Tag: Memorial

Eight Years Later

Eight years ago, an atrocity against civilization was committed. The events of that day were not merely attacks against the United States, or Western culture, or any of the other fashionable excuses. They were attacks against civilization itself, examples of an ideology steeped in barbarism.

Eight years later, and we have returned to a sense of complacency. The horrors of that day have become less visceral with age. We have, in some sense, fogotten the lessons we learned that terrible day. We have slipped back into the mentality of pre-9/11 America, when shark attacks and Gary Condit were more important than the barbarians at our gates.

We cannot be so complacent. Despite our best efforts, many of those responsible for these inhuman acts are still at large. Afghanistan is still threatened by the Taliban. Pakistan, a country possessing nuclear arms, still has the sword of Damocles over its head as the lawless frontiers continue to incubate terror.

The events of that day eight years ago changed our world. We owe it to those who died to never forget, and never allow this kind of barbarism to reign free again. The long war has not ended. Eight years ago, a city of millions mourned the loss of 3,000. The next attack could see it the other way around. We cannot bear that cost. We must be unflinching in our defense of our values and unyielding in our determination to fight groups like al-Qaeda.

We must never forget what happened eight years ago, or it will happen again.

Seven Years Later

It’s difficult to believe that seven years have passed since the terrible events of September 11, 2001. In the past seven years, we have not been visited by more attacks of that magnitude. What seemed inevitable seven years ago thankfully never materialized. Al-Qaeda is severely disrupted. Their leadership is scattered, their resources diminished, many of their plans thwarted.

But the real lesson of September 11, 2001 is that we can never be complacent in a world of threats.

Radical Islam is still out there. It still represents a threat not only to the United States, but to the rest of the world. An ideology that is so steeped in hatred cannot be ignored. Sooner or later, we will be hit again—unless we are willing to take action to prevent it.

Seven years ago, it seemed like the world would never be the same. Today, the world seems much more like September 10 than September 12. Yet it is our solemn duty never to forget what happened seven year ago. We owe that responsibility not only to the brave men and women who lost their lives that terrible day, but to ensure that such atrocities are never again allowed to happen.