The faces of 9/11 victims plastered on posters throughout New York City caused Chris Toward to experience overwhelming emotions following the tragic events.
Toward was in New York City on Sept. 11, 2001. He recalls the “amazing capacity of the human spirit” that he witnessed.
Toward was one of six speakers who came to Changing Hands Bookstore last Thursday to discuss how 9/11 changed American society.
A group of a dozen local Arizona residents sat in front of the six guest speakers to listen and contribute to the discussion.
Safwat Saleem, a social activist and local graphic designer, described feeling more like a member of American society after 9/11.
Saleem said he was grateful the tragedy had created a sense of national unity.
Toward recalled how “people would travel 2,000 miles to volunteer at ground zero.”
For Derek Neighbors he didn’t have to travel far to make a change in the community. He originally was a minister and had conservative ideals. He saw people doing some despicable things after 9/11 that made him “feel embarrassed to be a human.”
Neighbors believes people were “pointing fingers, but not looking at the mirror.”
He decided to change his outlook on life and get people back in touch with humanity and bring back a sense of community. He co-founded Gangplank in a 2008, a company that focuses on the collaboration of individuals and small businesses across the Valley.
“Things needed to change,” Neighbors said. “9/11 was a wake-up call.”
Neighbors’ statement made Mike Morrissey, a Phoenix resident, recall a story that reminded him of 9/11. The story was about a large tortoise that was stuck in the middle of the road, which drew the attention of the entire neighborhood.
“Sometimes, it takes a large tortoise for people to come together,” Morrissey said. “9/11 made a difference in people’s lives; it changed their outlook on life.”
Two of the youngest speakers, Nick Blumberg, an ASU graduate and radio station producer, and Jennie Tereault, also an ASU graduate, noted the drastic changes in social media and technology between 9/11 and now.
Tereault said she was amazed how society is able to connect with news stories and people around the world today.
“Now we can read rebel bloggers’ experience from Libya,” Tereault said. “We are getting to know people from all over the world.”
Blumberg agreed society went full force in the social media revolution by informing mass audiences through websites such as Twitter and Facebook.
“People have this desire to consume information” and people now have the “freedom to choose from different medias,” Blumberg said.
Reach the reporter at thania.betancourt@asu.edu
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