Have you ever thought about what a moment of silence really means? Although it may seem like nothing more than an awkward ten seconds of gazing around the room, trying to avoid that uncomfortable eye contact as you don’t know where to look, it carries much more gravity than just that.

As a bustling world that is filled with noise and chatter, we often get distracted and let the things that matter slip our minds.

Not only does a moment of silence allow and remind us to spend time thinking about such tragedies, but it also speaks for events for which there are no words. There is only so much we can do and say in the wake of a tragic event — sometimes it’s best to let the silence speak for itself.

Each year on September 11, many schools and businesses throughout the nation, including Oak Park High School, hold a moment of silence in order to respect and remember those who died as a result of the terrorist attack in New York. This year on September 11, my friends and I walked into class, expecting someone to speak about the attack over the intercom. This announcement never came.

This brings up the question of whether or not we should even conduct a moment of silence for such tragedies. It’s just silence, so how could it have any impact, right?

Although the reasons for having a moment of silence may be obvious to many, some students and staff at Oak Park High School may object to it entirely.

I believe holding a moment of silence for the victims of 9/11 is integral, if not outright necessary. On that day, almost 3,000 people died as a result of an attack against our country. It was not an attack aimed at a certain person in particular, but at the values and principles America stands for. Thousands died, including many of the first responders to the scene who sacrificed themselves in order to save others.

Spending a minute in silence to remember the victims is such a transient moment in our lives.. It is not a waste of a minute to remember those whose lives were cut short.

We must change our perspective to realize the gravity of the horrific attack and to understand just how fortunate we are.

The victims of the 9/11 tragedy may feel distant, and we can’t comprehend just how much was lost that day. 2,977 people died. That’s 2,977 favorite colors, 2,977 embarrassing moments, 2,977 best days, 2,977 sons and daughters. 

If we were them, wouldn’t we want to be remembered too?