153 - 9/11

9/11. 

The fight against terror; the fight against intolerance. 

My cowardly instincts have me too afraid to read/watch/listen to anything to do with the 9/11 attacks that happened ten years ago. I was seven. It'd be interesting if I measured my age by what happened in the world, and how I responded. I remember I was in my old kindergarten, I think it was the holiday, so I visited. I sat with all the K2s and we watched the building, I believe it was the World Trade Centre 1, crash down. We all had no idea what was going on, but I believe the teachers did. 

I'm not American, so I'm definitely not going to say I understand the pain of the nation, and the attack against its sovereignty. However, I'm definitely keeping all the victims of 9/11 and America in my prayers as you commemorate this event that changed the history and future of your country. 

Now, at seventeen, I think the events ten years ago brings back an extremely strong message to anyone that considers him/herself a global citizen. We're all different. As a Singaporean, I understand how conflicts can arise from being different, as an local student in an international school, I've come to learn the importance of respecting each other for who they are. Yes, we've all heard the local announcements on staying vigilant and not being complacent, but I think more importantly we've got to learn to be tolerant, but more than that, practise tolerance. It's much easier said than done, and I sound like a completely hippie advocating world peace, but I honestly believe it's one of the most important qualities we've got to practice, especially as the world becomes more and more globalised. 

Now my friends who know me know I'm not the most tolerant person, but I'm going to make it a point to try. To accept that we're all different, yet our differences that make us unique remind me that at the end of the day, we're all human. And that's what unites us - the fact that we're all human, we bond over our humanity. So who cares if I don't like the fact you sit with your legs up the table, or you read with a strange accent, it doesn't matter. We are, at the end of the day, looking out for the same thing. 9/11 proves that. As sad as it is for tragedies like this to unite the world, they do. I think life, after all, is about celebrating humanity. 

To all victims of the 9/11 attacks, my condolences. To the Great States of America, stay strong, press on. 

All my love, 

Hannah. 

(September 11, 2011).