Right

2002-09-11 9:58 a.m.

I got on the train and leaned my head against the window and closed my eyes not to open them until my stop. The first thing that was off was the silence. It is always quiet on the T. But today, the silence was with bated breath. No one sat on me and people excused themselves in very hushed voices.

I know, that in the last few days, people are getting cranky about people who are cynical about the motivations of these wars and bumpers stickers and the pins. Everyone has a right to how they feel. I care little for sentiment, and more for what it produces. Because everyone knows that similar feelings manifest themselves in people’s actions in very different ways. I am overwhelmed by people’s consideration today. This is how it should be everyday. Once you are outside of your house, your actions and demeanor affect the world directly. You do not live on your own planet. I feel equal empathy for the people who died in East Timor as the people who died in the World Trade Center because no innocent people should be murdered. I really wish people would stop getting proprietary over my grief. No Armenians, no Afghans, no Americans have more right to live than the rest of the world. I will grieve for everyone who gets murdered over political or ideological reasons. And, of course, it is more emotional to me when it’s in my own country because I know people who have lost someone. I am not a bad American because I empathize with people’s grief regardless of what latitude and longitude defines them.

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