Fifteen years ago on this day, the United States would have looked very different than the country we’ve all come to know and love. The United States was in crisis mode. After a series of heartbreaking attacks, families were left distraught. Civilians were left paranoid. The government was left in panic. People of the world were left speechless trying to understand what just didn’t make sense.
I’ll save you the gory details of the attacks. Major news outlets have done a great job of graphically reiterating the murderous tragedies of September 11th every year. What’s most important to do on the anniversaries of the attacks is to remember. Remember the families in grief, remember to show respect, and, as cliché as it may sound, remember to love and support each other everyday, especially on September 11th.
What’s important to continuously take away from this tragedy is the value of community. If the United States can pull together through times of great adversity, the United States can pull together during any time. This should be encouraging news, and it should be practiced and celebrated everyday.
Unfortunately, as of recently, division in our country has overruled the value of community. It hasn’t always been this way, and it shouldn’t always be this way. It’s important to remember that regardless of differences in our appearances, political opinion, or religious ideals we are one nation: A nation that will always function better than a divided one.
It’s also no secret that the non-immediate aftermath of the attacks led to discrimination. Our country is not perfect nor will it ever be. However, there is no excuse to hate other Americans based off of certain fallacies regarding race, background, and faith. Out of all the events of 9/11, this is one to be left behind. Islamophobia, discrimination against Sikh’s, and clear-cut racism is history and should be kept as such. Hatred is what sparked these attacks. The negative spirit of such hate should be left in the past.
Sometimes, you have to let go to move forward. To build a better, safer society for our children to grow up in, we have to let go of some of the bitterness that surrounds the attack. This is the first year that the September 11th attacks will be included in history textbooks in hopes to clear up some of the confusion around the attacks. Although 9/11 may be considered history, it is history that should never be forgotten.
On this day, for the rest of days, we should remember the lives that were lost on September 11th, 2001. Nothing can ever be done to bring those innocent civilians back into our lives. Dwelling on conspiracy theories, hatred, and even dangerous curiosity draws attention from the main injustice: The mass cold-blooded murder of husbands, wives, sisters, brothers, daughters, and sons. The truth is, no amount of words or hate crimes or conspiracy theories will ever heal the hurt wrongfully inflicted on the families who lost a loved one in the attacks.
The anniversary of 9/11 is a day of remembrance. It is a day that represents great resiliency. In President Obama’s speech today honoring the American heroes of 9/11, he leaves us with a thought, and one that should never be left behind:
“Terrorists will never be able to defeat the United States. Their only hope is to terrorize us into changing who we are or our way of life. That’s why we Americans will never give in to fear. And it’s why this weekend we remember the true spirit of 9/11.”
Let the true spirit of 9/11 never be forgotten.
