Today is 11th September when two historical events occurred which shocked the whole world. One was attacked on the World Trade Centre in New York in 2001 and the other was the inspirational speech given by Swami Vivekananda.
Swami Vivekananda gave a motivational three-minute speech at Parliament of World Religions in Chicago on 11th Sept’ 93. In the speech, he introduced Hinduism to the world and also spoke on important topics such as intolerance, religion and the need to end all forms of fanaticism. Such was the effect of the remarkable message that he was given a two-minute standing ovation. He began the speech by addressing the audience as “Sisters and Brothers of America”
Here are excerpts from his discourse that continues to echoes in society.
*An argument in favour of religious tolerance and accommodation as against self-righteousness and bigotry as aptly illustrated by the “frog in the well” (kupamanduka) story. In substance, Vivekananda emphasised the religious pluralism embedded in Hinduism. Contrary to commonplace perception, he did not try to advocate the idea of a universal religion, not even of the unity of religious thought or practice but the idea of a common goal or destiny (human salvation) for every religious community
*The questioning of religious conversion itself, arguing that holiness, purity and charity was not the exclusive premise of any one sect or church.”
*The questioning of religious conversion itself, arguing that holiness, purity and charity was not the exclusive premise of any one sect or church.”
“Sectarianism, bigotry, and its horrible descendant, fanaticism, have long possessed this beautiful earth. They have filled the earth with violence, drenched it often and often with human blood, destroyed civilization and sent whole nations to despair. Had it not been for these horrible demons, human society would be far more advanced than it is now. But their time comes; and I fervently hope that the bell that tolled this morning in honour of this convention may be the death-knell of all fanaticism, of all persecutions with the sword or with the pen, and of all uncharitable feelings between persons wending their way to the same goal.”
The second historical movement which took place on the same date but the different year was the Terrorist attack on the World Trade Centre in New York in 2001. Two of the planes were flown into the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York City while a third plane hit the Pentagon just outside Washington, D.C.
18 years today people woke up to a news which shook the whole world and witnessed the wrath of terrorism as almost 3,000 people went to sleep for the final time.
Post the attack it become clear that the hijackers were Islamic terrorists from Saudi Arabia and was financed by the al Qaeda terrorist organization of Saudi fugitive Osama bin Laden, they were allegedly acting in retaliation for America’s support of Israel, its involvement in the Persian Gulf War and its continued military presence in the Middle East.
Oval Office released an official statement saying that “Terrorist attacks can shake the foundations of our biggest buildings, but they cannot touch the foundation of America. These acts shatter steel, but they cannot dent the steel of American resolve. We will make no distinction between the terrorists who committed these acts and those who harbour them.”
The mastermind behind the September 11th attacks, Osama Bin Laden had been on the run and away of prying eyes of the intelligence forces working around the clock for a long time. He was finally traced by US intelligence agency that he was stationed in Abbottabad, Pakistan on May 2, 2011.
Post which a plan was executed by the U.S. forces to infiltrate the compound and kill the most wanted man. On June 2011, then-President Barack Obama announced the commencement of large-scale troop withdrawals from Afghanistan.
The world leaders also learnt an very important lesson that the world cannot afford to forget that the national and global security agencies cannot lower their guard in fight against terrorism.
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