September 12: Yesterday dawned much as it had 25 years ago: clear and bright with virtually no clouds in the sky. I recalled that day very clearly, as I imagine most people do. I was a Manager in City Planning at the time, working at City Hall. My friend David Russo popped into my office as I was getting ready for a 9 o’clock meeting to say that a plane had struck the World Trade Centre. I thought that he meant a Cessna or something similar but he said “No, no. Bigger. They’re not really sure what it is…”
The meeting was tedious and I kept wondering what was going on in New York. When we emerged, the second building had been hit and shortly after came its shocking collapse. I happened to be in a brief meeting with Councillor Pantalone when I first saw the video of the second plane hitting the tower on his TV. Every department had a set on somewhere; people were starting to ask about going home for fear of an attack in Toronto. We just didn’t know…
Twenty five years later we look back with different eyes. I watched a news report about the arrival of the “plane people” in Gander, where the population essentially doubled when planes were forced to the ground after the attack. The travelers were fed, looked after and put up for the few days until they could resume their journey. Every one of those interviewed expressed astonishment and admiration that the Newfoundlanders simply took them in, no questions asked. They were made welcome. One Gander resident said that she got a call from the Legion asking her to deliver a tray of sandwiches. So she made a tray of sandwiches and delivered it. “That’s what we do…”
In that moment I was struck by the thought that Trump is now attacking our country, the very country that has been a solid friend for decades. The Newfoundlander’s attitude of acceptance and accommodation for your fellow man no matter the circumstance made me proud to be Canadian, to be different and standing against that attack.
And later in the day I was literally brought to tears by Jean Chretien as he spoke to the memorial service in Gander. As he concluded, he said: “Yes, Canada is a generous, open country, and Canadians are tolerant and kind, but never mistake our generosity for weakness. Never, never mistake our tolerance for lack of determination, and never, never mistake our kindness for softness.”
“We know who we are, and we are proud of it. Building a country like this, with this climate and this geography, is a sign of toughness, not of weakness. Welcoming people from all over the world, caring for each other, including the weakest in society, is a sign of strength. We embrace our friends, and we help them in their moment of need.”
“But we bow to no one.”
“The more we are insulted or threatened and abused, the more we will stand up for ourselves and stand united. And I say that not in anger, but as one friend to another. Friends need to be honest with each other, just as the people in Gander and anywhere else in Newfoundland and Labrador, they will give you the shirt off their backs, like they did 25 years ago.”
“But they will always show you the respect of telling you the truth. So, my friends, here is to truth, to respect, to friendship, and to good neighbours.”
Well said….