It has been twenty-five years — a quarter of a century — since followers of a demonic Islamist ideology attacked our nation and murdered nearly 3,000 people. For some Americans, memories have faded. Others choose to forget or forgive. Some never experienced the savagery of that day. Someone who was five years old on 9/11 is now 30. Someone born that day will turn 25. Roughly 26 million Americans alive today were five years old or younger on 9/11.
Still, the events of September 11, 2001 brought a horror to our shores that the world must never be allowed to forget.
On the one hand, it’s easy to understand why so many remain blissfully ignorant of the events of September 11. On the other hand, it points to a serious shortcoming in an American education system that may fail to adequately emphasize the most horrific terrorist attack on our shores in American history. Too often, I see the subject of 9/11 avoided out of concern that an honest discussion of what happened — and the Islamic ideology that motivated the attackers — might offend someone. However, it's impossible to defend America if we are afraid to name the enemy and the ideology that inspires him.
For a sad example of ignorance about 9/11, watch this video of uninformed students at the prestigious George Mason University.
This summer we visited the Flight 93 National Memorial in Shanksville, PA where the heroes aboard that plane fought back against their hijackers, causing the aircraft to crash there rather than reach its presumed target in the nation’s capital. I was genuinely surprised at the emotions and memories it evoked for me. I can honestly say I was not the only person dabbing at their eyes while walking through the museum. I hadn’t expected a place I had known about for 25 years to affect me that way.
The same ideology that fueled those attacks still continues to inspire violence and terrorism around the world, including here in the United States. And yet, many remain complacent, blind, or willfully ignorant.
Today we remember the nearly 3,000 victims of the terrorists, the first responders who ran toward danger, and the families whose grief has never faded. Their sacrifice and suffering deserve not only our remembrance but also our resolve.
Remembering isn’t merely looking backward; the ideology behind the attacks still requires vigilance. We must remember what was done to us on that bright September morning. We must stand firm against the ideology that inspired it. Be vigilant, for the evil one and his minions have not relented. The threat endures.
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| New York City, September 11, 2001 |
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| The Pentagon, September 11, 2001 |
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| Shanksville, PA, September 11, 2001 |
Well said David. A young friend reminded me this week he was 1yo when this occurred. May we never forget and may we instruct those that come after us. I desire life and forgiveness in Christ for any who repent and turn from wickedness. But as a people we must firmly resist evil and its relentless desire to destroy all that we have been blessed with.
ReplyDeleteThanks Dave. The number of "Remember" tributes today far outnumber the reminders of the evil ideology, invented by Mohammed, behind the murders on that day. Without contrition, and penance for their crimes, there can be no forgiveness. I read yesterday that Fairfax, VA county schools has instructed teachers to NOT mention islam in connection with 9/11. That is appalling.
DeleteIt's a disgrace to the country that 25 years later we STILL have not tried Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and his co-conspirators.