9/11 Heroes

One of the things I'm most angry at the Bush administration for is that they made it hard to honor the memory of 9/11 without having to deal with the reality that this country responded in ways that were as destructive as the initial attack we experienced. As a country, we can never be proud of how we handled one of the biggest challenges we've ever faced as a country.

But there are those we can be proud of - like Susan Retik and Patty Quigley. Their story is told in the documentary Beyond Belief.

Beyond tragedy - there is hope
Beyond hatred - there is compassion
Beyond our borders - two women discover we are all connected

They started the non-peofit Beyond the 11th, which is still helping the women of Afghanistan today.

Last August, Susan was awarded the Citizens Medal by President Obama (Patty is no longer involved in the work).

Susan Retik Ger understands the importance of empowering women touched by personal tragedy. After losing her husband on September 11, 2001, she found cause in educating and training Afghan widows and their children. Her strength of spirit has healed hearts, fostering mutual understanding and brightening our common future. Retik Ger receives the Citizens Medal for advancing women’s rights and demonstrating the power of America’s ideals.

This is what we're capable of. On September 10, 2001, Susan and Patty were normal suburban housewives. Today, they're my heroes.