19 years after the 9/11 attacks, it is clear we still have a long way to go to reach the vision of “united we stand.” May this day be a chance for us to reflect upon our own responsibility and look beyond the veneer of self-autonomy and embrace our great privilege to collectively sacrifice for the common good.
9/11 2020: 19 Years Later – What Have We Actually Learned?
I’ll never forget how the United States came together after 9/11. Looking back, it seemed like such an innocent time. Airport security was a joke and few could have imagined that terrorists would hijack commercial airliners in order to inflict death and fear.
After the attacks, America rallied together in a way unlike I had ever seen before and perhaps will ever see again. Political divisions fell and people joined hands in unity. It was a beautiful moment.
But it was a squandered moment. Instead of using that national unity to embark upon a great program to rebuild our own nation, we sunk trillions in trying (and largely failing) to build other nations. We squandered not just roads and bridges, but a new national ethos of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control that could have been the fruit of a new shared vision that refused to succumb to fear and indifference.
Nope, we succumbed to fear and ended up regretting it 4,424 troops and nearly 200,000 civilians later.
Then along came a novel coronavirus.
How would we respond this time? We suddenly were presented with another chance to join together as a nation and practice the virtues we preached.
This time around, we didn’t even have that brief period of unity. Instead, division reigned from the very first hour. The result was not just lives lost, but a further drawing of battle lines that pitted neighbor against neighbor. Now we fight over masks while the nation burns.
Leadership matters. But let us never use poor leadership as an excuse to abdicate our solemn duty to care for those around us and seek to wrestle and understand, with empathy, the plight of others.
It has been a very tough year for me and yet I still have my family, my health, a roof over my head, clothes on my back, and food in my stomach. In other words, I have nothing to complain about. Others are not so fortunate.
Instead of directing so much time and energy into the edifices of power that ultimately disappoint, let us not neglect the concept of subsidiarity and in that, our great role to heal and to serve those in the space around us.
If we want to honor the legacy of 9/11, we can start by honoring those around us. Honor them with your time, with your concern, and with your devotion. Such practice honors the dignity of every person and leads us toward that goal of united we stand that should be a far more powerful force than any particular leader.
I have offered 9/11 reflection posts several times over the years.
Yes, you’ve nailed it – thanks!
Very true. We should focus on how we can better each other, and come to the aid of those in need while simultaneously aiming to drown out the noise from both sides of the media who only seek to divide us with manufactured issues that pale in comparison to the plight of many of the less fortunate around us, or throughout the world.
Racism or tribalism works. Covid-19 is from a coronavirus. What is that? A particle that you can’t see.
al Qaeda is different. They are bearded men who want to kill you. True, not all bearded men or bearded Arabs are al Qaeda but it’s a style that you can identify as the enemy. Of course, it the process, some people are disadvantaged and some blond, attractive women are not, which is too bad and should be worked on.
One lesson from 9/11 is that we are not all equal. Some people are evil. They must be crushed, especially if their evil is to kill you.
“but it’s a style that you can identify as the enemy”
Ridicously stupid to say so.
America has lost its moral compass, at least temporarily. It’s utterly cringeworthy to me, even as a foreigner, to watch President Trump participate in the commemorative services…the same guy that made a joke soon after 9/11, publicly in a tv interview, that he now owned the tallest building in NYC. Loathsome. Plus his constant, incessant reference to McCain, and many others who served with distinction, as “losers”. It doesn’t get any lower than that.
Some will say he puts America first. I don’t think so: he puts Wall Street, and his repugnant cronies first, and couldn’t give a damn about the rest.
Obama had dignity and decency; the incumbent is the most appalling person to ever set foot in the Whitehouse.
McCain’s Father, the Admiral recalled, the fighter jets from the 7th Fleet Carrier that were sent to defend the USS Liberty under attack by the Jews. He allowed a savage murderous attack on an unarmed US Navy vessel in international waters to go on for hours. McCain killed a couple dozen Sailors on the Forrestal after horseplay unleashed live rocket that almost destroyed the ship. He was the bottom graduate at the Academy. Collaborated with the Communists while in custody. All his Senate votes weakened our nation in favor of CFR and Globalists. He was a Traitor in the first degree. Trump is totally on point.
I dont think the USA has learnt anything from the 9/11 attacks. If you had, the Iraq invasion wouldnt have happened.
On the topic of “Americans united”…
Last time that happened, nearly all of America could not wait to go to war against pretty much anyone. Didn’t really matter who. Illegal wars were started under the flimsiest of justifications, by very evil men. An entire region of the world was massively destabilized, millions suffered and died and that continues to this day. Millions more are on the run and live in the worst of conditions, all the while helping fan the flames of right-wingery the world over. Trillions were wasted, money that could have solved real problems in the US.
No, i don’t ever want to see Americans united again, because that would ultimately mean the rest of the world is about to suffer.
America went down the drain many decades ago. Ruled today only by crony capitalism, money, corruption and nepotism. The other fools can rot to death on the streets. If you have to tell yourselves and your folks all the time and at every occasion that you are the greatest in the world, then the contrary is the truth, most likely. Like those rogue states that have the word “democratic” in their official country names. What a hypocrisy. All these subpopulations that detest and want to annihilate each other. The crazy political and religious radicals. Inciting hatred and violence. Melting pot? Pfffhhhh…. When is that Civil War 2.0 finally going to start? I’ve been waiting for years. Everyone is armed to the teeth, including children. That should’t be an obstacle. And a great self-induced purge would probably be good for the rest of the planet…