Remembering 9/11 - WV MetroNews
(Note from the editor: This is a revised edition of a piece I shared a few years back commemorating the anniversary of 9/11.)
Can you believe it’s been 23 years since the September 11th attacks? This year's graduating college seniors weren't even alive when the World Trade Center was struck and fell, when a plane was hijacked and crashed into the Pentagon, or when Flight 93 went down in Shanksville, Pennsylvania.
For them, and for future generations, it may feel similar to how it felt for us regarding Pearl Harbor. As a child, I was very aware of the importance of December 7th. I can still picture the U.S.S. Arizona leaning heavily as dark smoke billowed from it, along with President Roosevelt's famous statement that this date would be remembered for all time.
However, the event didn’t leave a lasting impression on me as it did on my parents. For them, Pearl Harbor and World War II were pivotal events that altered the direction of the nation and its citizens. While winning the war required significant sacrifices, it also positioned America as a major global authority and a key defender of liberty.
It's frequently remarked that 9/11 was the equivalent of Pearl Harbor for our generation—a despicable assault on innocent individuals intended to deeply disturb the nation and challenge its identity and responsibilities. While the country faced and overcame that challenge 83 years ago, we are still uncertain about the implications of 9/11, as the conflict continues to unfold.
Columnist Robert Samuelson remarked after the 9/11 attacks that perhaps what we're facing isn't a conventional war, but a lasting situation. We might manage to track down those who carried out the attacks, but we shouldn't think we can completely eradicate the underlying resentment that fuels terrorism forever. Terrorists will continually find fresh recruits and fresh reasons to wage their campaigns.
At least our parents and grandparents got to see the downfall of the nation's adversaries and the end of the fighting. There were no compromises. Their total and unwavering dedication to the cause resulted in triumph and a return to peace.
It's still unclear if or when we will see a resolution in our post-9/11 reality. How can we effectively combat an ongoing threat of terrorism? What criteria help us determine success or failure in this battle? What kinds of sacrifices are necessary to achieve victory?
It's essential for us to stay dedicated to achieving success. Military strategist Karl Von Clausewitz noted that once we start putting our plans into action, numerous doubts can creep in regarding the potential risks we might face if our choices were wrong. This sense of apprehension, which often affects those on the brink of accomplishing something significant, can overwhelm us. If we let this feeling linger, it can lead to uncertainty and ultimately result in taking half-hearted actions.
That's a clear indication of what to expect in the future, even 23 years after the events of the attacks.
No sensible person would want to go back to the period right after 9/11, but it’s clear that a hurt America united in those tough times. For a brief time, we put our disagreements aside and concentrated on what we shared as Americans, coming together with a shared sense of purpose.
As time passes, injuries start to mend, disagreements come back into focus, and life gradually returns to a state of normalcy. However, the events of September 11th remain a lasting part of who we are as a nation. When we take a moment to reflect on that day, it serves as a powerful reminder of our responsibility to safeguard, support, and stand up for our incredible country.
