Last week, I went to participate the prestigious National Model United Nations in New York. This part of this conference took part in the United Nations, where Secretary General spared his precious time to personally address to us. It was truly a inspiring trip. But apart from the conference and the UNHQ, I went to another place that was of great significance.
My team and I went to visit the 9/11 Memorial, and honestly it was a very heavy place. Like mentioned in class, two structures called the Eternal Well was placed where the two towers once were. The flowing water sounded like the lost souls of those who have lost their lives on that day. The names of the victims were cut out all around the well, with lights to illuminate the many names around the Well. Some people have stuck a white rose in some of the names to pay respect to their loved ones. At a fire station nearby, a framed poster of all of the firefighters that have lost their lives on 9/11. The brave men and women who sacrificed their own lives in order to save others.
After we left, some of my friends and I started to discuss about people’s view of 9/11. One of my friends was rather angry because she saw how the incident of 9/11 was so strongly emphasized, and yet the millions of people who are suffering all around the world have little or no mention in comparison in the US. Having just attended a MUN conference, it really got me thinking about that view. No doubt that 9/11 was a terrible tragedy, but we must not have this incident overshadow the thousands of tragedies that happen everywhere else in the world, and that we must be able to give equal attention to all of them. The museum attack in Tunisia, the civil conflict in Syria, the conflict mineral trade in Africa, the grave issue of child soldiers, the many deaths by drone strikes, and so many more issues that require our attention. We cannot just be attentive to only the events immediate around us, we have to give our attention to the rest of the world. Or at least, be conscious of the many things that are happening in the world. To see the bigger picture.
Last time in my geography discussion, we discussed about the devastation of Hurricane Katrina and what were our view about it. Most people recall how terrifying it was. Although I fully agree that Katrina was devastating, I reminded everyone that there are so many other hurricane and typhoons that occur elsewhere in the world and that they are all equally terrible and important.
