DEARBORN — Community and religious leaders gathered on Wednesday, Sept. 11 at the Dearborn City Council Chambers to commemorate the 12th anniversary of the 9/11 tragedy. Citizens joined in commemorating the victims, by praying for peace and justice. 

Lebanese American singer Joe Kidd and his music partner Sheila Burke started the program by performing a few songs for harmony and freedom.

“We are tired of waiting for peace, charity and mercy,” said Kidd, after finishing his first song. “The most important prayer is the one we perform with our hands–work. Peace will not be achieved until we drop our weapons at the feet of those we call our enemies and discover that they are our brothers and sisters.”

Mayor Jack O’Reilly, Jr. of Dearborn said it is not enough to call ourselves a community. He added that we must perceive ourselves as a family to succeed.

He explained that it has been scientifically proven that all humans originated in West Africa and are in fact related by genes.

“We need to start promoting the idea that we are a family. That’s something that will transform us as a people, because no matter how much resentment you have with your relatives, it is hard to hate them,” he stated. “We should embrace our differences, which are not that significant after all.”

The mayor urged forgiveness of those who hurt us.

Dearborn Heights Mayor Dan Paletko said if people acknowledge their individual talents and come together as a community, there is nothing they cannot achieve.

“Dearborn and Dearborn Heights are not the same as they were 30 years ago. We are more diverse now. We welcome that diversity,” Paletko added. “The best way to pay homage to the victims of 9/11 is by embracing diversity and acceptance.”

Verses from and the Old Testament, New Testament and the Quran were read by preachers before the crowd, which included City officials, judges and community members.

A bell was also was rung, as a tribute to the 9/11 first responders; victims and their families; residents of surrounding communities of the sites of the attacks; and the military and civilian casualties of the [Afghanistan and Iraq] wars that followed the 9/11 tragedy.

The crowd collectively sang “Let there be peace on earth.”

Imam Mohammad Ali Elahi of the Islamic House of Wisdom concluded the ceremony by reciting a prayer.

Elahi said he was inspired by the word “family,” used by O’Reilly.

He quoted a “Hadith” by Prophet Mohammad that says all people are the family of God, and the best of people are those who are most useful to their communities.

“The tragic terror of 9/11 is an unspeakable crime, not only against America and humanity, but also against Islam; a peaceful religion, hijacked by forces of evil and greed,” Elahi said.

He added that the anniversary of Sept. 11 is a day of remembrance, reflection and sadness for the lost lives.

He prayed for God to defeat the forces of ego, ignorance, selfishness and hatred, and abort the plans of those who are killing others in his name.