A quarter century later

Twenty-five years ago, the world changed dramatically one morning.

Like most people, the memory of that day is etched in our mind. Many people can recount where they were that day.

Our twins were teeny tiny people at the time, racing around the house waiting for the babysitter to arrive. We were in the throes of getting ready for work when the first announcements came that a plane had slammed into the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001.

At first, we thought it was a small Cessna or something like that. Seconds later we saw it was a jet full of passengers. Then more jets were involved there and elsewhere.

Heroes emerged that day. Many had professional training, like emergency services personnel, which is well and good, but such training wouldn’t have fully prepared them for what unfolded. The world would learn later of passengers on a jet taking on terrorists. 

The U.S. would go on to retaliate in Afghanistan, aided by its neighbour, Canada, who relied on a NATO provision called Article 5, which speaks to collective defence when an ally is attacked.

This past week, many Americans and Canadians gathered in Gander, Newfoundland to commemorate that town’s incredible hospitality when flights were grounded in the U.S. Dignitaries brought greetings and memories of that fateful day. Despite the political shenanigans that plague these times, we have no doubt homes and hospitality would flow if called upon again. 

Jean Chretien, who was prime minister at the time, delivered his prose on key. We “bow to no one” he said, along with “Never mistake our kindness for softness.” 

He added, “And the more we are insulted or threatened and abused, the more we will stand up for ourselves and stand united.” His phrases were resolute and spoke to the strength of Canadians in turbulent times. 

A quarter century later, the world has changed, but our goodness as a people continues.