We cannot live our lives in a state of fear. I am probably the person who needs to hear this the most, simply because I am and have always been the anxious one in my family. In history classes throughout my life I have been asked, "Do you remember where you were when 9/11 happened?" and the weirdest thing is that I did, even though I was only in first grade at the time. The memory I have is so chillingly clear that when people tell me 9/11 was 15 years ago, it still catches me off guard. At the time I lived in a suburb outside Washington right in the flight path of departing planes. That day was clear blue, no clouds and not a plane in sight. It was harrowing. Recently, when I was boarding a plane to Dallas, Texas, I noticed the other six girls I was traveling with all had some pre-flight ritual -- kissing the plane, watching the "Bridesmaids" plane scene for comic relief, praying -- whatever it was I could feel an anxiety about travel, one that I now knew I shared with my peers. It made me sad.
This topic of violence and safety has continually popped into my head and is something that really weights heavily on my heart. Our generation is scared. We are missing out on opportunities, playing it safe and acting hypersensitive to any situation that might provoke threat -- so much that our worlds begin to feel like a prison. My little brother still won't go to the movie theater because he is scared of the Aurora shooting, and even has an escape plan if one were to happen. He is 10. This ideology cannot continue, in fact if it does, what will our America become? A land of the free that lives in fear? A fear of the possibility?
Heres what we need to do, people
1. Travel
In an Instagram from one of sorority sisters, a picture of beautiful, twisting trees is accompanied with a caption that says, "My mom told me not to go to Northern Ireland bc of the conflict, so I went to Norther Ireland." This truly speaks volumes! Not necessarily the disobeying of one's parents but the attitude that fear should not stop you. Since the attacks on 9/11, security is ready. Although this event was horrible, it enhanced our security to a point that it's almost harassment in some cases. Traveling is vital to our age group of 20-somethings. Gaining perspective is something I always fight for and is a huge benefit from travel. If we are the next generation of leaders, how could we let ourselves only know one way of life? Adventure is our there, fate is fate.
2. Educate yourself; read
It is important to know what is happening in our world, whether you like politics or not. I mention politics because it is much more than the government, it really does affect our world on a holistic scale. I also say this because I hate politics. I use to be so blind to these events because it was too messy, but after these couple years of growing, I have found that knowing about our world is our job as a global citizen, politics aside. Did you know that we recently bombed a Doctors Without Borders hospital in the Middle East? Yes, it's as bad as it sounds. There is so much out there to read about, and not all is about violence. I encourage reading for fun, because with that comes a deeper level of education, one of passion, not affirmation.
3. Live Geniunely
This being said, the truth can be scary, to which I say live genuinely. If you are scared, it's OK to be scared. If you are fearless, it's okay to be fearless. Whatever you're opinion or emotion is in regards to our world, revel in it, instead of concealing. We finally got my little brother to go to the movies. We saw "Inside Out" and he held my hand and said "I'm terrified" and sat through the whole movie. It was the bravest thing I saw a 10-year-old do. I know that example is silly, but it really does bring attention to a small act of bravery.
4. Be a Global Citizen
Do something, or "If you see something, say something." That is the phrase posted everywhere in the airport. It is our responsibility to always observe and know our surroundings. Along with this, do something about a conflict. Yes, we are just a small community of people, but every effort counts. Don't let the cliche nature of that statement take away its meaning -- everything that is done impacts some aspect.
"The only thing we have to fear is fear itself."
These words spoken by President FDR could not ring more clear in our current worldly situation. Be the change that brings back our global community. I challenge myself to be an example of living without fear of the world; a fear that has been created and forced upon our generation. Let's put our anxieties on the back burner and live, in spite of ISIS and those trying to do us harm, because living in fear is to give these radical groups power. Let's do just the opposite.
Here are some words from survivors from 9/11 and beyond. Here's a link to a project by a photographer, Macro Grob for TIME, entitled "Beyond 9/11: Portraits of Resilience."
"I felt stronger, and I felt more empowered with the experience and confident in my crew and my teammates that we would be able to stand up to what was required now. We’re the first responder. Just like my son learned at 6 years old, there are no guarantees, but I feel confident, and I feel safe today to go on. We can’t live in fear." - Flight attendant, shoe-bomber flight
"I looked at the site when I visited the last time there, and I watched that building, and I was happy. You could knock me down, you could beat me up, but I’m going to get up and fight again. You may tear down this building that I live in, but I’ll make a bigger one. I’ll make a better one." - World Trade Center Survivor, Stanley Praimnath, 81st floor"It’s the world community coming together and saying, These are acts against humanity, and we can stop it." - Joseph Pfeifer, Chief of Counterterrorism
