A Unifying Scar 

By Imara Arredondo

Suddenly we feel and think about things that five years ago would never have crossed our minds. 
Never before did we worry about terrorist acts that occurred in Spain for example, or in North Ireland, nor in any another part of the world, and that was only because in a very egotistical way, we ignored any pain that would not, could not be related to us... because we believed we were indestructible.

 Today, however, America moans for what terrorists did one year ago, jeopardizing the peace of our nation. Today the scar of a terrible and devastating act, unifies us in an indominitable and genuine human chain that surrounds every place, every corner, and every heart that can be jeopardized by murderous wickedness and unscrupulous people who shield themselves with religious beliefs contempting against the innocent, and against world peace. We are already conscious that we are not the privileged ones that sometime ago we believed ourselves to be. We have already experienced the sadness, the pain and the fear of the threats of those who want us defeated.

The other day talking to someone, I said a phrase that kept echoing in my mind, "there should be a good reason for all this," and immediately it hit me. The only reason is the unity that we lacked before, and that now illuminates us. That guides us to help others that maybe, due to inexperience or lack of vision, do not take seriously what is happening to our nation. Another good thing that we have acquired in the past year is a better quality of faith, we have to keep living, we have to keep going and only faith in our government, thinking that they are doing everything possible to protect us from terrorism, can help us achieve that. The faith that allow us to leave our children in school each morning, far from our protection. The faith that make us follow through even though things do not look too bright ahead of us. One of the good things that we have learned in the past year, is to have greater faith in God and in His will, and to pray for the ones that have died during the attacks, to pray for their families, and to give Him thanks for our family and value them more. 

The unifying scar is invincible. Our country should do better because we are united by pain, we have all bled through the same injury, butnow the time has come when we take the handles of our future, and we go ahead, with faith and hope... carrying our faith as our banner and our native pride as our lucky charm. That makes us invincible. 

There is something we cannot forget, our duty as good citizens to our nation... we must register and vote. Our vote is our voice. 

Let us make a promise within this Hispanic Heritage Month. Do not forget that October 4th is the last day to register in order for us to vote in the next upcoming election. 

We must make use of this privilege we have as citizens and leave our mark on society because we live in America and we can!
By: Imara Arredondo