Those are the words tattooed on the arm of newly-minted US Open Tennis Champion Stan Wawrinka. Perhaps that's from where Roger Cohen was reminded of them.
1
I can't help but wonder what is so missing in a person's life that he or she would strap themselves with explosives, walk into a crowd of strangers and take as many lives in the detonation as possible. The only thing that even brings a faint ring is a strained conception of desperation that I finally give up as unimaginable.
I was raised in a somewhat religious household, lost my faith in early adulthood and to this day many, many years later have real suspicions regarding the motive behind all religious beliefs, considering the forms to be variations of a system which excuses and forgives exploitation. It is a tool conceived by rulers to keep their subjects abject, but hopeful and always looking to another as the cause of their misery
How can any person who has actual access to reason, not brainwashed from youth, or living in constant unremitting fear of life, even consider taking another person's life? Simply thinking what would allow some person to consider taking my life or any of the many people I've known draws a blank. I have to consider that a person who takes another's life under almost any circumstance has a severe mental problem which may be insoluble.
The odds are these thoughts are shared by many who like me were deeply involved in a belief which became mentally intolerable, while those who held on to their belief in a god, albeit a different variation, took the lives of the nearly 3000 human beings and destroyed those of so many more. They too believed.
I was raised in a somewhat religious household, lost my faith in early adulthood and to this day many, many years later have real suspicions regarding the motive behind all religious beliefs, considering the forms to be variations of a system which excuses and forgives exploitation. It is a tool conceived by rulers to keep their subjects abject, but hopeful and always looking to another as the cause of their misery
How can any person who has actual access to reason, not brainwashed from youth, or living in constant unremitting fear of life, even consider taking another person's life? Simply thinking what would allow some person to consider taking my life or any of the many people I've known draws a blank. I have to consider that a person who takes another's life under almost any circumstance has a severe mental problem which may be insoluble.
The odds are these thoughts are shared by many who like me were deeply involved in a belief which became mentally intolerable, while those who held on to their belief in a god, albeit a different variation, took the lives of the nearly 3000 human beings and destroyed those of so many more. They too believed.
2
I was across the way from the Pentagon on 9/11 as the plane struck and the face of the Pentagon erupted in flame. Fail better? I've thought about that comment. It is not for us to fail better. It is for us to hope for leadership that thinks before acting and does not fail.
On September 12th we should have heard this; "Yesterday, September 11th, the nation of Afghanistan allowed terrorists based in that nation, namely Al Qaeda and Osama Bin Laden, to attack the United States. Almost 3,000 innocent people were killed in that cowardly and sneak attack. Today I will ask the Congress to declare that a state of war exists between the Unites States and the nation of Afghanistan, Al Qaeda and all supporters of those hostiles. Following that declaration the United States will summarily destroy and eradicate the nation of Afghanistan and Al Qaeda and any all supporters of those parties. The world must know that any attack upon the United States will result in complete and utter destruction of the attackers. Soon the missiles will fly and we shall not fail to met out justice and maintain our freedom, security, and safety. Our attackers sought our destruction and death of our nation. They could not have failed better."
Fail better. Yes. A good idea. All it takes is leadership and resolve.
On September 12th we should have heard this; "Yesterday, September 11th, the nation of Afghanistan allowed terrorists based in that nation, namely Al Qaeda and Osama Bin Laden, to attack the United States. Almost 3,000 innocent people were killed in that cowardly and sneak attack. Today I will ask the Congress to declare that a state of war exists between the Unites States and the nation of Afghanistan, Al Qaeda and all supporters of those hostiles. Following that declaration the United States will summarily destroy and eradicate the nation of Afghanistan and Al Qaeda and any all supporters of those parties. The world must know that any attack upon the United States will result in complete and utter destruction of the attackers. Soon the missiles will fly and we shall not fail to met out justice and maintain our freedom, security, and safety. Our attackers sought our destruction and death of our nation. They could not have failed better."
Fail better. Yes. A good idea. All it takes is leadership and resolve.
2
Over the years, I have come to understand and cherish the vision which binds us under all circumstances, even those most heinous,
"One Nation, Under God, With Liberty And Justice For All."
On this we shall not yield
BTW: "God" belongs to each US citizen's conscience.
"One Nation, Under God, With Liberty And Justice For All."
On this we shall not yield
BTW: "God" belongs to each US citizen's conscience.
1
Thank you Mr Quinn for sharing your story (most likely again...) and Mr Cohen for bringing poetic discourse above all else from Sunday's anniversary. If only these words rose above all other commentary deemed newsworthy for the moment...
1
As a society, we have failed to think deeply about significance of 9/11 beyond just what new security measures to enact. I agree with other comments that larger questions have not come to the fore, such as how the US’s meddling in the Middle East and whether our allies, such as Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, have had a hand in this. Instead, we talked about box cutters and responded by erecting walls between us and authorizing the government to snoop into our lives and bomb innocent people abroad. What happened should be immortalized as a case study in failed leadership.
And on leadership, not a 9/11 commemoration goes by that I don't shudder at the sight of President Bush arming himself with near dictatorial powers. The US political system, built to prevent such things, was hijacked in the same cheap way that the terrorists hijacked our planes. But worse, we let it happen. Our legislators crucified our country for political points and reelections, and they played a key role in propping up this tyrannical regime that reigned terror here and abroad.
And what if another 9/11 occurs? Is the US ready to “fail better”? Looking at how we responded nothing indicates that we would rise to the challenge. In fact, it probably would lead to the election of evermore radical warmongers and separatists. It may not even take another 9/11 for that to happen, as we’re well on our way now. Another 9/11 is all that’s needed to break the back of our great republic. I hope I'm wrong.
And on leadership, not a 9/11 commemoration goes by that I don't shudder at the sight of President Bush arming himself with near dictatorial powers. The US political system, built to prevent such things, was hijacked in the same cheap way that the terrorists hijacked our planes. But worse, we let it happen. Our legislators crucified our country for political points and reelections, and they played a key role in propping up this tyrannical regime that reigned terror here and abroad.
And what if another 9/11 occurs? Is the US ready to “fail better”? Looking at how we responded nothing indicates that we would rise to the challenge. In fact, it probably would lead to the election of evermore radical warmongers and separatists. It may not even take another 9/11 for that to happen, as we’re well on our way now. Another 9/11 is all that’s needed to break the back of our great republic. I hope I'm wrong.
12
Believe it. Our leaders used the event to terrorize us so they could get their way, to start two unending unnecessary wars and do away with our Constitutional rights. The terrorists won because our leaders were in effect on their side, causing us to lose our moral advantage and become a nation of cowardly murdering slaves. Until we change the system radically we will continue to get worse.
9
Meanwhile we have
A&E for 911 truth
Pilots for 911 truth
Lawyers for 911 truth
Scientists for 911 truth
Scholars for 911 truth.
Somthing does not smell quite right here.
A&E for 911 truth
Pilots for 911 truth
Lawyers for 911 truth
Scientists for 911 truth
Scholars for 911 truth.
Somthing does not smell quite right here.
3
As a Muslim African-American citizen, Imam, and author of the book "We Fundamentalists," indeed, make might of life! Making no excuse of the "Fundamental" reason why America had a 9-11-01 in the first place! Who would doubt you if you say a forest can not out run a fire! Well, imperialism says a country is both it`s people and it`s leaders! It is true that faith and justice are not always neighbors, this "War on Terror" fiasco will soon rise to an even higher level of fear before election day in Nov. Yet, as far as the reality of millions of minorities here in this country are concern "The New Jim Crow is on the march!" Keeping it real...such as it`s taken verily every addiction has it`s cure! Thus do "We" the "People" wish to end this imperialist foreign policy of our government because injustice is making this Western secular world full of terrorist! Enough, of the propaganda, this ideological asymmetrical warfare between peoples who are of "Theocracy and Democracy!" It is time to start demanding talks of justice and peace towards our enemies, because a forest can not out run a fire!!!
1
Above all, we must prevent any semblance of a theocratic movement to do further damage to our intended secular nation. Let those who must practice their religions freely but never allow them to propagandize nor proselytize. Never allow a "my god's better than your god" to be our guide. NO god can win that battle.
4
Important. Poetic. Thank you.
2
I was due to fly home to NYC from Detroit on 9/11 and watched the horror unfold on TV. Shock, devastation and aching grief. Opting to take a train one week later, I will never forget the early daybreak hours revealing countless American flags lining the journey home — so quiet, so moving. I cried almost the entire way. Returning to my neighborhood, I learned the fire station around the corner lost eleven brave men that day. I still remember seeing many of them smiling at the gelato stand a month before. Looking through my window for the first time since returning, I saw the skyline still smoldering in the distance.
"Say hi to your neighbor, and introduce yourself to a stranger. Connect. Be the unity you seek." We were united in grief, it brought out such compassion and selflessness.
"Say hi to your neighbor, and introduce yourself to a stranger. Connect. Be the unity you seek." We were united in grief, it brought out such compassion and selflessness.
2
"There are always politicians who ... "make a continuous appeal to the inner swine” of people by “ceaselessly mobilizing human stupidity.” "
Unfortunately these are two different "baskets"--as HRC might say.
The stupid may be well intentioned and generous--probably to a fault. They also pave the road to Hell--and Trump
The human inner swine actually give swine a bad name--swine are only dirty on the outside--due to bad styes of bad farmers. But those dirty on the inside are truly deplorable--and also pave the road to Hell and Trump.
Unfortunately these are two different "baskets"--as HRC might say.
The stupid may be well intentioned and generous--probably to a fault. They also pave the road to Hell--and Trump
The human inner swine actually give swine a bad name--swine are only dirty on the outside--due to bad styes of bad farmers. But those dirty on the inside are truly deplorable--and also pave the road to Hell and Trump.
5
For the first week after 9/11, the entire country was united as we had not been since Pearl Harbor. Well over 90% of Americans stood behind President Bush. But, Bush and his neoconservative "brain trust" saw too many political opportunities in the attack. They used the attack to divide the country, trying to blame the Clinton administration and Democrats in general for being "soft on terrorism" (the opposite, we learned later, was true). Bush, Cheney, and Rumsfeld, who had been talking for years about toppling Saddam Hussein, began putting together a phony case to blame Iraq and Saddam for the attack, ginning up false intel on WMDs. The neocons also took advantage of our fear and - in the name of "safety" - began shredding our Bill of Rights. The PATRIOT Act was soon to follow along with secret and illegal mass electronic surveillance on the American people. Osama bin Laden created the fear and terror in the United States, but Bush and the Republicans (and some shameful Democrats) made sure bin Laden's attack would continue to produce fear in the American people even 15 years later.
Today, terrorism, which for a magic week united virtually all Americans and the "war on terror" is used to divide Americans as the GOP tries to wrap itself in the flag and blame Democrats for either mishandling. being soft on, or even encouraging terrorism. bin-Laden must be smiling in his grave.
Today, terrorism, which for a magic week united virtually all Americans and the "war on terror" is used to divide Americans as the GOP tries to wrap itself in the flag and blame Democrats for either mishandling. being soft on, or even encouraging terrorism. bin-Laden must be smiling in his grave.
6
Mr. Cohen, you are a treasure to the Times. Your reporting on Paris Kentucky is one of the few long stories I have read all the way through lately. So perceptive, so informative, so thought-provoking. And this beautiful piece is one of the few about 9/11 to which I gave my attention. Signed, an appreciative reader.
2
So beautifully written that this jaded Idahoan, who is tired of all the regurgitated 9/11 fear-mongering, teared up.
But why should it take a fifteen year old tragedy to allow a newspaper to remind us of the great unity, the incredible achievements, the unsurpassed freedom and opportunity here in the United States? Even if the garbage being spewed by one political party since 2008 (You lie!) sells your paper, I assure you positive words can sell even more. Try it.
But why should it take a fifteen year old tragedy to allow a newspaper to remind us of the great unity, the incredible achievements, the unsurpassed freedom and opportunity here in the United States? Even if the garbage being spewed by one political party since 2008 (You lie!) sells your paper, I assure you positive words can sell even more. Try it.
3
Very eloquent. Thank you. Made me cry, again, over this day that changed our country.
On that day I worried about people I knew who might have been in the buildings (turned out they were on vacation). I walked out onto a beach promontory in Rowayton, CT, watched smoke rise from the Towers and hang in the clear, bright air. Others gathered quietly around me. Nobody spoke. Some people wept.
On that day I worried about people I knew who might have been in the buildings (turned out they were on vacation). I walked out onto a beach promontory in Rowayton, CT, watched smoke rise from the Towers and hang in the clear, bright air. Others gathered quietly around me. Nobody spoke. Some people wept.
4
9/11 became clear through the interpretation of the 16th card of the Tarot, The Lightning Struck Tower. Eyes are open at the place where it is better to say nothing at all.
2
"There are always politicians who. . . make 'a continuous appeal to the inner swine' of people by 'ceaselessly mobilizing human stupidity.' Fear is the fertile soil in which such appeals propagate."
That is a pretty vivid description of the mobilizing of deplorables. The Times's political reporters recorded the sights and sounds of Trump rallies and a video collection of them was published. A list could easily be made of too-well-known Trump supporters and the deplorable things they have said. Hillary Clinton's truthful naming may have been "politically incorrect," but it is the truth.
That is a pretty vivid description of the mobilizing of deplorables. The Times's political reporters recorded the sights and sounds of Trump rallies and a video collection of them was published. A list could easily be made of too-well-known Trump supporters and the deplorable things they have said. Hillary Clinton's truthful naming may have been "politically incorrect," but it is the truth.
6
Touching and deep, Mr. Cohen, but the type of 'fails' that a superpower can achieve may not allow any 'agains'. One fail set the stage for September 11, 2001, the response was a far greater fail and vastly more death and disruption. Right now, we haven't undone that big portion of global failure that was underway, and are staring helplessly at the edge of a domestic chasm of failure. No sign whatsoever of learning from these hundreds of thousands of deaths and the grotesque moral opportunism of our, and other warlords.
To have a better fail, we need to learn something.
To have a better fail, we need to learn something.
11
Leaders set the tone for the national discourse. Unfortunately, the GOP leaders have only sought to obstruct, provide made up wedge issues, dog whistles all in order to stay in power by serving their billionaire overlords who keep their PACS/campaigns in money.
We are more divided than ever- probably since the 60's when the nation was in the daily trauma of Nuclear threat by Soviet Union, civil rights riots, VietNam protests, sexual revolution, women's rights movements, multiple assassinations... it was a tumultuous time to be sure. But I feel these times since 9/11 are worse with the take over of the GOP by the tea party/radical right with scorched earth tactics- which has brought us a con man as the GOP nominee.
9/11 prompted our over reach into the ME and now we are in perpetual war. This has damaged our country well beyond what the initial tragedy of the 9/11 terrorists could ever hope for.
We are in perpetual culture war and cannot agree on how to deal with our problems foreign and domestic. The 21st century has been a difficult one so far. We do need to keep trying and to fail better.
It is a sad and scary time
We are more divided than ever- probably since the 60's when the nation was in the daily trauma of Nuclear threat by Soviet Union, civil rights riots, VietNam protests, sexual revolution, women's rights movements, multiple assassinations... it was a tumultuous time to be sure. But I feel these times since 9/11 are worse with the take over of the GOP by the tea party/radical right with scorched earth tactics- which has brought us a con man as the GOP nominee.
9/11 prompted our over reach into the ME and now we are in perpetual war. This has damaged our country well beyond what the initial tragedy of the 9/11 terrorists could ever hope for.
We are in perpetual culture war and cannot agree on how to deal with our problems foreign and domestic. The 21st century has been a difficult one so far. We do need to keep trying and to fail better.
It is a sad and scary time
5
Thank you, Mr. Cohen. That was beautiful.
2
I spent a good part of Sunday watching National Geographic specials devoted to the anniversary. One thing that struck me profoundly was just how appalling the George W Bush administration's performance was with regard to the attack in EVERY respect.
It's all common knowledge now but watching these specials really brought it home again. First of all, they completely failed to respond to many warnings of a serious plot to attack the US. Then not only did they choose to respond by attacking the wrong country entirely but as a result of the Iraq invasion, huge assets were pulled away from Afghanistan, which was Al Qaeda's base at the time (in addition to moving in and out of Pakistan with impunity, despite Musharraf supposedly being a US ally).
And then of course there was the Operation Jawbreaker debacle, where Delta Force and the CIA's request for more manpower as they were closing in on OBL was denied by Washington, who instead chose to rely on Pakistani forces whom everyone with half a clue knew could not be trusted.
Then of course the final and ongoing disaster - the Iraqi invasion and subsequent botching of the post-conflict occupation strategy. All of these things that happened on GWB's watch post the attacks should be remembered, and not just the attack itself.
And people say Benghazi was a major blot on the USA's record? NOTHING that has happened since can begin to compare to the unmitigated disaster that was the GWB administration's response to 9/11.
It's all common knowledge now but watching these specials really brought it home again. First of all, they completely failed to respond to many warnings of a serious plot to attack the US. Then not only did they choose to respond by attacking the wrong country entirely but as a result of the Iraq invasion, huge assets were pulled away from Afghanistan, which was Al Qaeda's base at the time (in addition to moving in and out of Pakistan with impunity, despite Musharraf supposedly being a US ally).
And then of course there was the Operation Jawbreaker debacle, where Delta Force and the CIA's request for more manpower as they were closing in on OBL was denied by Washington, who instead chose to rely on Pakistani forces whom everyone with half a clue knew could not be trusted.
Then of course the final and ongoing disaster - the Iraqi invasion and subsequent botching of the post-conflict occupation strategy. All of these things that happened on GWB's watch post the attacks should be remembered, and not just the attack itself.
And people say Benghazi was a major blot on the USA's record? NOTHING that has happened since can begin to compare to the unmitigated disaster that was the GWB administration's response to 9/11.
22
Frontline's "The Man Who Knew" highlighting FBI agent John O'Neill, whose work on the threat posed by Al Qaeda was marginalized, is very revealing.
5
If I was a "church" person, I'd fall out into the aisle in a fit shouting preach Rev, preach!
1
I don't understand the expression, "fail better." What does it mean?
1
Fail better? We might well be about to elect a racist, xenophobic lunatic to the White House because one of our two major political parties would rather have anyone, anyone at all, with an "R" after his name than vote for a Democrat.
Fail better? I wish.
Fail better? I wish.
10
Fail better. Samuel Beckett, who knew? Roger Cohen did and I thank him for this most powerful column.
www.endthemadnessnow.org
www.endthemadnessnow.org
6
Everyone should memorize the words of Kurt Schumacher, the one he made about a year before the NSDAP won the plurality of seats in the Reichstag and Hitler was appointed chancellor and form a governing coalition. Schumacher was arrested a few months later, brutally beaten in prison and then imprisoned in the Dachau concentration camp for a decade.
More than eight decades later, a man came down the golden elevator in a glitzy NYC highrise, making "a continuous appeal to the inner swine" and "ceaselessly mobilizing human stupidity".
No, he won't be able to imprison those media outlets that treat him 'unfairly'. He just wants fiddle around with the libel laws and the First Amendment right and sue them until they are bankrupt, while his supporters cheer his every word.
"There are only two infinites. One is the universe, and the other human stupidity. Whereas I am not even sure about the first". Albert Einstein
More than eight decades later, a man came down the golden elevator in a glitzy NYC highrise, making "a continuous appeal to the inner swine" and "ceaselessly mobilizing human stupidity".
No, he won't be able to imprison those media outlets that treat him 'unfairly'. He just wants fiddle around with the libel laws and the First Amendment right and sue them until they are bankrupt, while his supporters cheer his every word.
"There are only two infinites. One is the universe, and the other human stupidity. Whereas I am not even sure about the first". Albert Einstein
7
Unfortunately, it takes an catastrophic event to bring unity to our nation. Of course, all citizens of their respective countries, would most likely, take up arms against an attack or an invasion. Patriotism seems to come all at once, or never at all. I do believe Americans feel a spiritual bond underneath all the divisiveness and hatred we've recently witnessed. The human spirit is strong and has backbone; we don't give easily. My father witnessed Dec. 7th, 1941, a 'day which will live in infamy', and united the entire country. I've witnessed 9/11 - the modern day version of the attack on Pearl Harbor. We won't forget.
2
Brilliant, I have been to Germany, Italy, Japan, Korea, Veit Nam, all of our so called enemies and they seem to be doing well. I am 84 years old and have seen America make great strides in trying to make America what it says it is. Unfortunately some of the bigotry and hate that caused our Civil War still exist. It might always remain the "curse"for Americans to solve. In my years I have found that hatred is a tough condition to solve, but do not stop trying. America is still a young country with high expectations. Let's never stop trying to live up to American ideals.
1
I grew up in the NYC metro area. We all lost someone we knew that day, and many of us had almost-me experiences. So in the aftermath of 9.11, time seemed to stand still as we shared our collective grief and comforted each other. While we'll never forget 9.11, I do think we've forgotten it's lesson: when you want to be comforted, comfort someone else.
5
"The Senate voted down a series of bills to curb ‘sanctuary city’ policies earlier this year. ”
l“The chairmen of both the House and Senate's ... judiciary committees authored a letter to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson to probe how an undocumented immigrant managed to commit six felonies despite being deported several times.
Monday, [they]...requested... information about Nicodemo Coria-Gonzales,… recently charged with six felonies including aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, aggravated sexual assault, and aggravated kidnapping.
[They]...requested that Johnson provide answers to the following...:
1. his complete alien file… .
2. Identify and explain each ... encounter that DHS ...has had with [him,]…
3. If a local law enforcement agency declines to honor a detainer or notify ICE regarding ...[him] what action will DHS take...?
4. Did [he]... ever apply for any immigration benefit... …Is [he]…a member of, or associated with any criminal gang? …
5. If ...[he] had been encountered by DHS enforcement officials prior to his recent arrest for sexual assault, would he have met the requirements to be considered a priority for removal under the Administration’s Priority Enforcement Program? …If not, why not?
6. Have any victims… been contacted by officials at ICE…?”
http://ijr.com/2016/09/691945-judiciary-chairs-demand-answers-from-dhs-o...
l“The chairmen of both the House and Senate's ... judiciary committees authored a letter to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson to probe how an undocumented immigrant managed to commit six felonies despite being deported several times.
Monday, [they]...requested... information about Nicodemo Coria-Gonzales,… recently charged with six felonies including aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, aggravated sexual assault, and aggravated kidnapping.
[They]...requested that Johnson provide answers to the following...:
1. his complete alien file… .
2. Identify and explain each ... encounter that DHS ...has had with [him,]…
3. If a local law enforcement agency declines to honor a detainer or notify ICE regarding ...[him] what action will DHS take...?
4. Did [he]... ever apply for any immigration benefit... …Is [he]…a member of, or associated with any criminal gang? …
5. If ...[he] had been encountered by DHS enforcement officials prior to his recent arrest for sexual assault, would he have met the requirements to be considered a priority for removal under the Administration’s Priority Enforcement Program? …If not, why not?
6. Have any victims… been contacted by officials at ICE…?”
http://ijr.com/2016/09/691945-judiciary-chairs-demand-answers-from-dhs-o...
4
Lets use one (or several) cases of criminals to slime and punish upwards of 12 million people. Scapegoating and the logical Fallacy of Composition are powerful and malicious logical fallacies. The Fallacy of Composition is when you attribute the characteristics or actions of one or several members of a group to the entire group. We see it in the rise of attacks on American Muslims despite the fact that a few follow an extremist version of their religion and seek to commit terrorism, or we categorize 12 million undocumented workers based on one or several cases of crimes. What group of 12 million does not have its share of criminals? In fact, FBI statistics show that the crime rate of undocumenteds is actually lower than the native population.
The Fallacy of Composition is seen when people see some white police officers killing unarmed black youths and blame the entire police community, or see a few sensational cases of black men killing police officers and immediately conclude that all black people (and especially the non-violent Black Lives Matter movement) share a collective guilt for the actions of one or several lone wolves.
Timothy McVeigh, who blew up the Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City, was a veteran, former militia member, and a Christian. Should we then assume that all Christians, militiamen, and veterans are potential terrorists?
The Fallacy of Composition is seen when people see some white police officers killing unarmed black youths and blame the entire police community, or see a few sensational cases of black men killing police officers and immediately conclude that all black people (and especially the non-violent Black Lives Matter movement) share a collective guilt for the actions of one or several lone wolves.
Timothy McVeigh, who blew up the Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City, was a veteran, former militia member, and a Christian. Should we then assume that all Christians, militiamen, and veterans are potential terrorists?
7
America and Americans are unified in their selfish hubris and hedonism. America and Americans are united in their exceptional lack of humble humane empathy for members of the one and only multi-colored biological human race species.
Since 9/11/01, about 0.75% of Americans have bravely honorably and patriotically volunteered to put on the military uniform of any American armed force. Where they have been ground to mental, emotional and physical dust by repeated deployments in foreign ethnic sectarian civil wars than cannot be resolved by military means and do not constitute a looming existential threat to American values and interests. Diplomacy, commerce and humanitarian aid the American weapons of mass construction.
Who were and where are the names, faces and histories of the men, women and children killed, wounded, displaced and made refugees in Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, Yemen, Lebanon, Gaza, West Bank, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Egypt by the American "war on terror"?
Nineteen men with box cutters flew our planes into our buildings killing many thousands. Fifteen of the 19 and Osama Bin Laden were Saudi citizens. While the lead hijacker and current al Qaeda # 1 are both Egyptian. The planner of 9/11 was Pakistani. The 9/11 pilots included a secular Lebanese.
Who was responsible in the American national security defense intelligence government infrastructure for the failure to detect, deter and defeat the 9/11/01 attacks?
Since 9/11/01, about 0.75% of Americans have bravely honorably and patriotically volunteered to put on the military uniform of any American armed force. Where they have been ground to mental, emotional and physical dust by repeated deployments in foreign ethnic sectarian civil wars than cannot be resolved by military means and do not constitute a looming existential threat to American values and interests. Diplomacy, commerce and humanitarian aid the American weapons of mass construction.
Who were and where are the names, faces and histories of the men, women and children killed, wounded, displaced and made refugees in Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, Yemen, Lebanon, Gaza, West Bank, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Egypt by the American "war on terror"?
Nineteen men with box cutters flew our planes into our buildings killing many thousands. Fifteen of the 19 and Osama Bin Laden were Saudi citizens. While the lead hijacker and current al Qaeda # 1 are both Egyptian. The planner of 9/11 was Pakistani. The 9/11 pilots included a secular Lebanese.
Who was responsible in the American national security defense intelligence government infrastructure for the failure to detect, deter and defeat the 9/11/01 attacks?
15
"Who were and where are the names, faces and histories of the men, women and children killed, wounded, displaced and made refugees in Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, Yemen, Lebanon, Gaza, West Bank, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Egypt by the American "war on terror"?"
Did the U.S. chase those people out of their homes? No. No one told Boko Haram, ISIS, the Taliban, Al Qaeda, Hamas and their supporters to maim, rape, enslave and, of course, kill their neighbors. Who told Assad to gas people? Who told Erdogan to crackdown on his own countrymen? Who told Egypt's security forces to start "disappearing" people? If you want to blame the U.S. for creating a vacuum, go right on ahead. That's fair. But it does not follow that the U.S. is morally responsible for the actions of terrorists in the Middle East. Your argument is almost indistinguishable from argument of an ISIS video. Each and every one of them swears up and down that the "west" and the United States are "making" them do this. They claim that all the blood they so gleefully spill is on our hands. They may talk of hating the West, but they spend the VAST majority of their time slaughtering and chasing away Muslim men, women and children.
Did the U.S. chase those people out of their homes? No. No one told Boko Haram, ISIS, the Taliban, Al Qaeda, Hamas and their supporters to maim, rape, enslave and, of course, kill their neighbors. Who told Assad to gas people? Who told Erdogan to crackdown on his own countrymen? Who told Egypt's security forces to start "disappearing" people? If you want to blame the U.S. for creating a vacuum, go right on ahead. That's fair. But it does not follow that the U.S. is morally responsible for the actions of terrorists in the Middle East. Your argument is almost indistinguishable from argument of an ISIS video. Each and every one of them swears up and down that the "west" and the United States are "making" them do this. They claim that all the blood they so gleefully spill is on our hands. They may talk of hating the West, but they spend the VAST majority of their time slaughtering and chasing away Muslim men, women and children.
1
Bitter words. We are human beings, you do not know me but I cannot live my life feeling that all Americans are selfish, crude, racist, anti-semitic, anti -American Indian, Anti Hispanic, anti Asian, Anti every minority. I travel the world as an American and we are looked on as spoiled small, crude, selfish people. Some people fit this opinion of course. Do not put me in this basket of haters.
1
This is an eloquent and timely reminder of who we want to be, highlighting the inspiring memorial statement by Joe Quinn, whose words —we can only wish— ought to elevate the glaringly inadequate "conversation" we are forced to endure in the current presidential campaign. Neither national "remorse" nor nationalistic bluster will enable us to recapture the sense of unity or idea of noble mission that has mobilized our country to come unselfishly to the aid of the suffering, expand prosperity and opportunity in our society, and serve as a beacon of possibility for others around the world. We need to look to the principles of our founding —the Bill of Rights and the Constitution— even as we strive to expand the vision of the founders further and more equitably, to heal wounds and to elevate our sense of purpose. We need people like Joe Quinn to enter public life, commentators like Roger Cohen to give voice to a revived sense of benevolent purpose and reminders of what we can be if we eschew petty prejudices, uncivil verbal attacks and hatred, and consideration of the common good as well as self interest. We need to reward with our trust the rare speakers of truth, those who inspire, those who remind us of our better angels, the poets and artists who define us, and leaders who uplift us and invite ordinary people—like our first responders— to become part of something greater than themselves.
11
I also remember vividly that fateful day. I was still living in the US, and in Boston at that where American Airlines Flight 11 and United Airlines Flight 175 originated.
I also remember all the empathy and outpouring of support from all over the globe, including most Muslim countries.
Unfortunately for everyone, the US missed an opportunity to use that painful moment to analyse the lurking and critical factors that would lead to such an horrible atrocity and initiate a world-wide effort to eradicate the underlying circumstances that would lead young Arab men of Muslim faith to sacrifice their life in order to inflict unspeakable harm to innocent Americans and people from myriad of other backgrounds that day.
Instead America was lead down the opposite path: revenge and kill, kill, kill.
It ushered in a new generation of policies like the USA Patriot Act, prioritizing national security and defense, often at the expense of civil liberties, not just having to take off our shoes to get through airport security.
These changes continue to have ripple effects across the globe, particularly in the Middle East, where American-led military operations helped foment rebellions and ongoing warfare throughout the region.
The 'War on Terror' is everywhere with no end in sight.
America missed an opportunity to do some real soul-searching 15 years ago, particularly about its decade-long deplorable foreign policy.
Maybe the atrocious election we are witnessing now gives us another chance.
I also remember all the empathy and outpouring of support from all over the globe, including most Muslim countries.
Unfortunately for everyone, the US missed an opportunity to use that painful moment to analyse the lurking and critical factors that would lead to such an horrible atrocity and initiate a world-wide effort to eradicate the underlying circumstances that would lead young Arab men of Muslim faith to sacrifice their life in order to inflict unspeakable harm to innocent Americans and people from myriad of other backgrounds that day.
Instead America was lead down the opposite path: revenge and kill, kill, kill.
It ushered in a new generation of policies like the USA Patriot Act, prioritizing national security and defense, often at the expense of civil liberties, not just having to take off our shoes to get through airport security.
These changes continue to have ripple effects across the globe, particularly in the Middle East, where American-led military operations helped foment rebellions and ongoing warfare throughout the region.
The 'War on Terror' is everywhere with no end in sight.
America missed an opportunity to do some real soul-searching 15 years ago, particularly about its decade-long deplorable foreign policy.
Maybe the atrocious election we are witnessing now gives us another chance.
62
Unlike Germans, Americans don't do remorse. We can't even apologize to Laotians for bombing them and we characterize money to clean up the unexploded bombs we left behind 40 years ago as "Aid."
I love Berlin, for it is the best example of dealing with a horrific time in history in an intellectual and emotional way. That is something that will never, ever happen in the U.S.
I remember when the design of the Vietnam War Memorial was released and there was public outcry against it. A memorial that listed the name of every soldier killed in Vietnam was considered controversial. Fortunately, the critics lost out and it is one of the most moving Memorials in D.C.
But it only memorializes Americans who were killed, not all of the innocent Vietnamese, Laotians and Cambodians. Hundreds of thousands of innocent civilians whose only sin was to live in countries the U.S. decided it needed to relentlessly bomb. Then again, such a memorial listing all of the names would take up too much space.
I lost all hope of any kind of serious reflection when Obama commanded we look forwarded, not backwards, relating to the Iraq war lie, torture, extraordinary rendition. We now know why. Because the powers that be plan on being at war forever and they don't want to encourage any dissent.
Sadly, they are succeeding. We never learn from our mistakes.
I love Berlin, for it is the best example of dealing with a horrific time in history in an intellectual and emotional way. That is something that will never, ever happen in the U.S.
I remember when the design of the Vietnam War Memorial was released and there was public outcry against it. A memorial that listed the name of every soldier killed in Vietnam was considered controversial. Fortunately, the critics lost out and it is one of the most moving Memorials in D.C.
But it only memorializes Americans who were killed, not all of the innocent Vietnamese, Laotians and Cambodians. Hundreds of thousands of innocent civilians whose only sin was to live in countries the U.S. decided it needed to relentlessly bomb. Then again, such a memorial listing all of the names would take up too much space.
I lost all hope of any kind of serious reflection when Obama commanded we look forwarded, not backwards, relating to the Iraq war lie, torture, extraordinary rendition. We now know why. Because the powers that be plan on being at war forever and they don't want to encourage any dissent.
Sadly, they are succeeding. We never learn from our mistakes.
24
"I love Berlin, for it is the best example of dealing with a horrific time in history in an intellectual and emotional way." The Americans forced them to do it, and set up a re-education program throughout the country.
5
@ Chris and @ScottW
I concur wholeheartedly with both of y'all's sentiments.
Our biggest problem as a nation might just be our lack of introspection. Having been the 'winner' of the last century, we were never forced to take a critical look at ourselves and the effect our expansionist Imperialism has had on the rest of the world.
There seems to be, however, a wind of change blowing. The American Empire might be on its last leg and we should all hope that we will come to grips with our diminishing influence around the world without resorting yet again to violence but instead "some real soul-searching".
Hopefully the new Chinese superpower won't judge us too harshly on our past transgressions.
I concur wholeheartedly with both of y'all's sentiments.
Our biggest problem as a nation might just be our lack of introspection. Having been the 'winner' of the last century, we were never forced to take a critical look at ourselves and the effect our expansionist Imperialism has had on the rest of the world.
There seems to be, however, a wind of change blowing. The American Empire might be on its last leg and we should all hope that we will come to grips with our diminishing influence around the world without resorting yet again to violence but instead "some real soul-searching".
Hopefully the new Chinese superpower won't judge us too harshly on our past transgressions.
9
My heart aches for Roger Cohen and for his suffering in Times Square and on his treadmill. Pretense can cause suffering too. Pretending that sweetness and light are just around the corner, all for the asking, just by trying harder, is dangerous, naïve nonsense.
Cohen gains no brownie points by quoting two of my fellow countrymen, Yeats and Beckett. Rather, I give him lines from another Irish poet, Oliver Goldsmith, lines used by Tony Judt for his book title: Ill fares the Land:
Ill fares the land, to hastening ills a prey,
Where wealth accumulates and men decay.
That was written in 1770.
Cohen gains no brownie points by quoting two of my fellow countrymen, Yeats and Beckett. Rather, I give him lines from another Irish poet, Oliver Goldsmith, lines used by Tony Judt for his book title: Ill fares the Land:
Ill fares the land, to hastening ills a prey,
Where wealth accumulates and men decay.
That was written in 1770.
19
"Where wealth accumulates and men decay."
The Clinton's have accumulated well over $100,000,000 in wealth since he left office. Do you have THEM in mind?
The Clinton's have accumulated well over $100,000,000 in wealth since he left office. Do you have THEM in mind?
1
Oxford96: haven't your Republican friends notified you yet that the accumulation of money is no crime -- especially when you pay the taxes on it? Keep that in mind the next time you glorify The Donald whose money has been made on the backs of unpaid workers and stiffed investors.
2
And Mitt Romney had $100,000,000 in wealth in a 401K plan, an account where "normal" people are able to deposit a maximum of $30K/year. Did you have HIM in mind, Oxford96?
1
All New Yorkers have deep memories from 9/11. But rather than dwell on our own personal experiences we should honor those who died with a renewed push for truth. It has been clear for many years now that the 9/11 Commission report is distinguished by more than the recently released 28 pages.
There are numerous inaccuracies, especially their version of why building seven fell. Many architects and engineers have reviewed the data and determined that the governments version of what happened to building seven is scientifically impossible. They don't suggest what did happen, or who might have been involved. But just like the missing 28 pages they point to facts that show our government was more committed to secrecy than truth. Some things will never be known. Any crime investigator knows this. But obvious falsehoods need to be addressed in the same sober, factual manner that characterizes other sections of the report.
As for evidence, there is now ample evidence to infer some level of Saudi involvement beyond the fact that most of the hijackers were Saudi nationals. Further investigation may not lead anywhere. But when one looks at the post 9/11 Middle East with its black pop's, money laundering, covert weapons deals, Saudi surrogate armies and billions of flowing cash, one can't help but wonder if all these opaque deals just might have included some ties to 9/11? The best way to clear the air is not more governmental denials, but more governmental transparency and openness.
There are numerous inaccuracies, especially their version of why building seven fell. Many architects and engineers have reviewed the data and determined that the governments version of what happened to building seven is scientifically impossible. They don't suggest what did happen, or who might have been involved. But just like the missing 28 pages they point to facts that show our government was more committed to secrecy than truth. Some things will never be known. Any crime investigator knows this. But obvious falsehoods need to be addressed in the same sober, factual manner that characterizes other sections of the report.
As for evidence, there is now ample evidence to infer some level of Saudi involvement beyond the fact that most of the hijackers were Saudi nationals. Further investigation may not lead anywhere. But when one looks at the post 9/11 Middle East with its black pop's, money laundering, covert weapons deals, Saudi surrogate armies and billions of flowing cash, one can't help but wonder if all these opaque deals just might have included some ties to 9/11? The best way to clear the air is not more governmental denials, but more governmental transparency and openness.
8
Cohen reminds me of something strange about the towers collapsing: the south tower was the second building struck by an airplane but less than 60 minutes later is the first to collapse. It is sad to read commentaries about 9/11 that gloss over the inconsistencies of the story.
1
9/11 was the day the global elites demonstrated they don't fear us 'rabble' enough to care what we think anymore. They demonstrated NO ONE is outside their control, and not the media, government, law enforcement agencies or military, can hold them accountable for treachery and murder on the grandest scale. Intelligence and military agencies are not in service to their nations, citizens or the rule of law, but to a neocon cabal dedicated to perpetual war and the invisible transfer of wealth beyond the control of nations and into the hidden recesses of corporate tax havens. No steel buildings had ever collapsed simultaneously from jet fuel fires in the history of world architecture. 9/11 gave us THREE free-fall building collapses into their own footprint, including WTC 7 which housed FEMA, the NY Office of Emergency Management, the Secret Service/CIA/ NSA and the servers of the Securities Exchange Commission. The metal ruins were rushed to china and the NTSB paid to obfuscate the laws of physics. The concept of nations is replaced by a veneer of evil, influential despots who control every public aspect of life, and whose contempt for the human race is unbounded. The people we call leaders are pawns to the stealthy kleptocracy of international financiers, perhaps no more than 100,000 bankers, economists, generals, princes and financiers globally, where Deltas serve the Alphas and whose goal is to pare humanity down to the most servile and manageable 1 billion.
6
"and the invisible transfer of wealth beyond the control of nations and into the hidden recesses of corporate tax havens."
Do you mean like the millions in donations ostensibly to the Clinton Foundation from foreign nations? (It has been observed that a proper audit of the Foundation has never been done, and not all these funds may have reached their Foundation destination.)
Do you mean like the millions in donations ostensibly to the Clinton Foundation from foreign nations? (It has been observed that a proper audit of the Foundation has never been done, and not all these funds may have reached their Foundation destination.)
1
I was a first responder for two days. As a college student, I worked in the back offices on Wall St and would eat lunch at the WTC construction site when the weather was good. When I saw the event on TV, the people running through the streets I was moved to help. I am an RN. I arrived Thursday morning 2 days after the event at the Stuyvesant School. I started IVs, cleaned eyes, gave respiratory treatments, unloaded trucks, and helped look for parts around the pile. I have a profound faith in the fundamental goodness of humans that was confirmed by spending a couple of days with men and women who gravitated to hell on earth to help. One can only experience the selflessness and joy that the tragedy brought out in us.
Thursday night I was assigned to triage by "Joey" outside the clinic/school. Among the hundreds of people I saw, one man comes to mind. He had a photo of his pregnant wife. He asked if I had seen her. I asked where she had been....on the...upper floors. I did not tell him that she was dead. I encouraged him to check the hospitals.
Looking back on what Bush did to the outpouring of unity and selflessness I am ashamed. He exploited our fear to the point that people in the heartland, the south and west were afraid of a cult of organized criminals and eager for blood. He attacked our privacy and gave a tax break to his friends and attacked Iraq on a credit card and without a crumb of truth.
Why is Bush free? "Fail better"?
Thursday night I was assigned to triage by "Joey" outside the clinic/school. Among the hundreds of people I saw, one man comes to mind. He had a photo of his pregnant wife. He asked if I had seen her. I asked where she had been....on the...upper floors. I did not tell him that she was dead. I encouraged him to check the hospitals.
Looking back on what Bush did to the outpouring of unity and selflessness I am ashamed. He exploited our fear to the point that people in the heartland, the south and west were afraid of a cult of organized criminals and eager for blood. He attacked our privacy and gave a tax break to his friends and attacked Iraq on a credit card and without a crumb of truth.
Why is Bush free? "Fail better"?
24
With all due respect to Mr. Quinn and his brother, as a nation we totally blew the unity created by the tragic event. That we could be led down a path of attacking and invading a couple of nations with in one case, a peripheral connection and in the other no connection to the event shows how we allowed the event to stir up our "inner swine". And sadly enough we still are. I don't know where or when it ends, but it won't be pretty and we won't be the shinning city on the hill. When the prince of peace candidate wins and then falls into the control of the war pigs we are finished. Yeah, fail and fail again. But we just don't seem to be failing better.
14
The attacks were a day of terrible personal tragedy. I saw the images on TV but I was nowhere near the site and I have no direct connection to any of the dead. Still I can imagine the kinds of loss and pain endured by the victims and the families and friends they left behind. The consequences still live on in the ongoing cancer deaths of those exposed.
Though I have to work my imagination a bit harder to do, I can also imagine the deaths and horror endured by the innocent people far off in the very different world of Iraq -- a direct consequence of our response to own our tragedy. We endure ours, then perpetrate something larger, something worse. The Iraq numbers of dead and wounded make ours seem insignificant, but the tribe closes ranks and forgets.
With every passing year, the September 11 attacks become more solidly glued to the chaos and suffering they triggered. Ironically, we will be paying the price of our own mistakes for a long time to come. So I honor our own dead, empathize with their loved ones and then try not to let our myopic ways prevent me from including and mourning for all the other human lives lost.
Though I have to work my imagination a bit harder to do, I can also imagine the deaths and horror endured by the innocent people far off in the very different world of Iraq -- a direct consequence of our response to own our tragedy. We endure ours, then perpetrate something larger, something worse. The Iraq numbers of dead and wounded make ours seem insignificant, but the tribe closes ranks and forgets.
With every passing year, the September 11 attacks become more solidly glued to the chaos and suffering they triggered. Ironically, we will be paying the price of our own mistakes for a long time to come. So I honor our own dead, empathize with their loved ones and then try not to let our myopic ways prevent me from including and mourning for all the other human lives lost.
11
The unprecedented unity engendered by that horrible day will never be forgotten. I think back to the weeks and months afterwards, and cant help but imagine a world in which George Bush stood in front of this country, and mobilized that unity not to start two, decade long wars, but a national movement that revitalized this country. What would the world look like today?
6
A sobering reminder that despite the failures that happened since 9/11--- and there are many on both sides of the aisle-- we should remain united and continue striving. We've survived epic failures in Iraq, in the subsequent wars in the Middle East, and on Wall Street... here''s hoping we can survive the ongoing divisive campaign in 2016...
1
It isn't the divisive campaign we have to survive; it is the installation of one of these candidates in the oval office.
1
Fail fast, fail often, fail forward.
#neverforget
#neverforget
Who in our area wasn't touched by 9/11? I have a friend who was in Building 7, who ran outside when the North Tower was hit, then saw the South Tower hit and ran for his life. So many people I knew lost friends or loved ones in the attack. I walked into a local bank branch and a teller was in tears because her cousin was missing, presumed dead. People I knew were connected to nearly 40 dead. A child in my son's class nearly lost his father, and a child in the school did. The nation came together.
Yet within 24 hours neocons Rumsfeld and Cheney were gleefully exploiting that good will to advance their insane agenda to conquer centrally located Iraq on a flimsy faked excuse that the contained Saddam was behind the attack. From that central location they would build their "Death Star"--super-powerful American bases, funded by stolen Iraqi oil to be able to decide for once and for all events and the fate of the Middle East. "They will be decided by THIS battle station!" says the admiral on the Death Star.
The result was catastrophic for millions of people and the start of the cancer of insane cannibalistic violence that originated with Al Qaeda and has morphed into ISIS/ISIL.
Yet within 24 hours neocons Rumsfeld and Cheney were gleefully exploiting that good will to advance their insane agenda to conquer centrally located Iraq on a flimsy faked excuse that the contained Saddam was behind the attack. From that central location they would build their "Death Star"--super-powerful American bases, funded by stolen Iraqi oil to be able to decide for once and for all events and the fate of the Middle East. "They will be decided by THIS battle station!" says the admiral on the Death Star.
The result was catastrophic for millions of people and the start of the cancer of insane cannibalistic violence that originated with Al Qaeda and has morphed into ISIS/ISIL.
34
An evocative column Mr. Cohen with an apt and challenging conclusion. President Obama has been trying hard to achieve Beckett’s imperative by turning the USA away from Wars of Choice in particular in the Middle East.
5
Barack Obama and his liberal gang certainly have not been the poster children for unity during the past eight years. I have never seen a president more vociferous about racial, ethnic and social division.
It it probably a sign of how divided the schools of thinking and related U.S. media outlets are that I have no idea what you are talking about :o!
6
The Republicans had sworn to destroy his Presidency when he, Obama was elected.
2
My Sept 11 story: I am here probably because my daughter forgot her homework and I dropped it off at her school and was running late to work. I commuted via the PATH train to Newark every day and would have been in the North Tower WTC PATH station when the planes hit.
Instead I was on the subway to Fulton Street, felt the usual annoyance when the announcement was made that we would skip Fulton St, smelled the smoke when I came out of the Wall St subway and assumed it was another trash can fire until I saw people looking up at the towers and turned around to see what they were looking at.
I was at Rector St and Broadway when the South tower fell. It took a few seconds to realize that is what was happening. It was just inconceivable the building would collapse. Made it eventually to South Ferry where there were already buses lined up to take people uptown. I asked where, the response was "out of the area". Sounded good to me.
What is so sad about our government's reaction to the attack is the opportunity Bush rejected (with the instigation of his cronies) to harness the sympathy and solidarity most of the world was feeling and promote peace rather than use it as an excuse to go to war.
Instead I was on the subway to Fulton Street, felt the usual annoyance when the announcement was made that we would skip Fulton St, smelled the smoke when I came out of the Wall St subway and assumed it was another trash can fire until I saw people looking up at the towers and turned around to see what they were looking at.
I was at Rector St and Broadway when the South tower fell. It took a few seconds to realize that is what was happening. It was just inconceivable the building would collapse. Made it eventually to South Ferry where there were already buses lined up to take people uptown. I asked where, the response was "out of the area". Sounded good to me.
What is so sad about our government's reaction to the attack is the opportunity Bush rejected (with the instigation of his cronies) to harness the sympathy and solidarity most of the world was feeling and promote peace rather than use it as an excuse to go to war.
40
Thank you Roger. It was a good read and an inspiring message. As simple as that.
2
We lost our sense of community over a 35 year period, coinciding loosely with the onset of Reagan. You can't get back in a few months, what it took years to destroy. Quinn is so right. But Apple has other plans. As does McDonald's and the investment bankers and the Republican mantra that set us on this path of "you are on your own." 9/11 was but a wake up call that "we are all in this together." But, the alarm clock just wasn't loud enough. NY built luxury apartments for the 1% on 57th St. instead of subsidized housing for the working class. Low rise would have been better again.
5
There is a continuing story to that day on 9/11/01 that we should be aware of. That is the fact that many, too many of the surviving firemen are now ill, most suffering with cancer. One of my sons is among them. I ask that everyone keep these heroes in their thoughts.
15
Beautifully written and could be written by all of the other victims suffering in the Middle East after "W" lied us into a war with Iraq. Innocent victims suffer the same regardless of nationality, religion or cultural differences.
Americans are very good at memorializing themselves and quite terrible at ever thinking about the suffering inflicted on others. For what purpose? Revenge?
As we enter our 13th year of endless war in Countries the vast majority of citizens could not even find on a map, we need to start thinking about how the way we suffered on 9/11 is the way innocent civilians who had nothing to do with 9/11 suffered as we lashed out.
Sadly, we seem to be doubling down as the neocons have infected the Democratic party and Trump boasts about his scorched earth campaign. The Peace candidate is considered dangerous while the pro-War candidate is the norm.
Have we learned nothing from our failures at War? The answer is obvious.
Americans are very good at memorializing themselves and quite terrible at ever thinking about the suffering inflicted on others. For what purpose? Revenge?
As we enter our 13th year of endless war in Countries the vast majority of citizens could not even find on a map, we need to start thinking about how the way we suffered on 9/11 is the way innocent civilians who had nothing to do with 9/11 suffered as we lashed out.
Sadly, we seem to be doubling down as the neocons have infected the Democratic party and Trump boasts about his scorched earth campaign. The Peace candidate is considered dangerous while the pro-War candidate is the norm.
Have we learned nothing from our failures at War? The answer is obvious.
27
There was unity for sometime after 9/11. I wonder whether there would have been unity if the attack had occurred during the watch of Bill Clinton or Barack Obama. I doubt it.
10
There would have been unity no matter who the President was. We were shocked and terrorized. I wasn't a fan of W's but that day I said "I'm going to rally around the President."
If Trump was President then, I would have said the same thing. If Clinton or Obama were President, I would have said the same thing.
If Trump was President then, I would have said the same thing. If Clinton or Obama were President, I would have said the same thing.
1
Debra- you would have, but the Republicans would not.
Look at how they have savaged Clinton for the deaths of 4 Americans in the Libyan city of Benghazi (and after the Republicans actually cut funds for diplomatic security)
Just imagine what they would have done to a Democratic President for the deaths of thousands on American soil.
Look at how they have savaged Clinton for the deaths of 4 Americans in the Libyan city of Benghazi (and after the Republicans actually cut funds for diplomatic security)
Just imagine what they would have done to a Democratic President for the deaths of thousands on American soil.
18
Come on, jas2200. Our country has united before during Democratic presidencies. "December 7th, 1941, a day that will live in infamy...", for example. There is a deep wellspring of common purpose below decks independent of who is at the helm. Not everything is about politics.
1
As people were trying to flee for their lives, my cousin was climbing up more than 40 flights of stairs to rescue those trapped in the express elevator. I was told that he and his fellow search and rescue firemen were carrying 'the jaws of life". Part of his body, still wearing his uniform, was found under a portion of staircase, near the very bottom of the rubble, in the final weeks of the clean-up. He was a very kind man who left a young family. No trace of his fellow crew was found. Thank you Roger Cohen for remembering in beautifully poignant words.
51
". . . I feel a boom and shudder . . ."
Many of us in New York that day had a tactile experience of the day.
My own was feeling the floor of the building shake and rumble. It was a brand new building. In the moment, I wrote it off as perhaps a forklift moving about on an upper floor still under construction. As it turns out, there was no forklift. We emerged from our meeting to learn of what was happening at the foot of Manhattan from the TV monitors in the halls of the student center. What I had felt was the seismic shock of the south tower collapsing.
That "acrid, sweet smell" made its way to our apartment on the Upper west side the next day when the winds shifted. It might someday subside, but it has been very nearly as fresh in my nostrils these last couple of days as it was then. Very nearly indelible.
My experience pales compared to those of the some of the people I met on the streets on my walk home that day, people just reaching the UWS, having walked up from Lower Manhattan, covered in the sweat-streaked dust of the fallen towers.
It was then, and remains, a matter of humanity. I didn't trouble those people that day to ask what they had experienced. That was a matter of civility. My own thinking at the time . . . Give them their space.
Our domestic politics have since become as polarized as the Shia/Sunni divide. And the public discourse has descended to incivility.
Many of us in New York that day had a tactile experience of the day.
My own was feeling the floor of the building shake and rumble. It was a brand new building. In the moment, I wrote it off as perhaps a forklift moving about on an upper floor still under construction. As it turns out, there was no forklift. We emerged from our meeting to learn of what was happening at the foot of Manhattan from the TV monitors in the halls of the student center. What I had felt was the seismic shock of the south tower collapsing.
That "acrid, sweet smell" made its way to our apartment on the Upper west side the next day when the winds shifted. It might someday subside, but it has been very nearly as fresh in my nostrils these last couple of days as it was then. Very nearly indelible.
My experience pales compared to those of the some of the people I met on the streets on my walk home that day, people just reaching the UWS, having walked up from Lower Manhattan, covered in the sweat-streaked dust of the fallen towers.
It was then, and remains, a matter of humanity. I didn't trouble those people that day to ask what they had experienced. That was a matter of civility. My own thinking at the time . . . Give them their space.
Our domestic politics have since become as polarized as the Shia/Sunni divide. And the public discourse has descended to incivility.
35
Thank you Mr. Cohen for this eloquent and resonant summary about the day then and the day now.
~ a family member.
~ a family member.
19
I cannot think of September 11 without thinking of 1973.
4
The United States is not a perfect union. But we will be a more perfect union with leaders who embrace all our pluralistic peoples and fight for equality, rather than with those who elevate themselves by appealing to peoples' lowest instincts. Racism, sexism, and all forms of discrimination are still pathologies to be dealt with, but they must never be normalized by those seeking power.
21
Would you advocate control of free speech to accomplish this goal?
What if one man's "racism" is another's attempt to secure national security? What if what appears to be xenophobia is really an attempt to protect our country from radical terrorists following a murderous ideology? Bill Clinton's inauguration speech called for border control. Had Trump given that same speech, some Democrats would be accusing him of xenophobia. Homeland Security, under a black Democrat agency head, Jeh Johnson, suggested the following in pursuit of security:
"Recommendations:
1. Immediate action must be taken to temporarily suspend the admission of Syrian refugees into the United States until the nation’s leading intelligence and law enforcement agencies can certify the refugee screening process is adequate to detect individuals with terrorist ties."
https://homeland.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/HomelandSecurityCo...
There are those who characterize that very idea racist and xenophobic --but only if put forth by Trump.
Speech control is very dangerous, which is why our Supreme Court and Constitution have always sought to protect our speech by encouraging counter-speech, not silencing.
What if one man's "racism" is another's attempt to secure national security? What if what appears to be xenophobia is really an attempt to protect our country from radical terrorists following a murderous ideology? Bill Clinton's inauguration speech called for border control. Had Trump given that same speech, some Democrats would be accusing him of xenophobia. Homeland Security, under a black Democrat agency head, Jeh Johnson, suggested the following in pursuit of security:
"Recommendations:
1. Immediate action must be taken to temporarily suspend the admission of Syrian refugees into the United States until the nation’s leading intelligence and law enforcement agencies can certify the refugee screening process is adequate to detect individuals with terrorist ties."
https://homeland.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/HomelandSecurityCo...
There are those who characterize that very idea racist and xenophobic --but only if put forth by Trump.
Speech control is very dangerous, which is why our Supreme Court and Constitution have always sought to protect our speech by encouraging counter-speech, not silencing.
1
The 9/11 Anniversary should be a global day of remembrance as well. Never in the history of the world was a nation like the USA, never was an empire so benevolent and so considered. Yes, I am aware that many in the world dislike the USA, even hate but when one, anywhere around the world, weighs the facts the only conclusion is "thank God for the USA". I really hope that the UN will decide to set 9/11 as a global day of remembrance the USA deserves it.
3
The whole world rallied around us on September 12. Then Bush/Cheney kicked everyone in the teeth, and threw matches on a tinderbox. Now many who rallied that day in support of us have come to hate us
20
Ask people in the following locales about American 'benevolence":
Hiroshima
Nagasaki
Laos
Chile
Nicaragua
Honduras
Dominican Republic
Haiti
Vietnam
Grenada
Okinawa
Guam
Iraq
Iran
Syria
Cuba
Puerto Rico
Mexico
The Congo
Angola
Nigeria
Mozambique
The Philippines
Ask Native Americans, Hawaiians, former slaves, Sacco & Vanzetti, the Rosenbergs, blacks, Mexicans, Chinese, homosexuals, labor organizers, communists, atheists, intellectuals, about this mythical "American benevolence" and I think you'll see the odds of a UN mandated 'let's pity America Day" will be slim to non-existent.
http://academic.evergreen.edu/g/grossmaz/interventions.html
Hiroshima
Nagasaki
Laos
Chile
Nicaragua
Honduras
Dominican Republic
Haiti
Vietnam
Grenada
Okinawa
Guam
Iraq
Iran
Syria
Cuba
Puerto Rico
Mexico
The Congo
Angola
Nigeria
Mozambique
The Philippines
Ask Native Americans, Hawaiians, former slaves, Sacco & Vanzetti, the Rosenbergs, blacks, Mexicans, Chinese, homosexuals, labor organizers, communists, atheists, intellectuals, about this mythical "American benevolence" and I think you'll see the odds of a UN mandated 'let's pity America Day" will be slim to non-existent.
http://academic.evergreen.edu/g/grossmaz/interventions.html
1
Many already hated us, as demonstrated by 9/11. In fact, the ideology behind that hate dates back millenia.
On September 11 in 2001 I had been in Canada for more than two weeks, a guest at a salmon fishing camp where I was painting landscapes. That day I went fly fishing for salmon at Home Pool rather than work, and at noon, one of the guides found me on the river to tell me what had happened in NYC. I was at the camp for another six weeks before returning to the US, we had no television at the camp and all I knew about the attacks and our reaction was what I heard on CBC radio news. I heard George Bush ask, "Why do they hate us?" I thought this was an opportunity for America to become more humble and self-critical and join the rest of the world. Instead, there was soon talk from Bush about a "crusade" and an invasion of not just Afghanistan, but Iraq. By the time I headed home, I had a strong sense that the Bush administration had missed an opportunity to bring the world together to punish the perpetrators of 9/11 and instead was using 9/11 as an excuse to go to war to extend our control and influence in the oil rich Middle East. I knew this was likely to backfire, confirm what those who hated us believed and create more reason for many to hate the US. The loss of life on 9/11 was very tragic, but our resulting invasion of Iraq was 1000 times worse. I fear we have not yet paid the full price for the Bush administration's mistakes, and I hope that the fact that we have had an exceedingly decent man in the White House for the last seven years has disarmed some of that hatred.
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Fail better America. And that means, learn to tolerate the failings of good people, and to condemn the successes (casinos, golf courses and party nominations included) of despicable people.
41
As an expat New Yorker living in Sydney, Australia when the city was attacked on 9/11, I have a bit of survivor's guilt. I wish I had still been in New York to help in anyway my fellow citizens and those from lands outside the United States. I worked in the World Financial Center and was at work the day of the 1993 bombing. That bombing in comparison to 9/11 was a failure but I couldn't help wondering at the time if an attack would be tried again. Now, from far away, I despair of the disunity that is reflected in our political system and the media. I search the NY Times online each day for positive stories of unity from the city where I was born and the country the I love. I find some, but not enough to counter how dispirited I feel about the current state of my homeland.
10
Well I still live here and feel worse than you do about the place. I feel scared for my 7 and 3 year old grandchildren. Maybe there is room for me and my family in Sydney!
3
At Christmastime 2001, the trees with all the homemade ornaments with the names of all the victims was heartbreaking. Will never forget thinking about the devastated December, no matter religions or none, those families would endure.
4
i was high on opium in nw thailand, not far from th burmese border
i asked th hotel staff to turn on th telly while i ate
i saw what i thought was a cnn dramatisation of what a terrorist attack on nyc would look like
after a few moments, i realised that it was not a dramatization, but real
i turned, and th thai staff were watching behind me, some w tears in their eyes
8
I was watching TV that morning and heard Pauls Zahn on TV.
I had thought George W. Bush a bad choice for America.
I thought this might show him the way to greatness.
I was, of course, confirmed in my evaluation of him.
I had thought George W. Bush a bad choice for America.
I thought this might show him the way to greatness.
I was, of course, confirmed in my evaluation of him.
18
Today I refereed a soccer game for boys yet unborn at the time of the Trade Center disaster.
Before the game I asked for a moment of silence from the spectators, for victims of the attack and also victims of consequent disasters across the globe.
How do we absolve ourselves of the crimes committed against us and in our name as we elect leaders with no apparent sense of responsibility for either?
As in our moment of silence, no one speaks a word.
Before the game I asked for a moment of silence from the spectators, for victims of the attack and also victims of consequent disasters across the globe.
How do we absolve ourselves of the crimes committed against us and in our name as we elect leaders with no apparent sense of responsibility for either?
As in our moment of silence, no one speaks a word.
9
We must arise and go now...
Roger Cohen always manages to get at the real message. Samuel Beckett's
eloquent words redirected towards understanding the tragedy and moving forward to the future. "Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better." What more magnificent words to describe the history of this great nation and its resilience, optimism. America is great. Is now and always will be. Let the politicians who denigrate this country for political gain reflect, please.
eloquent words redirected towards understanding the tragedy and moving forward to the future. "Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better." What more magnificent words to describe the history of this great nation and its resilience, optimism. America is great. Is now and always will be. Let the politicians who denigrate this country for political gain reflect, please.
14
Thank you for reminding us of the kindnesses that we are all capable of, that we so openly seemed to give and receive in those painful months afterwards. They were soothing and healing exchanges - a kind, knowing smile, a door held much longer than necessary to be polite, patience with the slower person on line in front of you - especially to those of us haunted by our experiences that day. The contrast to how we are behaving in this presidential election year is stark.
6
" The contrast to how we are behaving in this presidential election year is stark."
You are referring to the speech being flung around by the various constituencies, and lamenting its competitive tone. Instead, be grateful that you live in a land that still (perhaps not for long) cherishes and supports free speech, free-wheeling elections, and thus avoids military coups.
You are referring to the speech being flung around by the various constituencies, and lamenting its competitive tone. Instead, be grateful that you live in a land that still (perhaps not for long) cherishes and supports free speech, free-wheeling elections, and thus avoids military coups.
Thank you for standing for what truly matters. America is at the cusp of a radical shift in its core identity. Every ounce of conviction is needed to be given voice and to resonate and to help stay anchored to what is at its core a morally noble set of values and to not be led astray by a pied piper willing to forfeit all for a mirage of greatness as empty as his soul. If these efforts fail, as you say, at least may they fail better.
4
I agree, but your comment is so vague that it can be interpreted, I suspect, more than one way by your readers. I wish you had been more specific about the core identity of the country and a morally noble set of values. Who is the pied piper to whom you refer? Get brave, victor, and put it all out there.
We are united—when things get bad enough.
6
Thank you. From one New Yorker to another.
2
Very well written.
1
We must not condemn Muslims for this atrocity, this was a religious atrocity, there are 1 Billion Muslims in the world,of whom the greater majority have no interest in murdering anyone for any fanatical movement.When we honor the dead we must have a Muslim presence as part of our mourning.We cannot be sucked into the hateful rhetoric of a Trump.
21
True, we certainly must NOT condemn all Muslims for this attack just as all Christians are not responsible for attacks by Christians, or all Jews by some Jews.
But I see no "hateful rhetoric" against all Muslims by Trump. I do see the DNC attempting to make his comments look that way, but could you provide concrete examples?
But I see no "hateful rhetoric" against all Muslims by Trump. I do see the DNC attempting to make his comments look that way, but could you provide concrete examples?
Oxford,
Trump emphasis of the immigration of Muslims. 99 % of Syrians trying to enter America are pitiful refugees from a war torn country, & should be welcomed warmly , not with suspicion
There is more danger in our inner cities from thugs then there will ever be from outside sources..
Trump emphasis of the immigration of Muslims. 99 % of Syrians trying to enter America are pitiful refugees from a war torn country, & should be welcomed warmly , not with suspicion
There is more danger in our inner cities from thugs then there will ever be from outside sources..
1
This is Roger Cohen at his poetic best, evoking memories that both sadden and encourage us. The kind of unity forged by the 9/11 attacks, however, could not entirely survive the hot debate over how to respond to an assault committed by non-state actors. While Afghanistan provided sanctuary for Bin Laden, neither the government nor people of the country had directly planned or executed the attack.
The Bush administration, however, decided to make its plan to invade Afghanistan a litmus test for our allies. They had uniformly expressed solidarity with the US in the wake of 9/11, but the president wanted their endorsement of his war policy, without any debate. This bellicose attitude created divisions where unity had prevailed.
Domestically, too, the administration sacrificed the support of Democrats for the sake of political advantage. Most Dems supported the decision to invade Iraq, but the failure to locate the weapons of mass destruction that justified the war provoked uncomfortable questions about the accuracy of administration intelligence. Rather than admit error, Bush and Cheney ran for reelection on a platform that accused the Democrats of indifference to national security.
Thus, a crisis that initially bolstered international and domestic unity rather quickly degenerated into a divisive quarrel that damaged America's relations with its allies and unnecessarily sharpened internal conflicts. A sad commentary on Bush's concept of leadership.
The Bush administration, however, decided to make its plan to invade Afghanistan a litmus test for our allies. They had uniformly expressed solidarity with the US in the wake of 9/11, but the president wanted their endorsement of his war policy, without any debate. This bellicose attitude created divisions where unity had prevailed.
Domestically, too, the administration sacrificed the support of Democrats for the sake of political advantage. Most Dems supported the decision to invade Iraq, but the failure to locate the weapons of mass destruction that justified the war provoked uncomfortable questions about the accuracy of administration intelligence. Rather than admit error, Bush and Cheney ran for reelection on a platform that accused the Democrats of indifference to national security.
Thus, a crisis that initially bolstered international and domestic unity rather quickly degenerated into a divisive quarrel that damaged America's relations with its allies and unnecessarily sharpened internal conflicts. A sad commentary on Bush's concept of leadership.
36
A MORE PERFECT UNION, the aspirational goal of our nation means, in functional terms, what Beckett wrote. If you've failed, try harder. Fail better. As we honor the memories of those who perished in 9/11/2001, we must continue down the path to the more perfect union. Try, fail, try again, fail better.
5
Just lovely.
1
After returning to work on Whitehall Street a little more than a week later.
A few people joined me on Broadway to walk past the burning WTC's smoking ruins, the fires causing tears to pour out of us all instead of sweat.
A few people joined me on Broadway to walk past the burning WTC's smoking ruins, the fires causing tears to pour out of us all instead of sweat.
2
This is an absolutely poetic editorial, and I am not surprised to be the first commenter, as there seems nothing more to say after it. Well done Mr. Cohen.
6
On that fateful day, 38 passenger planes, bound for the USA were diverted to Gander NL, the most easterly province in Canada. A town of 10,000 with help from some small communities close by, accommodated 6,600 of these passengers for five days. They were provided for, in schools, churches,a fire hall, a Legion club, an Elks club, a Knights of Columbus hall and numerous private homes. The world is full of wonderful people, fear not.
32
If anyone wants to see a lovely musical interpretation of Gander's kindness and generosity, may I recommend “Come From Away,” by David Hein and Irene Sankoff. It chronicles what happened when 38 international flights brought some 6,700 unanticipated visitors to Gander in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador on Sept. 11, 2001.
12
A book by Jim De Fede, "The Day The World Came To Town," offers some heart warming stories.
1
Some 250 aircraft were down on secure landing strips all across Canada as US airspace closed down where the same kindness was offered to 1000's of worried Americans. It was noted however that when Mr.Bush spoke thereafter he thanked by name the nations who had offered some supportive gesture but ignored/snubbed Canada. If you read the US press of those days the accusations that the hijackers came from Canada was a common theme enforced by Napolitano and McCain who contributed to the theory that is still rife in US thinking because of the lack of Islamophobia in the Great White North
1
Beautiful sentiment, beautiful writing, Mr Cohen. Thank you.
2
Perfectly, poetically, horribly captured. Honestly, I can barely stand to think about that day, each anniversary. Because of what happened, what we could and should have done afterwards, what we did instead, and the contrast between those latter two things.
Thank you for expressing eloquently what I don't have the words for.
Thank you for expressing eloquently what I don't have the words for.
7
It makes me sad to know that the comments section will soon fill with those who will blame a group, a political party, or an individual for the disunity which floats on the surface of our public life. Before you write one of those posts, or give it a recommend, I beg you to do the following. Please remember that we are all Americans, and that the vast, vast majority of us are doing the best we can for our families and loved ones. Please don't fill the comments section with hate for those with differing opinions. And if all else fails, remember the old adage "When you point a finger at someone, there are four fingers pointing back at you". Peace
4
Sorry Bob. Maybe the vast majority are doing the best they can, but our leaders in both parties are doing the worst they can, and likewise for the people who bought them off.
2
It's more apropos to defer to the master Yeats at this time of remembrance and justly defer to his "abiding sense of tragedy, which sustained him through temporary periods of joy."
"To live is to suffer, to survive is to find some meaning in the suffering."
-- Friedrich Nietzsche
"Life is suffering"
-- Buddha
Embrace the suffering.
"To live is to suffer, to survive is to find some meaning in the suffering."
-- Friedrich Nietzsche
"Life is suffering"
-- Buddha
Embrace the suffering.
41
I arrived at Heathrow the morning of that day. High on the South Downs, somebody told me. At the hostel near Portsmouth, the hosts put out some bottles of wine. Everywhere I went, when my accent was recognized, I was loved and supported. I met a police chief on the cliff path in Devon and told him I was so proud of Bush for not overreacting (!) . The world was all for us, Islam was appalled and wanted to help. What a waste, going out and ruining people's neighborhoods on false information, telling people to go out and shop, when we were all heart and readiness.
"Turn off your TV. Power down your phone, say hi to your neighbor, and introduce yourself to a stranger. Connect. Be the unity you seek."
At Land's End, I heard about Michael Moore and picked up a copy of "Stupid White Men" at the airport on my way home; it would not be published for six months here.
Since then, we have become a bad example for the world's greedsters, looters, otherblamers, and petrol freaks, thinking fracking is a solution rather than a problem (madness: boom and bust, toxic, water polluting, privatization of profit and socialization of risk, typical of shallow short-term thinkers everywhere).
Obama gave us a break, but Republicans decided on his first day to obstruct. Teapublicans thought their hate was a better guide for life. He has given us something to be proud of, even now.
But thanks to Roger Cohen: "Samuel Beckett: “Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better.”"
"Turn off your TV. Power down your phone, say hi to your neighbor, and introduce yourself to a stranger. Connect. Be the unity you seek."
At Land's End, I heard about Michael Moore and picked up a copy of "Stupid White Men" at the airport on my way home; it would not be published for six months here.
Since then, we have become a bad example for the world's greedsters, looters, otherblamers, and petrol freaks, thinking fracking is a solution rather than a problem (madness: boom and bust, toxic, water polluting, privatization of profit and socialization of risk, typical of shallow short-term thinkers everywhere).
Obama gave us a break, but Republicans decided on his first day to obstruct. Teapublicans thought their hate was a better guide for life. He has given us something to be proud of, even now.
But thanks to Roger Cohen: "Samuel Beckett: “Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better.”"
121
I was at my desk in my home office 35 miles away in Northern NJ, working without the TV on. My wife, in L.A. at an industry conference (it was 6:30 AM her time) called to tell me that we were under attack. She’d planned to be at a business breakfast at Windows on the World (the restaurant that used to be on the top of the north tower) that morning, but had been pulled out at the last second to participate in marketing events at the L.A. conference. I turned on the TV and spent the day watching the coverage, work forgotten. My business partner came out of Manhattan on one of the last ferries before the shutdown and watched the plane impact the south tower. With the grounding of planes that followed, my wife came home cross-country in a van with a number of fellow-workers, in a three-day push.
So many stories so similar to mine. I had clients in the towers, knew some of them well. It’s been said that no other single event since WWII has involved such a high percentage of Americans with entanglements of one kind or another to those who died in the towers, in an immense building in Virginia, a lone plane impacting the earth in Pennsylvania, the innocent Americans who died in the planes that wreaked the havoc, and a city so wounded.
It’s good to remember, if anything good could ever come of that day, that we still can be united despite our differences. It remains a hope that we can find some semblance of that unity again without the need for such a horrific justification.
So many stories so similar to mine. I had clients in the towers, knew some of them well. It’s been said that no other single event since WWII has involved such a high percentage of Americans with entanglements of one kind or another to those who died in the towers, in an immense building in Virginia, a lone plane impacting the earth in Pennsylvania, the innocent Americans who died in the planes that wreaked the havoc, and a city so wounded.
It’s good to remember, if anything good could ever come of that day, that we still can be united despite our differences. It remains a hope that we can find some semblance of that unity again without the need for such a horrific justification.
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