BC Remembers 9/11 with its “Reflections” Website; an Online Memorial

Posted by erik devaney

With the 10^th anniversary of the September 11^th, 2001 terrorist attacks just around the corner, Boston College’s Boisi Center for Religion and American Public Life is encouraging its students, alumni, staff and faculty to reflect on the following question: “What have you learned since 9/11?”

The Boisi Center is inviting the extended BC community to submit its responses to this question on the Boston College 9/11 Reflections website. As of Friday morning, the Reflections site has 15 pages of responses. Many of the responders are BC alumni who have included the years in which they graduated in their posts. From “Class of 1964,” to “Class of 1983,” to “Class of 2007,” the insightful and inspirational reflections span across several decades. Here are some examples of what members of the extended BC community are saying:

Hope - As the parent of a current member of the class of 2015, and the son of a member of the class of 1951, I would like to think that, as each generation reflects on the horrors of history, we will all do what we can to prevent such horrors in the future. May we all use our education and spiritual formation to do everything we can to “light the world” with hope, and make the effort to understand each other and to educate all in what is the best of human nature. 9/11 showed the worst of human nature but brought out the best in all of us in response to that tragedy. Let us never forget the spirit which lifted all after that event.

By: Rick Roche

Alumnus
CEO/Owner:Roche Bros. Supermarkets, 1981

MEDEVAC Pilot - Please PRAY for those that make The Ultimate Sacrifice
Since 9/11, I’ve deployed to both Iraq and Afghanistan, where I’m currently located and I’ve learned that the world population is full of wonderful people and barely a few misguided souls. I have truly been blessed to serve with such a variety of nationalities, to be exposed different cultures and to see that the majority of us are pulling in the same direction. I have also learned that, despite what the media chooses to depict, our future is in good hands with our youth and young adults. This gives me great confidence in GODs plan for me and hope for the future of mankind.

By: Thomas M. McNulty

Alumnus
Class of 1978

“The Boisi Center is pleased to be able to offer this forum for reflection and remembrance,” Erik Owens told me. Owens is the Associate Director and Adjunct Assistant Professor of Theology at BC’s Boisi Center. “We are encouraged to see so many submissions posted… it speaks to the importance of the event in the lives of the extended BC community, and to the power of the internet to connect people across time and space.”

BC has an especially strong connection to 9/11, as 22 BC alumni were killed in the attacks that took place a decade ago. In addition, many members of the extended BC community lost friends, family and coworkers.

The Boisi Center hopes that the comments left on its 9/11 Reflections site will serve as a lasting memorial as well as a touchstone for campus conversation. And while the general public is invited to read and recommend the online submissions, only members of the extended BC community — students, alumni, staff and faculty — should submit reflections.

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Posted by erik devaney on Sep 10 2011. Filed under Featured - For home page featured article, Lifestyle. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry