Dear Terrorists ..

Eight years ago today, you chose to commit a senseless act of violence against thousands of innocent people. You took the lives of businessmen and businesswomen, of secretaries and receptionists. You took the lives of incredibly brave firefighters and police officers, of tourists and of children flying on an airplane for the very first time. You took the life of Meredith Ewart - a charming young woman from my home church who had moved to NYC with big dreams and goals. You did this in the name of your god and claimed you wanted to "send the western world a message".

I want to let you know that we've heard the message ... we've heard it loud and clear.

The message we've received is that this is a battle you cannot and will not win. You can demolish the steel in our tallest buildings, but you cannot demolish the steel of our hearts. You can bomb us, attack us, torture and kill us ... but we will not live in fear of you. You can preach revenge, but we will preach forgiveness. You can attempt to hijack airplanes, but we will attempt to hijack hearts and souls. You can push us down, but we will pick ourselves up and start anew. You can destroy our physical bodies, but you can never destroy our spirits and our souls. You may have access to "weapons of mass destruction" ... but there is no greater shield than the shield of faith.

Yes, we've heard the message and the message is that no matter what you do to us, we will rise.

You may write me down in history,
with your bitter twisted lies ...
You may trod me in the very dirt,
but still .. like dust ... I'll rise

You may shoot me with your words,
You may cut me with your eyes,
You may kill me with your hatefulness,
but still ... like air ... I'll rise

I'll rise ... I'll rise ... I'll rise ....

- poem by Dr. Maya Angelou

To all those who lost their lives that day - I think of you & your families all the time.
To the NYPD and the NYFD - you are my heroes.
And to the terrorists - it took me 8 years ... but I forgive you.
To my fellow Canadians and to my American neighbors - we will rise. We will rise.

Today I witnessed history unfold...

On September 11th, 2001 ... halfway through my ninth grade English class ... I witnessed history unfold as terrorists flew two airplanes into the World Trade Center in downtown New York City. As I watched the news reports, I knew I was living through a moment that my children and grand-children and great-grand-children would someday read about in history books. It was a historical moment provoked by hate, resentment and evil. It was a moment that represented all that is wrong in our world. It was a moment I would have preferred to have skipped; one I wish I didn't have to remember. It was a moment that I wish had never happened.

Today, on January 20th, 2009 ... as I watched Barack Obama take the oath of office and become the 44th President of the United States of America ... I once again knew that I was living through a moment that would grace the pages of my children's history books. This time, however, it was a moment brought about by determination, integrity and righteousness. A moment millions of people throughout the generations had dreamed of being able to witness. A moment that represented the audacity of the human spirit, the strength of brotherhood, the power of being able to forgive and move forward together as a nation. It was a moment I was proud to have been a tiny part of.

For me, Barack Obama's victory is not a political one ... only time will tell whether he succeeds as President. I believe that what I witnessed today was a triumph in the battle of civil rights that has plagued America for centuries. And, politics aside, that is a moment worth celebrating.

xox