September 11: A Wake Up Call

Abstract

On the cross-roads of paradigms, September 11 was an accident. 'Vehicle of The World' stopped moving. It is waiting for some insurance company to come forward and declare it as a loss and write each one of us a check to buy a new life for ourselves so that we begin to move the world forward. Today, when the world stands at these cross-roads between survival, growth, and destruction, there is a whole lot of confusion. The world at large is at a total loss, as to which direction it needs to take. The world has come back to the same intersection again and again, having taken one road at a time and driving to the dead end of it. There is no direction, no new road to explore. It is just that the physical clock keeps moving, though even the time seems to have stopped at September 11, 2001.

Our task on hand is to move the world forward, lease ourselves new lives, create a new road and then move on. First of all, we have to visualize a direction in which we need to go and make sure it is not a dead-end. Once we have that new visualization and direction, then only we shall start building a road. There is no point either in going back on the beaten tracks or stand still here. This book is all about visualization of this new direction. The process of building a road and making the world move on that road shall start once we have our direction clear. This process of identification of a new direction involves us all.

The pen may have been anyone, but the words are flowing out of the collective conscience of the world. September 11 has removed many a barrier. It is not just you and me any more, it is us in this together. If America wishes to avoid tragedies like 911 in the future, every American must contribute in that process. If we want to build a better World, all of us must get involved in making our individual contribution. If we want to build a better Universe, every being has to be involved in that process of making improvement. There are never ever any perfect situations. There is always a room for improvement. When we run out of that room, that is the point of a limit of our imagination. Creative conceptualization is all about an extension of that limit. Making progress in that direction is just a collection of different milestones of improvement. Let us set the ball rolling by making a commitment of our contribution in this process of consultation and collaboration to create a vision. September 11 was a wake-up call. Let us not hit the snooze button. If we do, the alarm shall ring again.

The first section of the book deals with a scientific analysis of 'September 11' as the problem. A new approach to problem solution is generated: AASIF (Analysis, As-Is, Synthesis, Implementation, Feedback). Three major root causes are identified. The first major root cause is a bankruptcy of vision. This implies a run out of the limit on imagination. This is the most major cause, and is linked to creation of two other major causes: The bankruptcy of leadership and The Imbalance. The bankruptcy of leadership is both political as well as religious. This has created a Religio-Politio Nexus, the genesis of which is deeply enshrined in the ignorance of masses at large. The biggest imbalance is that of 'Perceptions'. A closing of gap is required between the perceptions of the East and the West.

The second section of the book deals with creation of a solution. The suggestion for creating solution spans the As-Is and Synthesis phases of AASIF approach. The immediate curative and long-term preventive measures are suggested. Implementation is a two-way process- one by the people and one by the government. A curriculum in Inter-faith tolerance and Global Unification is a crying need of the hour. Right from Elementary School upwards, the only hope for World is 'Enlightenment by Education'. An education in peace, love, joy and harmony. Even more important is that none in the World is deprived of an opportunity for education. The role of Science and Technology is identified towards creation of the peace process. This book is a work-shop, where each one of us identifies a specific role in creating a post September 11, 2001 world.