Remembering 9/11

Yesterday marked the 20th anniversary of the America’s most tragic day in modern history. On a clear sunny autumn Tuesday, September 11, 2001, the United States and the world shook in fear as terrorists hijacked two commercial airplanes and crashed them into the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York. Another one was flown into the Pentagon and the other one went down in Pennsylvania. Close to 3,000 individuals died that day while many more perished in the months and years following the deadliest terrorist attack on American soil.

Undeniably, that fateful day changed America and the way Americans view the world. Conversely, the world also changed how it perceived America and the role it played in the global stage. It was because of 9/11 that the US went to Afghanistan to wage war against Al-Qaeda and ousted the Taliban administration which refused to hand over and cooperate in the war on terror. 9/11 was also the impetus for America to invade Iraq and topple Saddam’s regime believing his use and hoarding of weapons of mass destruction and at the same time creating a fertile ground for terrorists to thrive. It’s also because of 9/11 that immigration laws, regulations, and policies were changed and strengthened to be more restrictive, stricter and, at some points, arbitrary and discriminatory. 9/11 created an opening for America to preach to the world its own set of moral values, democracy, freedom and self-belief of exceptionalism. However good these intentions were, it is met with extreme resistance by those countries with civilizations, cultures, and traditions even way older than that of the US. The effects of 9/11 cannot be set in imaginable ways how much it cost in terms of treasure, time, and lives lost or altered.

I have been to the 9/11 Memorial and there on that hallowed spot, one can still feel the sense of mourning, grief, and longing. Sitting there and looking into what seems to be an abyss down below while reading the names of the dead carved on its edges, you can only imagine how it is to be the child, husband, wife, parent or friend of a victim. May we never forget the sacrifices made --the brave firefighters, first responders, healthcare workers, police, volunteers, the families and friends of the fallen and those who until this day have been struggling with the long-term health consequences of that day.

If I could suggest, 9/11 of every year should be declared a national holiday as a day of remembrance, reflection, and prayer.

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As we talk about heroes of 9/11, one forgotten group is that of undocumented immigrants. In the aftermath of 9/11, massive and widespread cleanup around New York City had to be made. Just imagine the debris brought about by the destruction of such magnitude. The city needed to be cleaned, restored, and repaired, and fast in order for people to get back to their jobs and homes. Cleaning companies hired undocumented immigrants to help with the effort. Often without proper protective equipment, these undocumented immigrants labored day and night without due regard for their own health. As a result, many of them acquired long-term health-related medical conditions that needed treatments and years of recuperation. For their contribution and their personal sacrifice, it is high time for the US government to give these undocumented immigrants their due recognition by providing them a pathway to legalized status. That’s the least that the US government could do and I am sure the American public wouldn’t mind that at all. By providing them with legal status, these immigrants would be able to come out openly without fear of deportation, enabling them to seek proper medical care, earn a living, and the right to stay in the US.