9/11 had an impact around the world. All nations and religions were hit that day. Here in Sackville, Nova Scotia, Canada - thousands and thousands of passengers were diverted due to the strikes. We had the opportunity to welcome and ease the stay of those passengers, and many friendships were the result.
In my youngest's school, there were 204 passengers from Singapore Airlines staying there, with students staying the whole time to make them as comfortable as possible. We offered our home, but there were no takers, yet it was good to reach out to them. The President of Singapore Airlines was the keynote speaker at my daughter's graduation class. He told them that in this world of uncertainty, they have already made a difference and shown that they can rise to the challenge in peaceful ways. Ironically, there were 204 passengers housed in her school, and 204 graduates. The grads were made to realize that just because they were young, did not mean that their efforts could not bring change, or that they will be forgotten. When the Airline was re-routed here, he said that their head office had to look us up on the map. Not anymore. He also thanked the community here, as in our other schools and stadium, we welcomed even more people from all over the world, and took care of all their needs.
This was the positive side of humanity; when borders and races and languages are erased and we are all just people helping people. It brought common sense to the fore - for awhile.
While the attacks themselves happened on American soil, so many nations and religions lost their lives,even Muslims. After 9/11, I looked into the Islamic religion and was relieved to find that this horror was against their beliefs. In fact, there was a wave of interest in Islam. I believe that knowledge is key to finding bridges instead of building walls and borders of ignorance.
9/11 changed the world. It threatened our 'personal security'. It changed war. It hit the economy, and it has brought uncertainty. The numbers of the date are not lost on me. 911.
I hope it is eventually made a day of mourning simultaneously in all those nations hit. I only wish that people could come together like that daily and not just in a crises. In all the days since and the war rhetoric in the news, I hope it is the humanity that people showed in the days of and following that is remembered, along with those who we lost as result of the attacks.
Mimilly