Ten Years Later

"I was stricken by news and television pictures coming from the United States this morning. It is impossible to fully comprehend the evil that would have conjured up such a cowardly and depraved assault upon thousands of innocent people. There can be no cause or grievance that could ever justify such unspeakable violence. Indeed, such an attack is an assault not only on the targets but an offense against the freedom and rights of all civilized nations."
- Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien , September 11, 2001

Ten years ago today, the world was still reeling from the events of three days earlier when the United States was attacked by terrorists. I remember asking myself when watching television coverage of the attack, when the first day would come that the attacks were not part of the morning news coverage. By my account, it came two years later. Over the years, the words "nine-eleven" became a statement in-and-of themselves.

Along with much of the rest of the world, I held my breath last weekend in concern about another attack on the 10th anniversary of the September 11 attacks on the United States. And like everyone else, I exhaled a sigh of relief when the day passed without incident. Ceremonies honouring the victims of the attacks were held all over the world. The newspapers were filled with stories of the attacks. TV network programming schedules were full of specials and news coverage about nine-eleven. But apart from a few moments of coverage on the six o'clock news, I didn't watch any of it. I scanned the front page stories in the newspaper but didn't delve deeper.

Failure to immerse myself in the events of remembrance activities is not a reflection of my remembrance. It is merely a reflection of how I chose to remember. I place no value judgements around how others did that. I like to think everyone did it in the way that worked best for them. What worked best for me was to immerse myself in service to a cause greater than myself. It happened that the Weekend to End Women's Cancers ran on September 11 this year. So on the 10th anniversary of that day, I worked at that event.

I was pleased to see on the news that night that Prime Minister Harper declared September 11 a National Day of Service in Canada. It happens to fall in my belief system that service to causes greater than ourselves, one another and society is an affirmation that love is greater than hate and kind acts trump evil deeds. And at least in my view, that seems like a great way to honour those who were lost on September 11.