9/11

I am not an American. I am not a New Yorker. I had never set foot inside the Twin Towers, nor did i know anybody who perished there, or at the Pentagon or in Pennsylvania. I was, much like the rest of the world, simply a spectator to one of the most devastating moments in history. 

New York is perhaps the most famous city in the world. America the most famous country. Americans, a strong, independent people. But for just one day, 11 years ago, America was vunerable. On Tuesday, September 11th, 2001 19 terrorists hijacked 4 planes. One for each tower, one for the Pentagon and one for United States Capitol Building. 3 hit their targets. Almost 3000 people died and for the first time since Pearl Harbour, America came to a standstill. 

WTC Memorial

Since that day, every year, i have seen countless documentries, read thousands or stories, accounts and articles, debated with those who believe George Bush orchastrated 9/11 but it is only today, 11 years on that i am considering the other victims of 9/11. Those innocent who have been beaten and attacked for wearing a turban or being a Muslim. Those who lost family members, friends, collegues and loved ones. Soliders lost in the war that followed and civilians torn apart in a country at war. 

9/11 claimed far more lives that the 3000 who died that day and it continues to take them now. If there is one thing we learned from 9/11, its that belief is a very powerful thing. Belief can motivate devastating actions. On September 11th 2001, belief led 19 men to set off a chain of catastrophic events. But it is important to remember that from even the strongest fire, you can rise from the ashes, that even the darkest nights will end and that eventually, the sun will rise.