By Dr. Alex Kharazi. For all of us and indeed for all Americans and people of good conscience around the world, 9/11 evokes memories of a moment in our history when the world as we knew it changed forever. We will come together as one community on Sunday, September 11 at 5:30 p.m. at Masjid-e-Ali, located at 47 Cedar Grove Lane, to honor the memory of the more than 3,000 people who lost their lives on that day. Some of them were members of our community and our neighbors. We will observe a moment of silence as a tribute to those whose lives were cut short. We will reflect again on that day on how we as Americans acted as a nation. Ordinary human beings reacted with extraordinary love and bravery to help the victims 15 years ago. The victims of 9/11 are not only the widows, parents, and orphans of the more than 3,000 people who lost their lives on that day, but they also include the millions of widows, orphans, and disabled veterans of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq and terrorism around the world. We pray that there is an end to terror and injustice throughout the world. Our world is in need of healing. The Persian Poet, Sa’adie, describes what it means to be one human race. The sons of Adam are limbs of each other, Having been created of one essence. When the calamity of time affects one limb The other limbs cannot remain at rest. If you have no sympathy for the troubles of others, You are unworthy to be called by the name of a Human. This poem decorates the entrance of the United Nations building. Bani Adam, the Children of Adam, is an aphorism calling for the breaking of all barriers and caring for each other since we all are children of Adam. The commemoration will reflect what Sa’aide called for eight centuries ago, that we should and we will care about each other. On Sunday 9/11, we will reaffirm that the victims’ pain is our pain, their loss is our loss, their fear is our fear and their joy is our joy. We hope our community will join us – our town leaders, our mayor, and many faith leaders – to honor the victims of 9/11. Dr. Alex Kharazi is President of the Franklin Township Interfaith Council and Director and VP of the Masjid-e-Ali Mosque.
The Franklin Reporter & Advocate Eight Villages, One Community
