I was just reading an essay by Brian Doyle titled Leap, and this article is the best one I've read about the September 11th attacks on the World Trade Center.
The essay starts off describing how people jumped out of the building, some engulfed with flames, rapidly falling to the debris-filled sidewalks. Some of the jumpers landed on unsuspecting pedestrians at high speeds which lined the streets with blood.
Brian tells of two people, a man and woman, who grasp each other's hand as they plummet to the ground, holding so tight to one another's grip. He doesn't say how they know each other...are they lovers, friends, just co-workers, or people who came together in midst of the all of the hell going on around them.
The way he words the next part is incredibly remarkable. He uses quotes from the Gospel according to John. "There is no fear in love, but perfect love casteth out fear, because fear hath torment."
Even with all of the corruption and problems in the world, people genuinely do have an underlying generosity and greatness. With devastation comes the need for belonging to something bigger than you. In truth we are all really searching for one thing, love.
