{"id":12704,"date":"2021-09-11T00:01:10","date_gmt":"2021-09-11T03:01:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bambisafkar.ca\/?p=12704"},"modified":"2021-09-13T11:56:29","modified_gmt":"2021-09-13T14:56:29","slug":"the-9-11-tragedy-20-years-later","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bambisafkar.ca\/index.php\/2021\/09\/11\/the-9-11-tragedy-20-years-later\/","title":{"rendered":"The 9\/11 tragedy: 20 years later"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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In 2016, the French-speaking newspaper La Presse<\/em> invited readers to share their memories or thoughts about the 9\/11 tragedy, which took place on September 11, 2001. Unfortunately, Bambi missed the deadline. Thus, her comment was never published. If she may, she would like to share this brief reflection with you. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The original text, written in French, appears first. This is followed by a quick translation into English:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bambi’s reflection on the 9\/11 tragedy (n French)<\/strong><\/span>:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Je pense aux familles des victimes du 11 Septembre, 2011. Comment l\u2019\u00eatre humain peut-il \u00eatre si m\u00e9chant envers d\u2019autres humains innocents? Je ne le comprendrais jamais. Je demeure bouche b\u00e9e 15 <\/em>[et maintenant 20 ans] plus tard! <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A l\u2019\u00e9poque, je vivais \u00e0 Montr\u00e9al. Je me souviens encore de l\u2019appel de mes parents de Beyrouth choqu\u00e9s et morts d\u2019inqui\u00e9tude. Pour les rassurer, j\u2019ai d\u00fb leur rappeler la distance g\u00e9ographique New York-Montr\u00e9al. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

En ce qui me concerne, cet acte terroriste a eu lieu \u00e0 ma 11\u00e8me ann\u00e9e depuis mon immigration au Canada. Pour la premi\u00e8re fois depuis 1990, j\u2019ai fait des cauchemars pendant 3 nuits cons\u00e9cutives. Mes souvenirs de la guerre civile, que j\u2019ai v\u00e9cue de l\u2019\u00e2ge de 3 \u00e0 17 ans, sont remont\u00e9s \u00e0 la surface de ma m\u00e9moire. “\u00c7a alors, la violence pouvait arriver ici aussi” fut ma premi\u00e8re pens\u00e9e. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Une autre pens\u00e9e tragi-comique, qui avait travers\u00e9 mon esprit, \u00e9tait la suivante: Comment ces terroristes d\u2019origine arabe ont-ils “r\u00e9ussi” leur coup criminel avec ponctualit\u00e9 alors que les arabes sont connus pour \u00eatre tout sauf ponctuels? <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Je r\u00eave du jour o\u00f9 tous les jeunes, issus du Proche-Orient meurtri, choisissent de mettre leur savoir au service de l\u2019innovation scientifique au lieu de la terreur barbare.<\/em>“<\/p>\n\n\n\n

An English translation of Bambi’s reflection on the 9\/11 tragedy<\/strong><\/span>:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

“I think of the families of the victims of September 11, 2011. How can humans be so mean to other innocent humans? I would never understand it. I am speechless 15 <\/em>[and now 20 years] later. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the time, I was living in Montreal. I still remember the call from my shocked parents in Beirut who were worried sick. To reassure them, I had to remind them of the geographic distance between New York and Montreal. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

As far as I’m concerned, this terrorist act took place in my 11th year since I immigrated to Canada. For the first time since 1990, I had nightmares for 3 consecutive nights. My memories of the civil war, which I experienced from the ages of 3 to 17, came back to the surface of my memory. “Gosh, violence could happen here too” was my first thought. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another tragicomic thought, which had crossed my mind, was the following: How did these terrorists of Arab origins “pull off” their criminal coup with punctuality when Arabs are known to be anything but punctual? <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I dream of the day when all young people from the battered Middle East choose to put their knowledge in the service of scientific innovation instead of barbaric terror. <\/em>“<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To conclude this post, Bambi will borrow the beautiful words of Mr. Nicola Ciconne from his song entiled “Nous serons six milliards<\/em>” [“We will be six billion<\/em>“] about the choice of love. Yes LOVE, despite wars’ adversity and\/or our lack of courage (it is easier to hate). Following the song, if you wish, you may read a quick English translation of its lyrics. May the memory of the 9\/11 victims be eternal. May love and peace prevail not just in the United States, but also across the world (including the Middle East).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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