Two weeks ago today, Terry and I flew into New York to arrive at 11pm on Monday 10 September for a one week stay in downstairs SoHo. In my bag I had a final print out of this book and my half-written introduction which I had promised to complete and send back to the office. I cannot pretend that the world is the same place as it was before September 11.
My overwhelming gratitude and relief at being safe with our family floats somewhere in space surrounded by the pain and sorrow of so many other families missing and mourning the people they love and my faith also has no answers yet.
How scary a place does this planet seem when religious fanaticism hitches a ride and the only way to make people notice is through carnage and tears.
What place for non-violent protest, for moderation, global responsibility instead of global destruction?
Terry always teased me and said that these books belong to the part of me that was a teacher in the years before i-D. He’s probably right. I just know that it’s essential for me to be allowed to think about things other than fashion and frocks at regular intervals! So to all of you who have joined us on this particular journey, a huge thank you. It’s been a privilege and an honour.
As always with i-D, you will find the famous and the private, the known and the anonymous voices. Some of us will explain everything, others leave you to find the key yourself.
The idea behind the book is simple. In all our lives there are talents and gifts that we are born with – if you like the things we “bring” with us – the result of genes and inheritance, but there are other things that we learn along the way. (Maybe from special friends, personal teachers or just life itself.) I wanted this book to be a present for all who pick it up: a combination of global experiences, inspirational heroes and simple observations.
We invited contributors and special friends to inspire, intrigue and fascinate us with the diversity of their contributions. This project continues the series of books begun by Family Future Positive and Beyond Price.
24.09.2001
