of the day.  The world has also changed in a multitude of ways for every one of us living in this country.  But at this 10-year juncture, there are many blessings in the curse that was 9-11.  The resilient spirit that has always engulfed Americans led many to rebound rather quickly.   In a recent LA Times article, it was reported that “Psychologists have found that the emotions that surrounded NYC and the rest of the nation10 years ago –the fear, the anger—have largely faded into the background, often with remarkable speed”.  In the same section, though, it was also reported that the proliferation of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) that scarred so many after the attacks-- still exist in large numbers today. 

One thing is very clear to me.  We can never forget the events of September 11^th… never again can we let our guard down in a violent, fallen world where terrorists are willing to commit suicide to accomplish their goals of destruction against the West, particularly the United States.  We also need to learn that we are mere mortals, and no day is promised.  Cherish the human relationships that we cultivate in this life; know that we are here for a purpose and thank God every day we have the opportunity to embrace not only the blessings but the challenges of life.

Kick the Job Market Blues

Similar to the universal call of the real estate profession of location, location, location… the battle cry of Americans today is Jobs, Jobs, Jobs!! Where are they? The current ruckus in Washington may have centered on the debt ceiling debate and those Tea Party scoundrels having the nerve to force our Government to curb their drunken sailor type spending habits. Our clueless President continues to call for higher taxes on the so-called wealthy – from small business owners to corporate jet owners (really?) who won’t pay their fair share. The stock market is tanking faster than Tiger Woods comeback. And the White House continues to act like eleven year old girls pointing fingers at the GOP, the Tea Party faithful, Standard & Poor and even George W. Bush for getting us into this mess.

As a conservative, I never thought I would be longing for the presidency of Bill Clinton who lingered over an economy that was close to full employment. It was also helpful that the Monica Lewinsky saga so engulfed Clinton in legal proceedings, rendering him neutered in setting policy, thereby allowing the invisible hand of the market to work its magic without interference from the White House.

The overriding issue in our country can be summed up in three words -- Americans Need Jobs – and now. Instead of raising taxes on an already struggling working class, which includes those upwardly mobile and much maligned affluent professionals, wouldn’t it be better to raise “revenue” from a few million more workers who will make up the government shortfall by contributing their fair share of federal income tax and payroll taxes (Social Security), instead of being a huge drain on spending by collecting an ever extending 99 weeks of unemployment insurance?

At this point, all we have received are those “shovel-ready” road fixing government “chain gang” jobs to upgrade our national infrastructure. But where are the private sector knowledge based opportunities that were so indicative of the 90’s high tech boom and an emerging college educated work force?

It is no secret that many successful companies are reporting excellent financial returns … and they are doing it with fewer workers, thereby driving American productivity to record highs. How nice... but why aren’t American companies hiring. The unemployment rate dipped ever so slightly last week one tenth of a point to 9.1% due to a better than expected jobs report of 117,000 new jobs created. It was a modest report that did little to quell the free falling stock market and the high level of uncertainty that is handcuffing American business. It is a climate caused by this President’s continual threats to raise taxes and increase Employers health care costs through the oncoming national Obama care program. It is a formula that falls altogether short of what is needed to reverse the trend of our “jobless” recovery.

We have waited eagerly for some semblance of leadership from our President and/or anyone from the administration with experience in job-related economic matters. Unfortunately we can’t hold our collective breath while Rome continues to burn and the current administration “fiddles” around without viable ideas or proposals that could work.

We can probably all cite the ghastly numbers relating to the job market… 13.9 million people unemployed; when the underemployed and the discouraged are added to the numbers, the unemployment rate rises to 16.6% (from the actual reported 9.1%). Teens looking for jobs this summer faced one of the toughest job markets in 60 years. Their rate is close to 25%.
But I want to offer some simple advice to the political class along with solid business axioms that have actually worked in the past:

1. Tell the truth and stop playing the class warfare card with the American people!
Government doesn’t create the type of jobs that are needed in a free market system, but the private sector does. Public and private companies need to be engaged in producing goods and services that are of a marketable nature. Many of these companies are very entrepreneurial in nature and operate small businesses, a key engine of job growth in our economy... These are the very people Obama continues to pick on as wealthy millionaires driving corporate jets and walking away without paying their fair share of taxes. Never mind that the top 1 percent of income earners paid 38 percent of all federal income taxes in 2008, while the bottom 50 percent paid only 3 percent; .Forty-nine percent of U.S. households paid no federal income tax at all and the top 10% of wage earners pay 71% of federal income taxes. Those are the hard cold facts and the dirty little secret that our politicians fail to point out. It kind of changes the notion of “fair share”

2. Relieve businesses of the enormous burden of costly Government regulations that stifle job growth.
As part of an ongoing debate, small business owners have spoken of the devastating impact the tsunami of Obama Administration regulations is having on their ability to grow and create jobs. They are far too numerous to mention here but just turn to the EPA to get the picture. It really defies all common sense that the EPA would move forward with instituting some 30 new costly regulations and not take into account any job losses that will be a direct result.

3. Create incentives for businesses to loosen up that cash they are sitting on and begin hiring workers.
Institute immediate tax credits for any Company hiring workers over the next year. This would help defray the costs and allow government to participate in the private sector job engine.

4. Allow companies to bring in workers who are being paid unemployment insurance at no cost to them.
This would tie in to the very successful welfare- to-work program initiated during the Clinton Administration (Democrats do have it in them to expect some return for entitlements). I can speak from personal experience that being unemployed creates not only financial hardship but a psychological barrier. Work is intrinsic to our human need to contribute to our families and society. A pattern of unemployment is destructive to this very fabric of life. The longer someone is unemployed, the harder it is to return to the work force. Can you imagine how many businesses could use the extra help if it is being subsidized by Uncle Sam? Those workers could even end up gaining full employment by virtue of their visible work ethic. It is a “try before you buy” scenario that currently works today in the temporary employment business. We have that ominous sign of 13.9 million people collecting money for up to 99 weeks with more talk from our political leaders to extend it. These “99ers” need an incentive to lead productive lives until jobs become available.

Those are some ideas, Mr. President! Please stop blaming the Bush tax cuts, the Tea Party, S&P, etc. and come up with a plan. Try not to speak in platitudes like a college professor. You don’t have to walk on water, just get out of the boat and get wet. That’s what true leadership is about.

Baseball, Heaven and The Big Man

Two favorite leisure activities of mine are watching Baseball games and listening to music. It shouldn’t be done in unison because both require a certain level of attentiveness. This past week I was subjected to a spiritual encounter with both diversions as they related to my faith and our time remaining in life. Provocative stuff!

The first involves Baseball.

In the midst of living in LA, a bright spot emerges in not only the viewing, but the listening of Baseball games on TV, because we have maybe the greatest announcer and commentator the sports world has known in Vin Scully. He has spent the last 60 years of his life as the voice of the Dodgers, speaking over the airwaves in his familiar melodic way as the "voice of summer" for legions of baseball fans over the years. Vin has a knack for spinning folksy yarns about men who play and manage in the arena of America's national pastime.

So of course I was listening more attentively than watching because I love how Vin fills the dead time between pitches with stories of people's lives. He was relating a story about the Detroit Tigers Manager, Jim Leyland, a very accomplished baseball man in his own right. As only Vin can tell it, Jim has a brother who is a Catholic priest. Some reporter, surprised to learn that fact about the colorful manager, asked Leyland what one question he would ask God if given the opportunity.

Supposedly Mr. Leyland responded with "Can I get in?” Vin Scully, who on occasion will subtlety reveal his love of God and country, thought that was a most pertinent and thoughtful question… Leyland really hit it out of the park, so to speak. It seemed obvious to Vin that Mr. Leyland was more concerned with eternity than winning baseball games... a noble concern indeed -- considering the "life and death" aspect of our win at all cost culture. While it pains me to say it, in the context of Heaven, it really is "only" a game.

As a Christian, my first thought was that yes, you can humbly ask God to let you in to Heaven but what if He also asks you Why He should let you in. What will you say? Would you know the right answer? You can know. You can be fully assured of entry (eternal salvation in Christian parlance) while you are still living and serving Him on Planet Earth.

God has provided a clear path through the death and resurrection of His Son, Jesus Christ almost 2000 years ago. That is no secret! Skipper Jim needs to speak with his brother, the priest, who should be able to explain this. Of course I didn’t get it either after attending twelve years of Catholic school and serving as an altar boy during Mass. It only took me 42 years to finally get it.

The New Testament book of Romans states:
"If you confess with your mouth--Jesus is Lord--and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved". (Romans 10-9)

That is the wonderful message of the Gospel. We don't need to guess and worry while standing or kneeling at Heaven’s Gate.

Sure, there is always some doubt involved because of our mortal minds and fear of the unknown. That is where faith comes in. Be assured that our only hope in this world is accepting Christ as our Savior... the Bible is very clear in that there is only one way.

John 14:6 makes it plain -- "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father but through me."

This is not a suggestion but a fundamental tenet of the Christian Faith, a clear command to followers of Christ. Rejection of this fact will not just bear the burden of a wrong choice -- but the dire consequences of, dare I say, eternal condemnation.

In another pointed example of life, death and Heaven, I turn to the world of Entertainment and the passing of a rock & roll icon, Clarence Clemons, "The Big Man" and saxophone player for Bruce Springsteen's E-Street band.

I was not quite twenty years old when they arrived on the rock scene straight out of New Jersey, my neighbor state and a suspension bridge away from my hometown of Philadelphia.

The Springsteen- led band tapped in to the east coast urban experience like no other, with their brand of high energy roots- oriented rock coupled with rhythmical lyrics that captured our working class existence, young-adult angst and quest for life’s purpose… themes that were covered in the Bible – if I had bothered to look (I didn’t own one). But Rock Music and its lifestyle seemed to be my generation’s religion.

This time, it wasn't Vin Scully's soothing voice that resonated in my ear but the outpouring of devotion and comments on Facebook, our social networking tool of communication lacking the eloquence of a world class human voice, like Scully’s.

Most of the posts were claims that the Big Man was now in a better place -- assuming Heaven. He just had to be, right? Why, he brought such joy to the legions of E-Street fans everywhere around the world with his masterful saxophone-playing talent, booming voice and larger-than-life demeanor (after all he was 6'6'' and weighed maybe 275).

I obviously didn't know Clarence Clemons personally or much about his spiritual life. Only God knows his heart and whether he accepted Jesus Christ... although he was the son of a minister so he was without excuse. But I do know that the same standard applies for The Big Man as it does for all of us in regards to eternal life with God in the masterpiece that is Heaven. That standard is not whether you brought joy to many lives using the talent God gave you; a noble cause indeed, but one that falls short of God’s glory. Christ didn’t shed his blood to make us happy, but holy. Our gift of salvation may be free but it didn’t come cheap.

There were countless well wishers who posted the phrase 'RIP Big Man'. My hope is that he and all of our loved ones are resting in peace because that is what God has promised to all who turn to Him.

Again one only needs to look not at rock lyrics but to God's word in the Bible;

1 Corinthians 2:9, it is written: “What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived” — the things God has prepared for those who love him".

Let’s all decide today to take the steps to assurance of knowing where we will spend eternity. We don't have to sheepishly ask God "Can I get in" as Manager Jim Leyland alluded to. He has already revealed that to us by offering His Son. There are no works or activities that we can perform that are worthy enough to bring us salvation and entry into Heaven.

Playing baseball and making the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown won’t do it; Playing the saxophone for an iconic Rock band and making the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland won’t do it either. Both are lofty achievements but comes with no cigar--no championship in the spiritual realm.

It is really up to each of us to accept or reject this free gift of grace and salvation and eternity in Heaven with God. Renowned missionary Jim Elliot may have explained our predicament best prior to his death on a mission trip to Central America "He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose."

No day is promised! We can be sure of that... but let's also be sure of what God has promised. And yes, He continues to speak to us (at least to me) through many secular avenues in life, Baseball and popular music among them... and maybe more importantly through the life and death of those we admire.

Weinergate Go Away

Weinergate Go Away

There is nothing else we would rather do with Wienergate than get over it! Maybe by the time this reaches print, Anthony Wiener will have resigned and we can all move on. Until then, it raises too many legal, moral, ethical and political questions, which need to be dealt with.

Anthony Wiener is one more name to be added to a growing list of political contemporaries (Arnold Schwarzenegger and John Edwards among the recently anointed) who have paid a huge price for believing their actions wouldn’t get noticed. Some people (writers, bloggers etc) even go so far as to ask “whether we should even care”. After all it’s only sex… the same battle cry we heard about President Clinton’s now famous tryst with an intern named Monica Lewinsky in the Oval Office. I’m afraid too many Americans share the same sentiment when responding to sexual misconduct – ‘Whatever’... Sex is somehow a no accountability zone.

Why some in the media cannot bring themselves to admit the immoral, unethical and (in some cases) illegal actions are simply reckless and irresponsible behavior is baffling. Isn't habitual lying and abuse of power a big deal? That goes for the countless other members of a rogues gallery of leading men conducting themselves inappropriately. People seem to justify bad behavior by referring to previous bad behavior, even if it involves our much admired Founding Fathers or our beloved JFK. In their argument, the ends justify the means.

Do President Kennedy’s extra marital affairs deserve a pass because he successfully handled the Cuban Missile crisis? Does President Clinton have a license to cheat and lie, since after all, the economy was the most robust in modern times? (I tend to think our strong economy was the result of the media attention, and lawyers keeping Clinton focused on his personal struggles lest he interfere with the hi-tech boom of the 90’s … but let’s not digress).

So do Congressman Weiner’s juvenile actions with multiple women somehow slip by because a majority of his constituents and apologists give him a passing grade? It was with disbelief that I read a local writer express in print an immensely hyped up notion of Mr. Weiner turning out to be the “political savior of the 21st Century” by “being instrumental in rescuing the economy and bringing peace to the Middle East”. Mr. Weiner is merely a liberal US Congressman with a liberal district in Queens, New York, and by most accounts an unrestrained mouthpiece for the liberal Democrats. In his best day he may fit the modest description of the Mouse (or Mouth) that Roared.

These scandals, including the celebrated nature of Clinton’s lascivious legacy, indeed tell us-- in a way few events can-- where we are in our public philosophy. They reveal insights into how we view politics and power; virtue and vice; public trust; respect for the law; sexual morality and standards of personal conduct.
Many Americans (myself included) have an intuitive understanding that something is deeply troubling about this conduct and the defenses offered by certain supporters. Do we really want this caliber of elected official? Do we want our sons and daughters to equate “sexting” his private parts to unfamiliar women a pardonable offense for a US Congressman? Even the President and Democratic leaders in the House, like former Speaker Nancy Pelosi, are calling for him to step down, their concerns perhaps more political than moral.

If Mr. Weiner were a high ranking employee of most any company, public or private operating today, he would be fired for this conduct (many employees have been terminated for far less). It is noteworthy that our business leaders with all their ethical shortcomings may have a higher moral code than our elected government officials. Congressman Weiner needs to quit being a selfish distraction on our political discourse. There are serious and challenging issues facing our country and its citizens. Weinergate needs proper closure, not excuses.

Posted by Michael Parente at 7:29 AM Email This
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