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B4 - The Oakville Beaver, Wednesday September 11, 2002 he e l e c t i o n s & he r u e s The Oakxille Beaver asked readers to send us their thoughts on thefirst anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in the U.S.A. The numerous heartfelt letters we received are published on thefollowing pages. Thank you to everyone who contributed. Sanctuary of Oakville shares your profound answers By Mary Collett S P E C IA L T O T H E B EAVER We have changed. Though this simple, straightforward observation has become almost cliched since the horrific events of 9/11, The Sanctuary in Oakville feels that it has particular resonance, with their own first year anniversary marked on September 9. For that reason, teaching pastor Rev. Jeff Christopherson set himself the task to conduct interviews with the proverbial "man on the street", in an effort to record the residual effects of that infamous day from the perspective of the individual in our local community. "Our research methods were not sci entific", allows Christopherson. "We just wanted to get a feel for the many ways in which lives have been personally altered since September 11 Christopherson admits that most of their informal interviews took place at Oakville's Midnight Madness celebra tion, a time that he freely acknowledges was not necessarily in keeping with the serious nature of their queries. Nevertheless, the results, which were videotaped on the spot, are surprisingly poignant and profound. "We tried to look for people just wait ing or wandering alone", he recalls, "and we were rewarded with many very thoughtful responses." Christopherson describes the survey as consisting of a two-part inquiry: "In your opinion, how has the world changed, and, how has your personal world correspondingly changed?" Allowing for the natural variance in each person's approach to the questions posed, Christopherson cites a common theme that recurred throughout the entire exercise. "In a nutshell, everyone basically said the same thing," he recounts. "Without exception, people no longer view the world as a secure place and we've grown less trusting of our neighbours. But in personal terms, there is a newfound appreciation of the family and a need to slow down life's hectic pace, to stop try ing to keep up with the rat race." All of the recorded replies have been catalogued, some of which will form a thematic basis for future sermons to be delivered at upcoming Sunday services held at White Oaks Secondary School. Christopherson notes that the results obtained from the informal Oakville sampling are very much in accordance with larger, more scientific surveys con ducted elsewhere. "Research shows there were great pri ority shifts in the immediate aftermath of the terrorist attacks," he relates. "Unfortunately, with the passage of time some of the initial urgency fades. We don't have to have a tragedy every year to force us to remember or reorganize our priorities to slow down work and spend more time with the kids." Citing other studies, Christopherson adds: "Experts are predicting that the entire generation who were of an age to understand the events of September 11 will come to be defined by that day in our history." A year has passed since our neigh bours to the south were attacked on American soil, causing the untimely deaths of thousands of innocent civilians and hundreds of heroic police and fire fighting personnel. Hundreds of thou sands of tons of rubble have since been cleared from the site of the once lofty World Trade Center towers in Manhattan. But amidst the carnage of the follow ing day, a sign was raised at Ground Zero, proclaiming in twenty-foot tall let tering: "We will never forget". Jeff Christopherson and his col leagues at The Sanctuary believe it is a message worthy of at least a moment of collective reflection as we embark upon the road to healing. For more information on The Sanctuary and the services provided, call (905) 257-3987, or visit their web site at www.thesanctuary.ca. Hope for the future? 9/11 was the darkest day I have ever lived through, let alone witnessed. Like millions I suppose, I was para lyzed with fear, disbelief and utter despair at the horror unfolding in front of me. Watching CNN on what I thought was the beginning of such a beautiful Tuesday morning, that turned into a complete nightmare for millions worldwide. New York City was under attack and this was for real, not the newest smash box hit movie I had hoped was about to be released. From that day, my life has never been the same. In less than 20 minutes, those glorious twin towers turned into an inferno death trap and ultimately crumbled before my eyes like a deck of cards. I was horrified. The helpless ness I experienced was completely overwhelming and, as I stared in dis belief, I knew there was not a single thing that I could do. I, selfishly, am never more thankful than to be a Canadian citizen, watched in the safety of my surroundings, awestruck with grief and bewilder ment as the horror unfolded. For me, the vision of what looked like a woman holding hands with a friend or perhaps a complete stranger, leaping to their deaths, is cruelly engraved in my mind forever. In tears, I had to wonder whether these people leapt to their deaths into what they knew to be a 'divine' or 'spir itual' and timely death. Or, was this, in fact, the worst case scenario imagina ble? Poor souls abandoned by their higher power, trapped and terrified with each second feeling like an eter nity. I cannot imagine the desperation and thoughts through their minds which were necessary to make that ultimate decision. Taking that last step into nothing but sky and fire. If it had been me? I couldn't have done it. Could you? -- C Krawczyk United Way of Oakville played integral part in relief fund United Way funding provides a foun dation of support for people in need, and for the challenges that face our communi ty every day of the year. When tragedy struck the U.S. on September 11, 2001, United Ways in the U.S. responded by creating The September 11th Fund to sup port the victims of these catastrophic events. The Oakville community played an integral role in Canada's response to the tragedy. Through United Way of Oakville, over $15,880 was donated to The September Hth Fund, providing sup port, treatment and care to the victims and their families and friends. What United Way donors may not realize is that their support of United Way of Oakville also helped in the relief effort right here at home. United Way agencies responded to increased and changing needs as Oakville residents dealt with their own grief and uncertainty. The Canadian Mental Health Association developed a special information session on post-traumatic stress syndrome; the Halton Multicultural Centre facilitated additional school assemblies addressing anti-racism, multiculturalism and human rights; Halton Family Services developed a special hand-out on how parents can communicate to children about September 11th; the Halton Trauma Centre received calls from children to seniors, and many citizens, struggling with emotions never felt before, called the Distress Centre of Oakville for help. "As the community agencies began to help the people of New York and Washington put their lives back together, this brought to everyone's attention the work of United Way agencies everywhere and their usefulness in helping people of all ages deal with wide variety of issues such as bereavement, child care, unem ployment, and mental illness," said Alison Pickard, CEO, United Way of Oakville. "The feelings of loss, fear and grief were matched by an overwhelming desire to care for those affected by the tragedy, as well as those in need in our own commu nity. And it became very apparent that people everywhere understood the impor tance of community agency work, and the amazing programs and services they pro vide. Oakville responded with tremendous energy and commitment to the needs of those in New York, but also to the needs of those in our own community." United Way of Oakville's 2002 fundraising campaign kicks off on September 22nd with the annual bathtub race on Lakeshore Road in downtown Oakville. Join us at 1 p.m. for the race, followed by a parade. You can also be part of our campaign by donating through your workplace, or by calling United Way of Oakville's office at (905) 845-5571. Forever changed The horrific images that so many of us could have only fathomed viewing on the silver screen, became reality as we watched America, sound sense of safety, implode. Like dust from the twin towers, the notion of nuclear war spread through the city, through the cameras, and out to the rest of the world. It seems fear has sur faced in the hearts of many as we struggle to comprehend the atrocities that have been witnessed. The cold-blooded killing of innocent civilians has abolished a trust between countries that may never be regained. September 11, 2001, is a date that no individual will be able to forget, and for those who are directly linked to the vio lence, it is a memory that will haunt them for the rest of their lives. As they hear planes in flight overhead, their heartbeats will rise in remembrance of this cata strophic event. No doubt, height phobias will become common, and penthouses will be found at ground level, turned upside down like the shattered lives of so many. Bravery can be found only in those who desperately need it; for the rest of us who watch in terror, fear is the inescapable reality that we now have to live with. Thank you for the opportunity to express my thoughts on this terrible tragedy. -C. Dale Halton Regional Police Service Everyday Heroes Committed To Our Community g Heroes Are Our Volunteers · CO PP School Safety Patrol · Neighbourhood Watch · Block Parents · Community Consultation Committees · Victim Services · Auxiliary Officers · Citizen Police Academy · SALT. · M A D .D . mpathy to all ies who feisigd ones itude to eroes who 'W r y for help. G ^ G o lden r id d l e FAMILY RESTAURANTS 8 4 2 -4 2 4 7 The Best in Breakfast, All Day 125 Cross Avenue, Oakville k . - r e s ia u r a n t We stall always remember the courageous and noble men and women wbo sacrificed M r lives during this terrible tragedy. 579Kerr Street, Oakville 9 o s 3 3 8 -0 8 8 9