bout de papier, Vol. 18, No. 2 (2001) — Summer 2001 // Été 2001, p. 3
September 13, 2001
At the time we go to press, the world is in shock and in mourning. Thousands of human beings died in acts of terrorism that will alter our view of the world and our safety in it. In the days and months that will follow, people and the nations they live in will be called on to make difficult choices, Canada included. It is unclear at the time of writing how many Canadians died in New York on September 11. Our hearts and prayers go to them, their families and friends. Thousands of Canadians have opened their hearts and homes to thousands of others who had found themselves suddenly somewhere they were not expecting to be. For the thousands of others who have died, words seem so inadequate. The sustained effort to defeat terrorism worldwide is the only tribute that can compensate for the loss to humanity of this event and the many others that preceded it. Let us also remember the many, many others whose duty has cost them their life. New York is the world’s city. Nowhere else do so many people from so many places live in such close quarters all on the arrangement that they are living out their chance in a city that gives such sustenance to human existence. Whether you lived there, or visited the place, or have simply soaked in the glorious contribution the city has made to literature, popular culture and every other facet of human existence. And so, reluctantly, here is the bout anecdote issue, conceived of in a time when our ironic detachment from the core meaning of our own society gave us greater luxuries and license. It is odd that our issue this quarter focuses on the diversions of our craft, at the very moment when diversions are in short supply. Today in New York, we can only hope that there are small joys to punctuate otherwise long and dreary days. With that in mind, I am pleased to acknowledge the effort of Ulric Shannon in bringing this special issue to press. Ulric’s idea has brought many excellent submissions and have created an issue worth remembering. Thank you to him and to all the board members for their contribution. Through the extraordinary resumption of very ordinary tasks we prove that we can begin to render ineffective the stranglehold that terror seeks to impose on our freedoms.
This is the last issue for me for bout. Bob Peck’s sudden departure last fall brought the equally sudden request to me to be bout editor. It’s been a great experience, and while I underestimated the time that a new baby and a Summit of the Americas would take on my day, I have enjoyed the experience immensely. Debra Hulley, as we all know, fuels this publication. The board’s efforts are (usually) appreciated and working with our interns was an excellent reminder of why we join the Canadian foreign service.
I hope to remain involved from out here in California. I urge you, too, to become involved. It’s one of the good things to come out of PAFSO membership, and it sure beats reading Treasury Board contract proposals.
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Originally published in bout de papier, Vol. 18, No. 2 (2001) — Summer 2001 // Été 2001, p. 3. Read the rest of this issue →
