The sadness of this day fell across me like a pall this morning. Certainly the memories of those who died on this day presses down on the shoulders of all Americans, but for me, the sadness comes from a loss of hope. The disintegration of humanity’s ability to reach above itself and transcend the chains of this mortal coil is quickly evident to anyone who takes a look at downtown Manhattan.

In several thousands of years of civilization, humanity’s only great feat has been to devise better ways to kill one another. For a long time, we have placated ourselves with the supposed honor of war. We have bolstered or doubts with stories of heroism and selflessness in the face of certain death. But now, not even honor exists. Senseless death has taken its place.

Today reminds me of heroes, and it shows me that many of us learned nothing from them. We honor their memories with words and ceremony, but we continue to live our lives in direct contradiction to the lesson they could have taught us. We have not learned to be selfless, but to be vengeful. We have not learned to turn the other cheek, but to take an eye for an eye. We have not learned cooperation and understanding, but oppression and control.

Unfortunately, we’re not the only ones wearing blinders. Those who did this to us. Those who have calloused us and stoked our rage. Those who would do this again fight against the very thing that could set them free. We should remember them on this day as well. We should look at them as the example of what we could become.

For they are us, and we them. We are all humans. The potential for great good and astounding evil lives within each one of us. It’s this possibility, this duality that makes life worth living. To know that there is greatness being acheived every day and that some of that greatness might trickle down on your shoulders is why we all get up in the morning.

It is the dreams of our youth that still roil in the backs of our minds. It’s the stargazing child within us, the innocent, curious being that gives our existence meaning. The quest, the journey, the adventure. These are the things this day should teach us. These are the things that let us know that there is still hope left. There is still a chance for humanity to rise above the petty hatreds of our sullied condition. That chance for hope comes from one place. It just has many different names.

The Blue Man Group sent me this email:

We would like you to experience “Exhibit 13″ which was created as a way of expressing personal feelings about the impact of September 11. Members of Blue Man Group collaborated to design and produce all the elements of this piece. The film can be found at exhibit13.

The New York Times on September 6 featured an article about television programming around the September 11 anniversary. The article appears on the cover of the Entertainment section. It begins:

“In tribute to the victims of the 9/11 attacks, Blue Man Group has created an eloquent video. The usually explosive performance artists do not appear in it; there are no blue-painted heads in sight. Instead, pieces of white paper drift down in front of a pure black background as percussive music plays. All these papers were found in Brooklyn, where they floated across the river from the World Trade Center, and as they gently tumble from the top to the bottom of the screen some become legible: a sheet with scorched edges, filled with Japanese calligraphy; a letter that begins “Dear Recruiter,” a cover sheet that says “Exhibit 13.”

“At other times a cascade of falling papers suggests birds or snowflakes or bodies. The video is everything the gargantuan television coverage coming in the next days is not: it is poetic, imagistic and simple; it draws viewers in, inviting us to reflect rather than telling us what to think; it is three and a half minutes long.”

I suggest you take a look at this video.

CNN is offering a video feed of today’s events. So, for those of you who are working, chained to a computer, you too can watch the events of the day. On CNN’s home page they offer a “Live Video Feed.”

But you have to pay for it. Way to go CNN. Make money off the tragedy!

Everyone else, ABC, NBC, MSNBC, and others are offering their feeds on the internet for free. But not CNN.

Cash in on 2,500 lives, fuckers.