Reflecting On The Unity Of 9/11

Ten years ago today, we witnessed the worst terrorist attack on our country’s soil. Whether we were in the classroom, or at work, everything stopped that day to witness the event that would change our nation forever. Those images are burned into all of our minds, and we will never forget what happened on that day – September 11, 2001.

Obviously, many people have talked about what happened today as a way to remember this tragic event, and memorialize those innocent people who died that day. I would like to discuss the aftermath of the event rather than what happened itself. We all remember what happened that day, but not often enough do we remember the unity that took place in the days following.

Our nation just witnessed a nightmarish attack on innocent life. Many would think that fighting would take place as people would begin to enter a survival mode, not knowing what attack was coming next or who to trust. This did not take place. In fact, the country became stronger. There was no pointless bickering, no political partisanship – we were all one. Why now has that changed?

Everyday, we see Republicans battling with Democrats, and vice versa. We see people discriminated against due to their race or religion. We see people killing each other over petty arguments. We see the fabric of our country being shred thread by thread.

Fellow Americans, let us truly honor the lives we lost that day by becoming one country again. Yes, there are many issues that we all don’t agree on; but instead of slinging insults and blame at each other, let’s find common ground and unite to compromise on those issues. Let us lend a hand to someone we see struggling in our communities and lift them from their despair. Let us look beyond race, religion, and ideology and see each other as brothers and sisters rather than enemies. Let us become one people again.

There is no greater threat to our country than terrorism, but there is one that no one seems to see; the threat of civil war. Not a literal war of course, but a social and political civil war. Partisanship and differing ideologies in our country have become the source of anger, hate, and fear. Those traits are what the terrorists hoped would be instilled in us following their malicious attack on our country. We didn't let it happen then, so why should we let them win now? Why can't return to the non-partisan unity that we witnessed in the days and weeks following 9/11? We must put our differences aside now and come together before it is too late.

Here is a video clip of Congress, standing united on 9/11. Instead of fighting, they stood together and embraced each other, and spontaneously broke out in song. Democrat and Republican were not words used on that day. Policies weren't debated, and issues weren't used as political chess pieces. We should become that way again.

Let us never forget what happened on September 11, 2001 and the lives that we lost that day; but, let us also never forget the unity that took place as well. Ask our elected officials to do the same.