It's hard to believe that 7 years ago, I was sitting in a large lecture hall in the engineering building on the UT campus and my phone rang. When my class was over, I checked to voicemail from my mom and heard the stunning news. For my generation, this is our "JFK assassination" moment, where we will forever remember where we were when we watched the buildings crumble and how our world was forever changed.
From the wreckage and atrocities, we saw our country mourn for our national loss, we watched the sacrifices large and small of the rescuers frantically seeking somebody to save, we joined hands and hearts with our neighbors as we had our world turned upside down by the first attack on American soil in decades.
Although it's been 7 years, the wounds have healed, but the scars remain. Our military has been adapting to confront terrorism around the world. Americans are beginning to realize we can no longer ignore radical Islam, nor can we demonize all of those of the Muslim faith. It's not like our historical battles of good vs. evil, one country vs. another, soldiers fighting soldiers.
Today, as we mourn the lives lost, it's important to remember 9/11 happened to every American. It's not a liberal issue or a conservative issue. It's false that Republicans would be better to battle terrorist than Democrats. We need to stop letting 9/11 and patriotism be tossed around for partisan purposes or to score cheap political points.
For some good political commentary on this topic, please watch this Keith Olbermann video about politicizing this tragedy and using it as a weapon of fear.
I look forward to the day when I can visit the Freedom Tower and the Memorial park. I will take pride in the courage & resilience of Americans. For those of you that have lost friends or loved ones in this tragedy, my sincerest condolences.
All these fabulous photos, and many more, come from The Big Picture's 9/11 post.
GOOD NEWS OF THE DAY: There is still at least 1 more day for Hurricane Ike to turn and hit somewhere else.
1 comment:
I don't know anyone who was killed in the attacks, although I have friends who lost relatives. I remember when they did the light towers; that choked me up, as did the "Here Is New York" exhibit when it came to San Diego. Even though we're in California now, we're still New Yorkers, and while we're not from the city itself (when you're a New Yorker, there's only one "city"), we still felt this like an attack on our home town. Thanks for the post.
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