9/11 Anniversary

James ViP

Member since 20 June 2010

Brazil & Canada Expert

JamesViP11 September 2012 22:00:32

11272

Eleven years have passed since the single most horrifying event that I have witnessed during my lifetime. New York's city center has since been rebuilt and life has returned to as normal as one can expect it to be following such a tragedy.

My home country (Canada) has a long history of friendship and close ties with the USA, not at all surprising since approximately 80 percent of our population reside within a narrow 300 Km. band stretching along the Canada/USA border. Many of us also have relatives living on the other side of the 49th.

When the attacks on the World Trade Center took place the atmosphere in Canada was one of total shock, horror and extreme saddness. As a nation we too lost our innocence because most of us bought into the American sentiment that they were invincible. That sentiment was wiped out in seconds.

Much has changed in the ensuing eleven years, but much has remained the same. The USA is not any safer despite all of the security measures that have been put in place since 9/11. One has to wonder what is the inherant difference between Americans and Canadians that puts US citizens at such risk. What is it about being an American that stirs such hatred worldwide? Why are Canadians held with such high regard on the global stage while Americans are not?

Eleven years ago I thought that if any good could possibly come out of something so horrible it would be that we would all learn some valuable lesson from it. The lesson seems to have been one of tighter security measures rather than to changed attitudes however. I find this a sad comment because the root problem has never truly been addressed.

Cheers,
William James Woodward - Brazil Animator, Expat-blog

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jazzy851 ViP

Member since 15 July 2011

jazzy851ViP13 September 2012 17:13:02

1487

11 Years have certainly gone by and i feel this is a day that alot of people will remember for sure. I for one remember this day as i was in the UK at work.

Seeing such a horrific event, at first i thought it was a movie being screened. Working in the heart of the city in London, its obvious some companies got the news before others and well there was a big rush in the streets, earlier than the normal rush hour of commuters going home. After conversing with others, i couldnt believe what had happened. Soon, a circular got sent round in our company to leave London as soon as possible and get home safely.

On the way home, i couldn't stop thinking what i saw live on screen. It took me a while to sink in, that actually it was for real!

Till today, i sympathize those who innocently lost their lives eleven years ago.

William, i dont know the answer to your question..sorry "What is it about being an American that stirs such hatred worldwide? " However, i have always leaned to like others, regardless where they're from, race or color. Just because some people are bad from a country, doesn't mean we have to hate everyone from that country! That's just my take.

With regards to the last line in your post "The lesson seems to have been one of tighter security measures rather than to changed attitudes however. I find this a sad comment because the root problem has never truly been addressed."
I agree with you on this.

On this note - I'd like to encourage others to avoid hatred and make this world a better to live in. Peace.

J

James ViP

Member since 20 June 2010

Brazil & Canada Expert

JamesViP14 September 2012 10:42:14

11272

Hi Jazzy,

I know exactly what you're talking about, my experience on that horrible day was almost the same. I had the day off and slept in. When I got up went right to my computer and hit a chat. The person asked me if I had heard about the plane crash in Pennsylvania (which was the first plane in the attack but she didn't know about any of the others yet). She told me to turn on the TV and when I got to CNN at first I thought I was on a movie channel by mistake and they were running some crazy B movie. All too quickly reality sunk in and I was horrified as they played and replayed the first plane striking the tower. Shortly thereafter followed by a second which was something totally inconceivable in anyone's mind. Then the Pentagon!

The answer to violence never is more violence, the answer is not tighter security. The only answer to violence is real change, change that comes from within, changing your attitudes, way of living and way of dealing with everyone around you. While religious Americans espouse the 'turn the other cheek' sentiment and rightfully so, their government seems always to favor 'an eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth and life for a life' style of doing things. This is dead wrong and only begets more hatred and violence.

Cheers,
William James Woodward - Brazil Animator, Expat-blog