“I will never forget feeling scared and vulnerable…
I will never forget feeling the deep sad loss of so many lives…
I will never forget the smell of the smoke that reached across the water and delivered a deep feeling of doom into my gut…
I will never forget feeling the boosted sense of unity and pride…
I will never forget seeing the courageous actions of so many men and women…
I will never forget seeing people of all backgrounds working together in community…
I will never forget seeing what hate can destroy…
I will never forget seeing what love can heal…”
Fifteen years. It was fifteen years ago today that we were all glued to our televisions, horrified at what had apparently transpired. My day started out like any other, making my way out to the UBC campus for another day of classes. As I walked past Pie R Squared in the Student Union Building, I noticed that it looked especially crowded but no one was buying pizza. They were watching the TV. In utter silence. What just happened?
As we look back and reflect on the events of September 11, we can’t help but notice just how much our world has changed. We also have to realize just how much of a lasting impact it had on the families of those who were lost that day, not to mention the thousands of first responders and other emergency personnel who assisted in the hours, days and weeks that followed. Many of these volunteers are still trying to cope with the health issues that resulted from helping during that time.
As horrifying as 9/11 may have been, it brought all Americans together. It didn’t matter if you were a Democrat, a Republican or a Libertarian. If only temporarily, it didn’t matter if you were old or young, male or female, black or white. Everyone got together and helped in any way they could. The United States of America was actually united.
We need to remember and we need to keep remembering that sense of unity. The divisive rhetoric of modern politics and the rising tide of Islamophobia aren’t healthy and they aren’t helpful. As speaker and author Steve Maraboli reminds us, hate destroys and love heals. So, let’s hate less and love more. Put another way:
“Life doesn’t get easier or more forgiving, we get stronger and more resilient.”
We are stronger together than we are apart. Remember the fear, vulnerability and sadness you felt on September 11, but don’t forget about the strength and courage that sprouted forth either.
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