Eduardo J. Padrón
President
Office of the President
300 N.E. Second Avenue
Miami, Florida 33132-2297
305-237-3316
epadron@mdc.edu
Message From the President
Friday, September 10, 2010
9/11: A time to remember and heal
9/11 has surely taken its place in our history. What happened has, for better or worse, left its reminder in the American psyche. We see it manifest in a debate over a mosque in New York City, and closer to home, the conduct of a church in Gainesville.
But healing is an intentional act. It is the domain not of a collective mind, but rather the decision of each person. That means that you and I have a say in the enduring legacy of this event.
What occurs at this institution is important in so many ways. We are people from 179 countries, representing vast differences in culture, ideas and religious beliefs. We are incredibly different but our common denominator is our commitment to learn. It’s a very powerful commitment because it implies that we find value in our differences, that we learn, not apart from but alongside each other.
This is Miami Dade College’s statement of possibility on this day of remembrance. In the pursuit of deeper understanding, we choose tolerance, respect and dignity as our companions in this journey.
Thank you.
Eduardo