Sept. 11 taught us many things as a nation. It taught us what is a true hero. It showed us how we all are connected here in America. It showed us how neighbors can embrace one another to recover from tragedy. It taught us that the human spirit is more powerful than any enemy could ever be. It revealed the character of this nation.
One of the most poignant lessons we get from 9-11 is that we need to appreciate everyday.
It came abundantly clear that our safety is not guaranteed and we need to treat every moment as if it is a precious gift, because that is precisely what it is. When we are aware of this fact it makes our day-to-day lives more meaningful.
On Sept. 10th, 2001 we had no idea how soon our lives would be turned upside down. We went about our days as if nothing could go wrong. I don't think we as a society could see how incredibly fragile and precious life can be.
Sadly, it would take the deaths of over 3,000 innocent Americans for us to recognize this. It forced us all to take account of our lives. 9-11 made us all take a step back and recognize what is truly important in our lives.
This world had seen tragedy of course but it rarely touched us here in America.
We had the bombing of the World Trade Center in 1993 and Timothy McVeigh attacked us in Oklahoma City in 1995, but those seemed like they were ages ago.
We only saw terror on this scale on television. It was something that happened to people in other countries. Most of us could not have fathomed something on this scale happening on American soil. We had a false sense of safety and that is a dangerous thing to have in this day and age.
In politics people have been playing the blame game for the past five years. Politicians throw searing remarks across the aisle and it hurts us all.
I believe that if politicians put half of the energy into fighting the war on terror that they put into blaming people for what happened, we would be far better off. Blame has its place, of course, but for now we need to focus in the task at had.
Remember not only those who were lost on Sept. 11. Also remember and honor those who are working to make sure a tragedy like this never happens again. I have no doubt that without their sacrifices, countless other citizens would have been killed by now. But thankfully for us, there are people in this country who are not afraid to stand up and fight back.
What is the best way to honor those lost in the tragedy on Sept. 11?
First and foremost we need to remember those we lost. Honor the sacrifice of the brave men and women working everyday to keep us safe.
Finally, I think one of the best ways to remember Sept. 11 is to call your family and friends and tell them you love them.
Cherish your time with your family and enjoy life. Nobody knows what the future holds but we all know how to make the most of the present.
Write to Alex at apcaroll@bsu.edu
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