Ten Years On

Ten years ago I was teaching a class of HND students when the news broke that an aircraft had crashed into the one of the twin towers of the World Trade Centre. The class stopped as we watched the news from New York and soon it became clear this was more than an accident. It was just surreal watching it happen live on the computer screens.

I think all of use will remember what we were doing that day when we heard the news. It is one of those events in life that just stick with you, just like the London bombings that caused so much fear in the capital when they went off.  All week on BBC radio five live they have had interviews with people remembering what happened ten years ago. Some of those stories have been of deeds of extreme bravery others were so personal and sad that couldn't but touch the heart.

The number of people that died will never really be known but it is estimated that over 2,700 people lost their lives that day and 6,000 people were injured. Countless more have died in the war on terror that has followed. It was an event that made the world a far more dangerous place and tensions between the two sides in this war as high as ever. The terrorists continue to attack soft civilian and military targets while the many nations try and hunt them down and eliminate them. This event started a war that can never be won, as we know too well from conflict in Northern Ireland until the parties are ready to talk, and so the death toll of the aftermath of this one event will continue to grow and grow.

Today is a time to remember the those that lost their lives and were injured in the initial attacks. All the people that died that day and the families that lost love ones. It is an event that changed the world because the number that died and where it occurred. Lets hope from it can come some form of dialogue and understanding and from that a peace. For I'm sure deep down that is what people want in this world, not hate and destruction. May be I'm a fool for thinking that is possible but I believe that there is good in everyone and that we have the same goals to be happy and feel safe.

May the souls of those that lost that day rest in peace and I hope that one day something great will come of their deaths though talking and understanding and not more wars.