The aftermath of the tragic and frightening events of September 11 proved, if anyone had any doubt, that psychoanalysis is indeed an international community. We can be proud to be part of a global profession at a time when it seems clear that sectionalism, nationalism, and divisions between people lead to havoc and death. In this regard, we may unwittingly have served as pioneers. I hope there will come a day when all professions will have a global identity.
Just a few months ago, I confess, I was one of those who wondered what international organizations like the IPA really did for American analysts or for our association. I privately wondered why we needed to get involved in international psychoanalysis at all, why endure the expense of traveling to conferences overseas, why make the effort to get to know colleagues from other countries. We practiced psychoanalysis our way, they probably practiced it theirs — why stretch to find a meeting of the minds or spirits? I was, I guess, a sort of neo-isolationist.
Now, post-September 11, I see things differently. It seems urgent to go global, and fast. To think a lot about breaking down barriers wherever we detect them. Above all, to make the difficult effort of getting to know those perceived as “the stranger.”
Right after the attack on America, I went to a community-wide, inter-denominational prayer service. Clergy and choirs from all sorts of congregations sang, talked, offered prayers. Among the twenty or so officiants were several Muslim clerics. As my husband and I left the service, I stopped suddenly and said to him, with horror and shame, “You know, I've never actually touched a Muslim in my life.” Suddenly it felt absolutely vital to me to correct this wrong. I went to shake the hand of the cleric and left a little more at peace.
Our colleagues overseas sent us inspiring and moving messages of support following the terrorist attacks. You can read them in the box on this page. They are soothing, to me anyway. It's reassuring to think that we are not alone, that others share our horror, that we are not (worst fantasy) seen as getting our just deserts for our arrogance.
Elsewhere in TAP, you'll see much about the response of psychoanalysts and psychoanalytic organizations to the crisis. In future issues, you'll see more. I hope we'll see a lot about global efforts and international psychoanalytic responses to terrorism and the forces that perpetuate it. One thinker I know described Gandhi as defining separations and lack of connection as the source of hate. Rather than standing back and saying, “We psychoanalysts know something about that,” I hope we can also find ways to do something about it.
Your editor, Prudy Leib, is now Prudy Gourguechon, having gotten very happily married in October. Her new e-mail address is . All other phone numbers and addresses remain the same.