New Mexico Remembers 9/11: A Review
A timely yet ultimately distressing anthology New Mexico Remembers 9/11, edited by Patricia Walkow, is a collection of essays, poems, and artwork all created by New Mexicans and each dealing with the events and aftermath of 9/11 — a tragedy that, however briefly, united and galvanized the United States against a common enemy: terrorism.
Those old enough to remember 9/11 are unlikely to ever forget where they were that day, how they felt as they watched the first plane hit the North Tower of the World Trade Center then the second plane hit the South Tower. Few will forget the heroism of those aboard United Flight 93 or the eeriness of a sky devoid of the sound and sight of aircraft. The details of that day and the days following are etched into the American psyche, and New Mexico Remembers 9/11 brings those details back to life.
The anthology’s contributors vary in age, gender, socioeconomic background, and ethnicity — all of which, when taken together, provides a fairly thorough understanding of how Americans responded to 9/11. Several pieces, including “A Mother’s Heart” and “Even the Children Watched,” address the challenge and anguish of parents trying to keep children, whatever age, emotionally and physically safe. Other pieces, such as “At Least I Could Do Something About It,” detail the need to take action, to stand up, be prepared to fight if need be.
There are over 20 contributors to New Mexico Remembers 9/11, and I am reluctant to elevate one over the other, as each piece in this anthology is worth reading. Each memory is worth preserving. That said, there are two authors I do want to mention by name, one because of the beauty of her prose and the other because of his courageous honesty.
Prior to reviewing New Mexico Remembers 9/11, I had never read or heard of Sylvia Ramos Cruz. However, after reading her prose/poem/essay “Where To?” I will definitely seek out her work. “Where To?” is a lyrical blend of Spanish, English, news reports, prose, and poetry. A retired surgeon, Cruz’s use of language and essay form — combining quotes from Osama bin Laden, President George W. Bush, and Malala with poetry such as: white-banded/black, finger-tipped wings touch horizons/fly free — made “Where To?” a joy to read.
On a different note, Colin Patrick Ennen’s “A Guilty Memory” was not a joy to read. In fact, this essay was difficult to read, not because of any grammatical or stylistic errors. Rather “A Guilty Memory” was difficult to read because of Ennen’s brutal honesty. He details being in The Corps of Cadets, which is essentially a military academy yet part of Texas A&M University. He details other students’ reactions to 9/11 and his inability to understand why anyone would stay glued to the television watching the news of the attacks. Nor did Ennen understand why classes would be suspended. He describes being genuinely puzzled that watching the news or suspending classes could in any way help those who’d been killed. Ennen doesn’t justify or apologize for his reaction; he simply details it. Not until the end of the essay does the reader understand Ennen’s reaction. “A Guilty Memory” needs to be read to be fully appreciated.
I began this review by referring to New Mexico Remembers 9/11 as a timely yet distressing anthology — timely in that the U.S. in March 2020 was attacked by a relentless enemy: COVID-19, which has so far killed more than 250,000 Americans and shows no sign of letting up; yet, unlike what we did after the 9/11 attacks, Americans have not united to fight a common enemy; we remain divided; and that is beyond distressing.
Originally published: From My Bookshelf to Yours, Rio Rancho Observer, November 22, 2020.
