I am not American and yet the events of 11 September have affected me. I worry about acquaintances who may have perished in the rubble and fear what repercussions of the attack will mean for the world, for nations, for individuals. Many non-Americans in the U.S. and abroad share my concerns. As a sign of solidarity Catholic and Protestant church bells tolled in Germany, radio stations played John Lennon's "Imagine" in France, firefighters sounded their sirens in Belgium, Kenyan President Daniel arap Moi urged Kenyans to spend an hour in prayer. Many countries around the world observed silences, held vigils, and laid down flowers.

Postings of missing persons on CNN's website reveal that many of the World Trade Center victims were not American. Families in far-away countries fear for relatives who may have died. Individuals fear for colleagues and friends. The tragic events of 11 September did not only violate America and Americans - they also profoundly affect international communities and reveal a myriad interwoven personal and political connections and interdependencies which transcend national boundaries.

Yet these international dimensions assume a secondary importance in much of the coverage of grief. On 14 September, the only countries to be included in CNN.com's "The World Reacts Section" were Israel, Japan, and Russia. The use of the American flag as a symbol of unity has left sympathetic non-Americans strangely alienated from the grieving process.

It is impossible to underestimate the international dimensions and ramifications of what happened on 11 September. It is not only America but the world which has changed forever.

Back to representations