As the 10th anniversary of 9/11 draws closer, the news media is bombarding us with “never forget”. What is it exactly that we should never forget?
Yes, thousands of innocent lives were lost on September 11, 2011 due to the act of terrorists. It is a day that changed the lives of Americans forever. We lost our innocence.
We saw hundreds of firefighters, police and rescue workers risk their lives running into the towers trying in vain to save anyone that they could. The majority of them perished.
Remembering their bravery and ultimate sacrifice is one way to honor their memory.
Remembering this horrific tragedy that happened on our own soil will be part of our history forever but instead of just tears we should be proud.
We should look at how so many Americans made the choice to try and save others. Certainly many of them knew they were walking into their own deaths but they did it anyway.
The men and women who tirelessly worked at Ground Zero for weeks after the tragedy are still suffering today and as we remember 9/11, we should as a nation be fighting for them to get what they deserve. Our government has turned their backs on them and although remembering the lives lost on 9/11 is the right thing to do, it is also right to not ignore those left behind by this tragedy.
After any tragic, historical event conspiracy theories run rampant. As a nation we should be asking the questions that can help to keep this from happening again. Theories are that the government was aware of a threat of our own planes being used against us but we did not take it seriously.
What else does our government know and not take seriously?
We should demand better communication between the agencies that are supposed to ensure our safety.
We should demand that our government takes care of our people first from providing medical benefits and compensation to the first responders to not sending money to countries that support terrorist groups.
We need to send a message of strength but also of intolerance to terrorism. This was promised to us but has it been delivered?
The ten years since 9/11 has not been productive in those areas. Has going to war in Iraq and Afghanistan done anything to make us safer? I am sure many will disagree with me but what has it done exactly except kill innocent civilians of a poor country and cause the deaths of our young men and women who bravely signed up to serve our country?
How does war ever solve anything?
So as we attend 9/11 remembrances, let us think about where we are today and what we should be doing to make a positive difference in the world. Let us never forget 9/11 because we will forget that we are vulnerable. We also should remember that terrorism is a real threat to Americans on our own soil.
We should also be thankful that there are those amongst us who will risk their own lives in order to save others. This is a great country full of heroes. Let us always remember that.