9/11, 11 years later…

11 years ago I was a 10 year old kid running around the house waiting for my family to return from work. I finally settled down in the lounge area and switched on the television waiting for my favorite program to be aired. I was highly annoyed at the time as I saw only breaking news was being aired. I switched channels and saw that every channel had the breaking news on. All I understood was an aircraft in America had crashed into a building. This meant absolutely nothing to me. Soon my parents and extended family reached home and ran to the living room. I tried to ask questions about this “breaking news” but I was ignored.

As the evening progressed more family and friends came to discuss the incident. I could sense that everyone was angry. People remarked that this would be the beginning of America’s attempt to slander Islam. Some delighted in the fact that the “super power” of the world was brought to their knees. I sat there in utter confusion and had nothing to add. I soon got hold of our newspaper and began to follow the story. I wasn’t sure what emotion I should have been experiencing at the time- the media told one story and my observation of my living room filled with family, friends and strangers told a different one. All I wanted as an eleven year old kid was the truth.

11 years later I was selected to go on the South Africa-Washington International Program (SAWIP). I was finally going to see America. Friends and family were skeptical, they wondered if I would be allowed into the USA since I am a Muslim.

My visa was approved and I was soon of to DC together with the 14 other SAWIP members of the Class of 2012. The security checks in the USA were at times very frustrating. We were warned to be mindful of what we say and that it should not be anything that could make us possible threats to the country.

One Friday afternoon the entire team and management headed off to the Newseum. This was an exciting experience until I reached the floor dedicated to 9/11. I read some of the posters, articles, cards, and messages from loved one. Eleven years later I finally could grasp why 9/11’s breaking news replaced my favorite television show. I stood at a glass cabinet and saw the remainder of a journalists’ camera, shreds of his clothing, a tattered note book and a half-burnt page. I read his final words, and then the message of his wife and two daughters whom he had left behind. As I turned around I saw many more of the glass cabinets filled with the last traces of loved ones who killed during 9/11.I was brought to tears and for the first time I could see what had actually happened. I had goose-pumps seeing videos and pictures of people who were innocently killed. The heart breaking part was reading messages from those family members who lost their loved ones in 9/11.

I wish I knew why this happened; what was the point of not only destroying such a valuable building but also killing thousands of innocent people? Was this meant to show power? Was this revenge? What was 9/11 all about, I ask the man behind the master plan of killing thousands of mothers, fathers, breadwinners and innocent children? As leaders, it is pivotal that strong people don’t pull others down, but lift them up.

While America today still mourns the loss of almost three thousand loved ones, and are just past the half-way mark of re-building the Twin Towers that crashed, Palestinians had the following to say: “Dear USA your 9/11 is our 24/7 sincerely Palestine”. While I sympathise whole heartedly with the tragic loss Americans experienced during 9/11, I feel that it is time Americans and the rest of world look at ways to creating safety measures for Palestinians. Governor Mitt Romney said "those who would attack us should know that we are united”. More importantly, as Americans know the pain and suffering they endured during 9/11, it is time they take their leadership and put it to the test to try and assist our Palestinian and Israeli brothers and sisters. Let’s help create universal unity the unity Governor Romney speaks of.

"The true legacy of 9/11 will not be one of fear, or hate, or division," President Obama said at the Pentagon near Washington. Let us as nations take to heart the words of President Obama and put them into practice. As the human race, we can only ALL be free once Palestine is free and Israelis and Palestinians are at peace with one another- this is the sentiment Ex President of South Africa Nelson Mandela and Congressman John Lewis share. We have one life with very little guarantees. When we die, we leave behind everything we once had. The path to healing is through forgiveness-which costs nothing except LOVE. Congressman John Lewis left the SAWIP team with the following words “let us love the hate out of each other”, embrace one another, forgive your enemy and embrace him too. I conclude by what Mahatma Ghandi once said “my life, my message”. Let us give of ourselves and share the wealth; let us love our neighbor, and let our lives be our message and that message be our service. May the injustices of the past be not an invitation to revenge and further injustices, but let it be the start of forgiveness, peace, unity and communal development.