Is it justified that because there was no immediate threat to our safety, we should have continued on with our daily lives as if no tragedy had occurred? Though there may be no direct connection for the vast majority of students and faculty to the people and towns ravaged by the attack, we are all still victims. This wasn’t just a tragedy for New York and Washington, D.C., or even for America; this was a tragedy for humanity. Everyone has been struck by the audacity of this attack, and all of our feelings have been heightened. Both faculty and students have been preoccupied by the events, distracted from our classes and our work. Was the decision to go on with our daily lives an attempt to minimize this distraction and further separate ourselves from the suffering community?

There was, and still is, a risk. There is a risk that what we are being taught is that efficiency is the most important thing, and simply ignoring the events and focusing on what we need to accomplish can avoid that further personal trauma. I fear the decision made Tuesday has simply compounded that risk. Under the belief that if we have no direct connection to those immediately involved, we feel no sorrow and we do not grieve.

But we are at risk. By ignoring the events, by acting as though nothing had happened to disrupt our lives because we did not lose someone, we risk our compassion and our humanity. We risk everything that pulls us together as a community here, and across the United States and the world.
Nationwide, businesses and schools closed and events were cancelled to show our respect, to have a night of silence for those lost and grieving. Thousands died, and the nation mourned, but we were forced to go on with our lives, at least on the surface.

Justin K. Waters