COLLINS: ‘Lest we forget’ sounds pretty hollow these days
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ON THIS DAY IN 2001, we saw terrorism reach a new level. More than 3,000 people, including 19 terrorists, died when three hijacked planes piloted by Al-Qaeda militants, ploughed into the two World Trade Center buildings in Manhattan and the Pentagon in D.C. A fourth plane, possibly aimed at the White House, crashed into a field when passengers gave up their lives by overcoming the hijackers and saving many who were the targets.
Terrorism is nothing new. And war is nothing new. And each time something big happens, we cluck in sympathy, put up a monument and tuck it away in our minds. So many battles. So little change. We go to Holland to pay tribute to those who died in World Wars, we visit the Pearl Harbour Memorial, and so many others. We bow our heads, shed a tear, say, “They shall not have died in vain,” then gather in a park for hot dogs and social time as life goes back to normal.
I know what I’m saying will anger some people, but words and a few tears don’t mean much if there’s no mood for change. Sorry, it’s not good enough. It’s not enough for me to write these words if I don’t do anything else.
My two dads fought in World War II. I know some of what they went through. But sadly, only through their words — not first-hand. And as generations pass, those words will mean less and less. My biggest fear is that we never learn and take action.
