Respect nature if you want to live in harmony with fellow humans

SEPTEMBER has not been an auspicious month for the US. Sixteen years ago, on the 11th of the month, US space was invaded with utter impunity, its vulnerability was rudely exposed, security was breached and its status as a superpower was shattered within a few hours when aircraft manned by terrorists ploughed into three buildings, including the Pentagon.

I was in Miami, Florida, at the time of the attack and, a few days before, had visited the Twin Towers and the skyscrapers in the New York district – tall buildings of iconic status that reflected the status of the capitalist system.

It was just after breakfast at about 8am when the first news broke that a plane had flown into one of the Twin Towers in New York City. The announcer was frantic, stating that “this is not a Hollywood movie, this is real, this is real”.

There was, however, a very casual response to the news, putting it down probably to pilot error. Most of the crowd proceeded to Disneyland, a short distance away. Within an hour or so of arrival, it was announced that a second plane had crashed into the other tower, and it became apparent that it was no accident.

For security reasons, an immediate shutdown was announced and thousands of visitors followed instructions for an orderly exit. Evacuation was completed in a very short time as buses ferried people to their respective destinations. The efficiency of the exercise was an eye-opener in terms of its execution.

The third crash into the Pentagon left people vulnerable, confused and in a state of despair. Land transportation was suspended and there was a total lockdown of all aircraft. Every plane in the air was directed to the nearest airport, international flights were rerouted and the remarkable exercise was completed within a few hours. The eerie silence was shattered only by the US fighter jets that took over the air space in a show of strength and a display of power as the engines roared with fury across the sky.

President George W Bush, who was in Florida at the time, was whisked away to safety and guarded by fighter jets that flew alongside Air Force One.

The scene was dramatic. Images of the towers collapsing like a pack of cards in a sea of dust and bodies flying out of windows were flashing on screens non-stop. The experience was surreal.

The US is replete with conspiracy theories about the Twin Towers assault, the moon landing and Kennedy’s assassination.

The events, however, remain a tragic day in US history as thousands of innocent lives were lost. The 9/11 attacks also provided the raison d’etre for the US to change the rules of warfare.

The weakness of man is that his understanding and appreciation can only come about through tragedy, pain and suffering.

This month, devastating storms hit Texas, the Caribbean Islands and Florida, wreaking havoc and leaving a trail of destruction.

The earth sits on a tectonic plate that is constantly shifting, and beneath is a cauldron of fire that erupts occasionally as volcanoes through fissures in the earth pour molten material that changes the landscape. The equilibrium is affected and nature has its way of restoring the balance between the earth and the ocean.

In August we witnessed a total solar eclipse. It was also the period of the full moon that has a pull on the ocean, causing higher tides than usual. The combination of these factors and the rising ocean levels provide the toxic conditions for flooding in Florida.

Man has to learn to live with nature and not against nature. Nature is protective over mankind and, in its own way, provides the remedial measures so that man can inhabit the Earth. In a narrow approach where we concentrate on the text rather than the context, we lose our understanding, relevance, appreciation and meaning of nature in our lives.

Man must first learn to respect nature if he wants to live with his fellow beings in peace and harmony. We must tone down our arrogance and acknowledge our vulnerabilities.

DS RAJAH Musgrave