Months after the dreadful attacks of 9/11, Jim DeFede moved to Gander, Newfoundland. There, he discovered deeply kind Canadians had helped thousands of perfect strangers through that fateful day and several days following. Interestingly, less than one year later, DeFede first published this true story in his book "The Day the World Came to Town." Yet, perhaps now more than ever, we need to revisit 9/11 through the lens of the people in Gander, Newfoundland and consider the book's unavoidable probing question: How willing are we to help strangers in crisis? 

00:15   Intro to  Jim Defede, author of The Day the World Came to Town

02:10   Why 38 planes were diverted to Gander, Newfoundland on 9/11

04:00   “You can always add a little more water to the soup.”

05:00   Gander boasts the busiest airport during WWII; later, the town later grows up around it

06:30   Newfoundland today: poorest Canadian province with highest unemployment & poverty rate

07:30   When U.S. airspace closes on 9/11, pilots continue flying forward anyway

08:45   Knowing planes from Europe potentially hold more terrorists, Canada takes a risk

11:00   The rural Gander airport, with its long runways, suddenly finds a new purpose

11:30   38 planes land, dropping off 7K passengers in a town of 10K people

12:00   Schools, churches, clubs, and even homes absorb the strangers

12:30   Bus drivers walk off picket lines to help transport passengers

13:30   Authorities organize security to reduce chaos and calm nerves

15:30   Passengers protected from video images of burning towers until after debarking

17:00   Confluence of some 40 cultures, religions, and languages necessitates charades

18:00   Strong spirit of wanting to get through the crisis together

18:45   O’Rourkes, NYC Irish couple, wait for news about their NYC firefighter son

19:30   Locals go out of their way to visit, crack jokes, and console the couple

21:00   Darkest days of worry for O’Rourkes infused with light by townspeople

21:30   Before leaving Gander, two Beatles impersonators (“The Beatle Boys”) sing “Imagine”

23:30   “The plane people” continue to stay in touch with the people of Gander

24:15   Spontaneous charity and working together deeply embedded in Newfies

25:00   Is a similar strong community spirit replicable?

25:30   Do we assume the government will handle crises?

26:30   How willing are we individually to contribute and to help perfect strangers?

27:50   President George W. Bush’s speech emphasizes America’s strength

28:00   DeFede trumpets the strength of western society and the basic goodness of man

28:50   Current refugee crisis challenges our moral goodness, generosity, and kindness

31:00   “I don’t doubt for a second the goodness of America…but we’re all constantly being tested.”

31:30   We’re still trying to create “a more perfect union”

33:00   Recommendation #1: Broadway musical Come From Away

33:45   Recommendation #2: TV special with Tom Brokaw featuring Gander (aired during 2010 Olympics in Vancouver, Canada)

BUY The Day the World Came to Town: 9/11 in Gander, Newfoundland

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Special thanks…

• Music Credit
• Sound Editing Credit