ROTHENBURGER – 9-11 anniversary a reminder that Canada is a good friend

EVERYBODY WHO was alive 25 years ago remembers where they were when the twin towers of the World Trade Centre in New York came down on Sept. 11, 2001.

I certainly do. I was getting ready to go off to City Hall in my job as mayor, and, as usual, I turned on the TV news during breakfast. The shocking scenes of what was happening at the trade centre buildings came on and I, as many did, watched in horror as first one tower, then the other, collapsed.

The phone rang and CHNL newsman Bob Price was on the other end of the line asking for comment. All I could do was to express shock and offer condolences as are usual when bad things happen.

Twenty-four Canadians, including four from B.C., were among the thousands who died that day. I felt we couldn’t let it pass without some kind of expression of grief and solidarity with our friends to the south, so I initiated a ceremony in front of City Hall. There was some difficulty finding someone to sing O Canada and the Star Spangled banner and I briefly thought I’d have to do it myself. However, proper voices were very fortunately found.

There were some speeches by politicians included me, Coun. Peter Sharp played Amazing Grace on his bagpipes, and we stood for a traditional period of silence. First responders were front and centre, with their fire trucks and police vehicles lining First Avenue.

The Gander story had already unfolded, and both Canadians and Americans marveled at the kindness and incredible organization of the people of that small Newfoundland and Labrador town who rallied to host 138 airliners full of travelers who needed a place to go when U.S. airspace was closed.

A few years ago (when travel to the U.S. was still OK) , my wife Sydney and I were lucky enough to get tickets to the play Come From Away on Broadway. It was a marvelous musical, stunning in its production and heartwarming in its message of people coming together in times of crisis.

Today I watched quite a bit of the ceremony held in Gander to mark the 25^th anniversary. It was touching, and there were many moments when one couldn’t help but feel a lump in the throat, but a highlight was the closing speech of former prime minister Jean Chretien.

Whenever Chretien speaks, it’s worth listening. Today, in Gander, he reminisced about that time and the contrast between the evil act of the attack on the U.S., and the valor, compassion and generosity of those who responded.

“Our friends were hurt,” Chretien said, “and we were hurting with them…. We fought back side by side…. Because that’s the Canadian way.”

As he drew close to the end of his speech, he had a message for the U.S. “Yes, Canada is a generous, open country, and Canadians are friendly and kind, but never mistake our generosity for weakness.”

That brought a standing ovation from the crowd. “Never mistake our tolerance for lack of determination, and never, never, mistake our kindness for softness. We know who we are and we are proud of it.”

There were a few chuckles when he added, “Building a country with this climate and geography is a sign of toughness, not of weakness.” And he continued, “We embrace our friends and help them in a moment of need but bow to no one,” adding, “The more we are insulted and threatened and abused, the more we will stand up for ourselves and stand united.”

He spoke, he said, not in anger “but as one friend to another.”

After he concluded, Chretien received another standing ovation. He even received a hug from U.S. ambassador Pete Hoekstra, who may be the most unpopular person to ever hold that position, not just because he represents Donald Trump but for the antagonistic language he himself uses.

Many, maybe most, felt Hoeskstra shouldn’t have been allowed at the event, but it was an opportunity to remind him and those he works for of what Canadians are made of.

If our next-door neighbours — Trump and his cohorts — should ever suffer another disaster like 9-11, I know Canada would stand with them again. I’m not certain the same would happen on their part if the situation was reversed.

Mel Rothenburger is a former regular contributor to CFJC-TV and CBC radio, publishes the ArmchairMayor.ca opinion website, writes for the Kamloops Chronicle and is a recipient of the Jack Webster Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award, and was a Webster Foundation Commentator of the Year finalist. He has served as mayor of Kamloops, school board chair and TNRD director, and is a retired daily newspaper editor.  He can be reached at mrothenburger@armchairmayor.ca.