Remembering September 11, 2001

Like many of you, I remember exactly where I was when I learned that an airplane had been intentionally flown into the World Trade Center in New York. Standing behind the counter at Morgan City Drugs, I didn’t have access to a television. However, we did have a radio, and it wasn’t hard to find a station that was covering the real-time events that morning. When the second airplane hit, we all knew that this was no accident, but an intentional attack on the very freedom we hold dear.

I was very active in APhA’s leadership through committee service at the time. APhA staff were among my closest friends, as I worked for the association briefly in the 1990s. Cell phones weren’t quite what they are today, and despite dozens of attempts using even a landline, I couldn’t reach APhA headquarters or anyone on APhA’s staff as the phone lines were completely jammed. In the absence of facts, worst case scenarios swirled about. A plane had hit the Pentagon, which is visible from APhA’s building, and rumors were flying that there were more planes headed for more destinations in Washington, DC. How could this be happening, and why?

Yesterday, I watched some television footage of that time 25 years ago, and I was taken with how the first reaction of our nation was to pull together in unity. In our sadness, pain, and despair, we were all Americans and were all focused on lifting each other. We were united in caring for and loving our neighbors—even our neighbors across the country who we may have never met. For many weeks and months ahead, our nation didn’t see political parties, didn’t see dividing lines or differences, we simply saw the human condition. And in the hour of our nation’s greatest contemporary need, we all did the one thing we needed to do; we exhibited the most profound kindness that I’ve ever experienced in my life.

For all the frustrations that we may feel about our current political situation in this nation, and for all the anger and hard feelings we have about our profession not having the support we need, we must remember 9/11. It’s not just a date that lives forever in history, it’s a reminder that no matter what our circumstances, life can turn on a dime and everything can change in an instant—making all our current concerns seem not that important after all.

As we remember the events of 9/11 in our own ways, I’m challenging myself, and anyone who wishes to join me, to live with a deeper commitment to kindness. We may feel frustrated when others don’t show it, but we can’t control them; we can only choose how we respond. Together, let’s choose kindness. One person at a time, we can help make this world a better place.

With the deepest continuing sympathies for the families whose lives were forever changed on September 11, 2001, may we never forget them, and the lessons we learned about unity and kindness.

For all of pharmacy.

Michael