Reflections on September 11, 2001, 25 years later.

This summer I turned 40. I am not sure how it happened, but at some point, I became a real adult with a business, a house, many taxes to pay, a new community in rural Ottawa and responsibilities. On September 11, 2001 I was none of those things. I was a grade 10 high school student at St. Mary Catholic High School in Brockville, Ontario. My biggest worries were things like trying to learn bigger figure skating jumps, softball, high school basketball and the usual high school gossip and shenanigans. 9/11 was something very different than that. 9/11 was a big moment for young people to experience and I think it had a long and lasting impact on my generation.

I cannot remember most things without a reminder from my law clerk Wanda. But I do remember a whole lot about 9/11. Unlike some other schools, ours did not show what was happening on TV screens in classrooms or in a gymnasium. I recall hearing the news in between periods over the PA system in the hallway. Nobody had cell phones so the PA announcement was the only explanation we really had about what was going on. I do not remember exactly what was said. I do know that most of us did not understand the magnitude of what had happened in that moment. A few students were confused about why there was an announcement about plane crashes in the USA at all. As the day went on, I came to understand somehow that the United States was under attack from an unknown source.

On my way home I sat on the bus with a student name MacKenzie. I didn't generally sit with MacKenzie on the bus. I preferred to sit by myself in silence. But MacKenzie and I were friendly, although not necessarily close friends. I remember talking to her about the plane crashes and us both being worried. I remember driving by the large Dupont site in Maitland and thinking it would be the most likely local institution to receive an attack.

When I got home I turned on the television. We had only recently purchased a satellite dish and upgraded from what I call "country cable" with very few channels. I turned on CNN. CNN did not come off the TV for weeks. I became somewhat addicted to watching what was going on. I had not understood until I saw the videos myself the magnitude of what had happened. I had never travelled to New York City (still haven't, believe it or not). I did not know what the Twin Towers were or their size. Watching the towers fall and thinking of all of the people trapped within them was a scary moment. I remember being proud to see Canadians helping by receiving airplanes bound for the United States and people taking in stranded passengers. I also remember the Canadian firefighters who went down to assist in NYC.

I remember the announcement of the decision to send Canadian troops to Afghanistan to assist the United States in the aftermath of the terrorist attack. I was proud that we were doing so. My grandfather served in the Canadian Armed Forces and I had a lot of respect for our military. I briefly considered joining the military myself as attending the military college was one way to obtain an affordable education and a good career for a middle class child. I went in a different direction and enrolled at the University of Ottawa to study history and spent a lot of time studying the World Wars, the Cold War and the history of the Middle East, including a brand new class on the History of Iraq that was launched following the beginning of the Iraq war.

Our associate lawyer at Durant Barristers took a different path. Andrew Paterson did join the Canadian Armed Forces, including on the ground in Afghanistan. As an Officer, Andrew no doubt learned the leadership, communication skills and resiliance that have made him a phenomenal lawyer and leader. Many Canadians just like Andrew did not return home alive from Aghanistan.

Like many Canadians, I am troubled by our current relationship with the United States which is a result of the antics of a rogue President of the United States and his administration. Canada and the United States were the best of friends and allies. Now most people I know will not even travel there unless they absolutely must for business or family commitments. It is a sad state of affairs that is not in the best interest of either country. We are stronger together.

I listened to the Paiken Podcast this week. He has two 9/11 25th anniversary episodes that I highly recommend to Canadians. The first features Canada's Minister of Transportation at the time of the attacks David Collenette. The second podcast discussed various issues while asking whether the 9/11 terrorist attacks were the most significant event of the 21st century. One of the guests opined that 9/11 was the most significant event, until the second election of Donald Trump as president and his subsequent actions dismantaling democratic and international institutions. Another guest connected 9/11 to the rise of leaders like Donald Trump and the decrease in civil liberties.

My thoughts are with our American friends and neighbours on the 25th anniversary of 9/11 and as the country deals with a very difficult political and economic environment. America changed due to 9/11. Time will tell if it has also been forever changed by Trump 2.0.