Its 9/11 once again and time to re-commit to remembering those whose lives were snatched by the infamous destruction of the World Trade Centers in New York City. I am very aware that it is late in the day for me to be writing about this important topic, but I plead prior duties. Today, Thursday, is our regular weekly sitting time with grand-daughter Cadence Mae. She is still a few weeks shy of her first birthday, so has no chance yet to try and understand the seriousness of the day. Back home now with her parents and that gives me space to sit and reflect on the harm that was done to the free world.
Canada’s Prime Minister had some words today about the fact that 24 Canadians lost their lives along with the total of nearly 3,000 souls who went to work on what they surely thought was going to be an ordinary day. Prime Minister Stephen Harper offered a reminder: “A key lesson of 9/11 is to remain vigilant against terror groups and regimes that seek to establish safe havens such as the one which existed in Afghanistan prior to 2001, where the 9/11 perpetrators were allowed to thrive.
“While 9/11 will forever be remembered for the senseless nature of the attacks, it is important to recall that in the midst of terror and destruction, there was also enormous compassion, giving, bravery, and generosity to eclipse that darkness.” (See more at: http://www.pm.gc.ca/eng/news/2014/09/11/statement-prime-minister-canada-anniversary-911-and-mark-canadas-national-day#sthash.JVoQERUL.dpuf)
In 2011 Canada declared that September 11 would become a National Day of Service. In the few years since Canadians have demonstrated a strong willingness to offer something of themselves to help others in times of distress. I think that it’s possible to say that many Canadians along with many others throughout the world continue to do beyond what might be expected.
The war against terrorism has been effective in many ways, but there is a certainty that says more must yet be accomplished. The world now faces a terror organization, ISIS, with potentially greater evil than anything seen previously. I reflect on Harper’s urging “to keep vigilant”. That is a key premise in my novel The Chechen’s Revenge. The attempted exploits of a Chechen terrorist trained in a secretive camp using techniques engineered by Al Qaeda and their ilk, is thrust against the watchfulness of the team from the Canadian Anti-terrorism Service. The CAS, despite that it is a figment of my imagination, is completely predicated on the need to be vigilant. Without scores of dedicated servants specially trained and observant against the potential of terrorists any hope of shining a strong light on democracy as the hope of true freedom has little chance. In my fictional world right prevails as it should. I invite you to read The Chechen’s Revenge to obtain a sense of how our current reality needs a strong willed populace aligned with our military and anti-terrorist agencies to put a full stop to our enemies. Let the sacrifices of nearly 3000 lost not be in vain.
Good Reading Friends. Thanks for your support.
I am a retired college professor and former broadcast journalist. I live in Vermont with my wife. I write near the shores of Lake Champlain. As an author I cast characters in the task of anti-terrorism efforts. The setting for my stories is Canada. My first novel is The Chechen's Revenge, a story of Sean-Guy O'Dwyer-Lariviere and his team of Canadian Anti-terrorism Service agents on the trail of a rebel Chechen, determined to create havoc and death on Toronto's Go Train system. The Chechen's Revenge is now in print and can be ordered online at https://mkt.com/northof49publishing.
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