The duty of our generation

I was extremely moved at the recent 9/11 memorial ceremony on the front steps of Crosby. I was moved by how many people took time out of their night to attend the event. I was moved by the intense emotions displayed by those around me. I was moved when everyone stayed after the ceremony ended to reflect on the events of Sept. 11, 2001. Most of all, I was moved by the immense respect everyone paid during the ceremony. Sept. 11, 2001 was undoubtedly a pivotal moment for the world.

It was even more critical to our generation's maturation. For many, myself included, 9/11 was the first time that we became "aware" of the world around us. We were forced into the real world at a very young age. Even though many of us did not understand the implications of 9/11 at the time, we all knew something major occurred. The patriotism, uproar and clamoring for justice expressed by the United States defined the early stages of our lives.

We are the 9/11 generation, and we have the ability to decide the future. In a few years we will be working to support ourselves, our families and the world. Let us not forget our mandate. We must not forget that while the United States is an incredibly powerful country, it is not the only country in the world. The responses of many countries after 9/11 showed that we are not alone.

Queen Elizabeth of England commanded the United States' national anthem be played during the Changing of the Guard on Sept. 12 for the first time in history. The Indian government forcefully denounced terrorism and expressed its support of the United States. Even Le Monde, arguably France's most important newspaper, ran a headline on Sept. 12that read "Nous Sommes Tous Américains"; "We Are All Americans."

The world stood beside us in our time of need. Now it is our generation's turn to reciprocate. We shouldn't cheer at the death of Osama or the capture of Saddam. Instead, we should channel that energy and passion into making our world a better place.

Be philanthropic, help those in need and educate yourself so that you can make a positive difference everywhere you go. Even though it will be difficult, we have to resist the urge to tout our superiority.

Instead, we must collaborate with those countries that helped us in the aftermath of 9/11 and those who still need our help. We will never forget the events of 9/11. How we memorialize those events is up to us. Let us show the world that we can rise above the hate and warmongering that so many accuse us of. We have the opportunity, do not let it slip away.