There are political implosions and literal implosions, engineered by experts, to make way for new structures. These are cool to watch, and I am always amazed at the fact that man is talented enough to manage volitile materials and make them work for good.
For a while after 9/11, I couldn't watch these feats, because the the resulting dust clouds reminded me of that horrible morning. For the longest time after that September day, I likened the waves of dust crashing through the streets and enveloping all in it's path, to death and pain and senslessness.
When I heard that The Stardust was going to be demolished to make way for a new casino resort, I decided to watch the footage; after all, The Stardust was an iconic fixture in the Las Vegas skyline. I'm glad that I did watch the footage, because the building went down in a blaze of glory, Las Vegas style, complete with fireworks and to cheering crowds.
The Stardust coming down cleansed me in a way. The dust cloud was still scary looking, but the fundamental difference I realized was this; The World Trade Center was demolished by 19 men intent on crippling this country, intent on murdering human beings and terrorizing them on the way to their deaths. The rolling waves of dust that roared down on the streets of New York carried the dust of souls and the taste of terror and death. 9/11 was conceived and designed to try to cripple us.
The demoliton of The Stardust, and every building before and after; it was done by design, but a design of a different nature, one of promise and optimisim. These demolitions are done to the cheers of the spectators, who are there on purpose to watch, to celebrate a peaceful explosion and the birth of something new.
While a New World Trade Center is being built, and while we have not allowed the religious fanatics who are the enemy of all who disagree with them, to take away what makes us Americans, there will always be something haunting about that piece of land. Exorcised, yes, but still capable of invoking sadness, grief and anger in my heart. Yet, the demolitions of buildings post 9/11, for me, are plasters on the wound and a small bit of comfort. It's the comfort of knowing that we still progress and move on, and that every event in our lives shapes our future selves.
So this morning, I watched the demoliton of a complex in Dallas, which led me to this post and to these thoughts. It also speaks to the differences between these two events and the reasons behind them. It is perhaps fitting that this event falls on the day after another attempt on us by the Islamic Jihadists. They were, once again, trying to murder and impose their religious views on the rest of us; comply or die. Christianity does not do this, we are all free to choose to believe or not, to worship or not; and to those who will bring out The Inquisition and The Crusades, I say this;
We have evolved past those days, the Islamists haven't. Christians spread The Word through good works and peaceful means, Radical Islamists, obeying their Koran impose their religion at knifepoint. Therein lies the difference.
I stated earlier, the hijackers of 9/11 were following their "god", apparently one who advocates and orders the destruction of those who won't comply. This morning's demolition of First Baptist church in Dallas was done to make way for a new church complex, where guests are welcomed, even if they don't agree with what is said. A place where peace and the love of fellow man, sinners all, is taught and preached. A place where life is held sacred, where no one plays God like the hijackers did, and Islamic terrorists do.
It went off without a hitch, and the original sanctuary wasn't harmed, eventhough it was right next to the four buildings that were demolished.
Isn't it cool?
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