Article October 29, 2001 Issue

God's news

By Elise L. Moore

MY HUSBAND AND I were in Germany but understood no German. Our hotel carried no English-language breaking-news stations. Nothing in real time.

The television pictures of September 11 needed no explanation. But what was the commentary? What was happening? The night of the 12th we watched hours of German television. hoping to catch even a glimmer of insight. We grasped the immediate emotional support of the German government and the spontaneous outpouring of sympathy from the German people. But otherwise, nothing. If you can imagine seeing the attacks on New York and Washington, and then being plunged into an information black hole, that's the way we felt. Maybe the people at home knew little more than we did, but it felt like we were set adrift—for days.

Perhaps the feeling is similar to receiving a desperate phone call for help, only to have the caller hang up abruptly. No explanation. No details. But the need is genuine. Not knowing is tough. It's difficult not to worry, speculate, react emotionally.

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