Sitting around the conference table at our staff meeting this week, we wondered what, if anything, we could say to add our voice to the inevitable cacophony of commentary that would mark today’s second anniversary of the tragic events of September 11, 2001. The point was made that two years ago, politicians and the public alike swore that terrible day would never be forgotten, that it would irrevocably alter everything from then on. But two years later, 9/11 is not in our immediate consciousness the way it once was. If the nebulous ‘War on Terror’ is all we have taken away from that moment in our history, we have truly failed to grasp its significance.
It is difficult for us as Canadians to understand the enormity of the tragedy that befell our neighbours that day, and to the large contingent of Americans that have made U of T their second home, we share in your grief on this day. But while we remember the events of September 11, we also look to the dubious legacy it has left behind.
While the U.S. and Canada tout their ‘freedom’, politicians have sized on 9/11 to foster a culture of fear. Civil liberties have been curtailed and abused in both countries in the name of ‘fighting terrorism’. More often that not, these egregious attempts at mollifying the public into believing officials are actually doing something concrete about the threat of terrorism turn out to be shots in the dark, as with the recent arrests of 21 Pakistani and Indian students in the Toronto area. This week, even the RCMP, who was supposedly a partner in the investigation that led to those arrests, said that they did not consider any of the detained men a real threat.
One of those men, some young students like yourself, could have been your classmate, roommate, friend. Many of you likely know students who wear headscarfs or turbans that were harassed after 9/11, and perhaps still continue to get strange looks on the street or are singled out at airports. It’s easy to say that’s the price we pay for increased safety and security. Do you feel safer knowing that many of the rights and freedoms you enjoy can no longer be taken for granted?
It is said that democracy requires a well-educated citizenry. As students, engaged in the pursuit of higher learning, we should be aware and concerned about issues that stem from the fallout of 9/11-immigration, citizenship, and ID policies, rules around political demonstrations and other freedom of expression matters. No one can argue that we don’t need to guard against terrorism-but in the process, we should not forget that our freedoms are what set us apart in the world. That way, we will not only keep the memory of September 11th alive, but honour it as well.
