I saw this question on Facebook and planned to write a short answer but found I had too much to say to be able to post it there so I will put it here.
This is a very interesting question in my mind. You hear a lot of the never forget, always remember kind of stuff as 9/11 comes around but seldom this question.
I think we have a great example to follow from that very day. There are countless examples of first responders who were going up the twin towers trying to save people and lost their lives. There are also many examples of people in the pentagon that risked their lives and safety trying to help victims of that attack as well.
But in my mind the very best example of average people taking action was on the United flight 93. The passengers on that plane knew the risks and still took action. They knew the likely hood was great the plane would not be able to stay in the air as they went towards the cockpit. Yet they still went quickly and with the purpose to try and save the passengers on that plane and also to save people they never even saw on the ground where that plane was heading.
I have nothing but respect and gratitude for the fire and police personnel that died that day in the twin towers. But I still feel the passengers on flight 93 showed greater bravery by taking the action they took with the knowledge that even if they succeeded they were very likely not going to survive.
This is difficult for me to put into words but I will try. the first responders in NY that went bravely into those towers never considered that possibility those towers would completely fall. Certainly there was a risk, certainly there was the "chance" that one or more of them could die while fighting the fire and trying to save people. It takes a special kind of bravery to run towards something everyone else is running away from and I in no way mean to belittle that courage those brave souls showed going into those towers. But at the same time they never really thought they all would die and that always gives you a sense of hope that you will be the one to "make it".
Those people on flight 93 KNEW, they knew they would likely die in the attempt. These were not trained first responders, these were as average a group of people you can find. These average people stood up and went above and beyond to not only try and save themselves, which they knew was unlikely. But to be certain they saved unknown people that just had the bad luck to in the target of that particular plane.
This in my mind is the answer to the question of what being vigilant is for the average person. To be prepared to take action when and where you are, if you ever are faced with a similar situation. Step up and do what has to be done without counting the cost, but thinking only of the outcome and the greater good from that outcome.
We can do this today, in our everyday lives. We may never have to face that most difficult decision those passengers on Flight 93 did. Or those first responders in the twin towers faced as well. BUT there are things we may see every day, points in our own experience where we have to make a choice. That choice may not be as monumental in scope but it is still a choice and we have to make it.
Today is 9/11/12 it has been 11 years since those brave few were faced with their moment of decision. Today is a good day to reflect...not on what we would "HAVE DONE" in that position but on what we "WILL DO" whenever we are faced with a choice, be it however small and insignificant seeming at the time. Remember those who have gone before and then make your choice.
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