This lovely phrase comes from the Magyar language (modern day Hungarian) and it literally means “NO, NO, NEVER!”
Amongst the older generation of Hungarians back in the day, this would refer to the hated Treaty of Trianon imposed upon Hungary from the victorious powers of WWI that saw Hungary reduced to one third it’s historical size and made the country the land-locked country it is today.
The Treaty was so resented by the Hungarians of the day that “Nem, Nem, Soha!” came to mean that whilst they had no choice but to live with what the Treaty had done to the country, in their hearts they would never accept it.
For me, that phrase is what I would say to anyone who would think of trying to forget what happened on that horrific morning 19 years ago today.
We cannot be allowed to EVER forget that our country and our way of life and the unique freedoms we cherish that have no equal in this world is always going to be a target waiting to be struck by those people who are blinded by hate and jealousy and for whom killing is the only solution they will allow themselves to take.
We cannot be allowed to EVER forget the brave and heroic men and women of NYPD and FDNY who entered the collapsing towers to try to save their fellow citizens and never came back out.
We cannot be allowed to EVER forget that for at least a brief time, the petty partisan squabbles and old arguments were laid to the side and our country came together as one and vowed that we would not be terrorised, or broken…and that we would rebuild in honour of those who perished.
Nem, Nem, Soha!
No, No, Never!
We will NEVER forget what happened 11 September 2001…nor will we forget what happened in the days and months to follow which seem so far away in our current hyper-polarised political climate and look forward to the day we will once again come together as Americans and be as one.
NEVER!
The following blog post is from my first trip to NYC in 2009 where the foundation of One World Trade/Freedom Tower was just emerging from the pit and the 9/11 Memorial was still years away from opening. And in it you’ll learn of a chance encounter I had with one of the construction workers that honestly changed my life forever. May you draw inspiration from that moment as I have. 🙂