Something Else We Ought Never Forget
At least two excellent bloggers made reference today to this video of U2 at the 2002 Superbowl. I would encourage you to check out Deacon Greg Kandra’s excellent homily as well as my fellow Knoxville native Frank Weathers when you have the time.
There are a couple of things that strike me about this video that we should take seriously on this tenth anniversary of the tragedy of September 11. The first is how Bono opens the song. The first words sung are not from the song Where the Streets Have No Name, but rather from the song MLK.
Sleep. Sleep tonight. And may your dreams be realized.
I often find it sad to see how easily many Americans tend to overlook the importance of what the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. did to challenge our county to live out the values and ideals we claim as most central. He was willing not only to talk the talk, but to walk the walk. Ultimately, he gave his life in order that others might live with a greater freedom than he was afforded. His words and actions are especially important today as we continue looking for ways to respond to the tragedy of 9/11.
The second thing of note in the opening moments of this performance are the words of prayer spoken by Bono. It saddened me to see public prayer excluded from the anniversary celebration in New York today, but apparently the NFL didn’t have a problem with it when U2 was invited to perform. “Lord, open my lips that my mouth may sing forth your praise,” he says, as the song begins. Prayer should be at the heart of responding to any such tragedy, and it was good to see U2 respond with prayer.
What caught my attention today revisiting this performance is something else. Earlier today I had a conversation with someone in my parish who truly believes that the attacks of 9/11 are only about an attack on the United States. My experience has been that the attacks went far further than that. They effected other countries like Spain that suffered a later attack. They effected countries like Afghanistan and Iraq that were plunged into war as a result. Whether we like it or not, we are connected to one another in ways that reach beyond the borders of individual countries.
The thing that really stood out was that here was a band from Ireland performing at the Superbowl and doing their best to show support for the citizens of another country. It was as if they were saying, we understand what it is like to have terrorism in our country and want to show you our support and welcome you to be connected to us. People from other countries at the time did the same. I remember feeling a great sense of gratitude to those who even though they were not the direct recipients of these attacks, chose to to stand alongside us.
On this anniversary of one of the saddest days in our country’s history, I give thanks to all those who reached out to comfort us and to let us know that we were not alone in resisting those who choose to cling to evil.
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