If you’re over 30 years old, it’s likely you remember where you were when you first learned that two planes flew into the Twin Towers back in September of 2001.
I’ll never forget.
I was sitting in my car in a parking lot, waiting to go into an interview for a fundraising job at Rutgers University (Douglass College), my Alma mater. Before I even went inside, the interview got canceled. It was rescheduled for a week or so later.
I got the job. That was the job where I really learned how to raise major gifts and I experienced my first capital campaign.
Fast Forward to Today…
Last night, nearly two decades after that harrowing day, I flew home to Newark airport. The runway the plane approached runs parallel to Manhattan. I had a clear view of the Empire State Building, the Freedom Tower, and the Stature of Liberty farther off in the distance.
In the memorialized spot where the Twin Towers would’ve stood, there were two bright beams of light projected into the sky. It was breathtaking. If you’ve ever flown into Newark at night around the anniversary of 9/11 and are lucky enough to have a window seat on the right side of the plane, you know what I mean.
Staring at those beams of light allowed me time to reflect, both as an American and as someone working in the nonprofit sector.
3 Lessons Learned by a Fundraiser After 9/11
On the anniversary of the attack, I believe it’s appropriate to reflect and consider what we’ve learned all these years later.
1. Life is short.
You never know what tomorrow will bring. And tomorrow is not guaranteed. Live life to the fullest. Tell those around you how much then mean to you. Try not to hold a grudge.
2. Make a will (and keep it up to date).
Many of the people who died on September 11th did not have a will. Some of their assets went to the government, rather than to charitable causes or to loved ones. Don’t be afraid to talk about the importance of having a will with your board members and donors.
3. Take calculated risks.
This is along the same lines as “life is short,” but I think it bears repeating. Don’t be afraid to take risks. Ask for the donation, even when you’re not completely ready. Try a new and different effort with regard to fundraising. You may not succeed, but at least you’ll have tried something different.
Things Changed After September 11th
As I mentioned, I was in the airport yesterday. Since September 11th 2001, I can no longer take a drink or full sized bottles of shampoo through security. And when I am not in the pre-check line, I need to take off my shoes and take out my laptop and electronic devices.
After September 11th, we banded together as a country to make sweeping changes to airline security. It didn’t matter if you were a democrat or a republican, if you were liberal or conservative. People joined together to ensure the airways were safe to travel for everyone.
It’s time we do the same with guns.
More people die every year from gun violence and gun accidents in the United States than did on September 11th. Many of these deaths are preventable. And the majority of people in this country support stronger gun laws.
For Gun Safety, Things Need to Change Again
Just like the rules in airline security were imposed after September 11th, we must pass sensible gun legislation. This includes things like background checks, waiting periods, proper training, etc.
The best analogy I’ve heard is auto safety. There was a time, long ago, when cars didn’t have seatbelts and drivers didn’t have licenses. There was no test required and anyone could drive.
Today, drivers are required to pass a written and driving test. They are required to register vehicles, keep them insured, and renew their license every few years. Drivers also need to wear seatbelts and aren’t allowed to text. There’s no concern that you don’t have the right to drive. And yet, there are plenty of rules and regulations to keep everyone safe on the road.
We can (and should) do the same with guns.
Gun violence is today’s September 11th safety issue. Let’s use the anniversary to fuel action into creating a safer, peaceful world for everyone.
You can call your elected officials. You can write letters. You can donate money to advocacy groups.
Those are my thoughts as I reflect on September 11th. I’d love to hear yours in the comments below.
Thank you Amy for taking such a public stance on such an important issue.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts and I agree wholeheartedly. I understand that several hundred years ago, we broke away from a foreign government, so that suspicion is deeply ingrained. I understand that there are hunters, and gun collectors, and target shooters. But at some point, we need to recognize that our fellow citizens are being mowed down in schools, churches, workplaces and at concerts. It’s NOT normal. It’s NOT okay. And it pains me that our children are learning ‘active shooter’ precautions in our schools. We are teaching them that being mowed down is to be expected and planned for. What?
And by the way, it’s not because of video games. Japan is the source of many of the popular (and violent) video games but they don’t have tens of thousands of gun deaths every year. Ask yourself why. Australia has a macho culture – but they don’t have nearly the gun deaths we have. Ask yourself why.
I’m in favor of banning weapons of war from being in civilian hands. I’m in favor of licensing and instituting required training. I’m in favor of red flag laws. I’m in favor of requiring gun owners to be insured, just like they must do with their cars – and suffer consequences if their gun is used in a crime or a murder. Let’s consider a gun buy back program to get weapons off the street.
There is a lot we can do that still protects the rights of responsible gun owners.
Amy, thanks for the reminder of how we’ve all changed, together and individually, since then. And, I agree about the need for sensible gun legislation…for the reasons you mention and many more. The thing that sticks with me, the abiding lesson, is what the people in the Twin Towers, and on the planes did in what they knew were their final moments…many are reported to have called their family and friends to say “I love you.” Underneath all our opinions about literally everything…agreements, disagreements, frustrations, joys … what all of it floats on is love. It’s so present that it’s almost invisible, but when all of the chatter of daily life is interrupted and the next thing you do will be your last, what’s there when all else is stripped away is love and the compelling desire to express it. It’s a most heartening gift, and a reminder to take a moment to express it to honor those that set such a life-affirming example.
I am British and live in the UK. Watching the relentless coverage of mad shootings in the USA, especially in and around schools, we simply don’t understand why Americans have not gripped the matter and ensured sensible gun laws. Of course if people want to go game shooting (hunting), that’s permissible – however, you are obliged to register your rifle or shotgun with the local police station, gain a firearms certificate, and keep any guns and cartridges in a locked cupboard (Firearms Act, 1920). Carrying a pistol in public has not been permitted in the UK since 1903. Our policemen do not carry a gun (as a rule). Yes, gun crime in the UK is a growing problem, but not at the devastating rate witnessed in the USA. If we can do it, why can’t you?
Powerful analogy, Amy! Thank you for raising it up.
Thank you Amy. Beautifully and said and I agree with you completely.
This post made so much sense to me. Thank you for taking time to promote safe use of these lethal weapons.
You make great analogies. Yes, do the same safety nets for guns as cars and airplanes.
Thank you for your above post. I love the comparison of gun safety in America to both driving safety and flying safety in America.
And yes I recall where I was on 9.11.2001. I was newly married (9.9.2001) and we were packing for our honeymoon. My husband and I had been together for 5 years and decided it was time to tie the knot. My two daughters from my first marriage and his two daughters from his first marriage were finally settling in as step-sisters, We were making great progress on the restoration of my grandparent’s house in our small Vermont village. Everything seems to be working out perfectly. But halfway through our packing for a week in Provincetown, his mother called and said “you have to turn on the TV, the whole world is on fire!” Which we did, and it seemed to be true.
I remember vividly September 11, 2001. And I also remember that I was touring the 9/11 site – the footprints, the new buildings being built, and the museum the day of Sandy Hook. As a CT resident who knew people who worked in the twin towers and had a colleague from Newtown (with elementary school-aged children), both hit too close to home.
Note to Sian Mexsom: I’ve wondered that myself. Why in the US and not Great Britain? Well, part of the answer is in our ‘origin’ story. We revolted again your King, and it was because our residents (we weren’t citizens yet) had muskets that we could fight the British.
Of course, we had muskets to provide food for our families, to hunt.
But gun-rights advocates will tell you the government is the enemy and they are armed in order to protect themselves against (insert your choice of government – the British, the Feds, etc)
A question I ask my gun toting friends. This started with muskets, then it was rifles, then it was semi-automatic rifles. What’s next? Do you have a right to your own personal bomb, say one launched from a gun? Tanks? Missiles?