Ultimately, we suffered a horrible loss that day. There were 2996 immediate deaths on September 11th, 2001. This wasn’t just an attack on America, it was an attack on the world, with victims from over 90 countries.
Even now, victims and rescuers alike suffer life threatening medical conditions due to the exposure to toxins during the attacks.
And then, there’s the war. In the ensuing 13 years we’ve definitely taken the fight to the enemy and even cut their head off a time or two. But, like a hydra, they come back. Even now, the world is faced with the threat of a resurgent Islamic fundamentalism that targets our ideals in both word and deed. We must oppose them in every case, lest our efforts thus far, be in vain.
Tags: 9/11
Thank you for putting this up. It actually means alot to me that you refuse to forget. I mentioned this on my social media page last year and actually got bashed from someone who was prior military and from my own family that I need to forgive and forget, to just move on. I really don’t think an atrocity of this magnitude should ever just be swept under the rug and just wait for the next attack. Much in the same manner people feel about sandy hook when it comes to gun control (the wrong response in my opinion, but the victims and friends of the families affected more than warrant an opinion, regardless of stance). 9/11 is historical evidence that evil exists in this world and can affect a multitude of countries and nations no matter how far on top you believe you are. Thanks for actually giving a damn as opposed to the blindly free people who think they know how to change the world with their opinions. Some things, such as remembering the women and men we lost that day, are better off never erased from our minds and our textbooks. Many may think the enemy is winning through us recalling, but it’s actually a reminder as to why we have been at war for 13 years.
Never forget… ever.
People from the 1940’s never forgot Pearly Harbor.
Our generation should never forget 9/11
Well said Eric – well said
Virtually every American alive that day will take their memories of the horrendous acts of cowardice, and the subsequent acts of heroism that followed, to their graves. What I find offensive is that on the other 364 days of the year, most everyone, and especially politicians, act as if 9-11 never happened. I see local fire fighters and LEOs in an epic struggle against budget cutting politicians. The final chapter on 9-11 and who was responsible has yet to be written. But one fact is not in dispute: The first response to the multiple tragedies that day, and on all the days since, was by local law enforcement and fire fighters. They must not be deprived of the resources, human and material, necessary to provide their communities with adequate first response capabilities.
“This wasn’t just an attack on America, it was an attack on the world, with victims from over 90 countries.”
Amen! I was living in London at the time, and the British were very effected by it all too.
I also remember the French newspaper headline from the next day that said “Today we are all Americans”.
Let’s remember this important fact about 9/11 – its not just US “Patriot Day”, it was day on which all of civilization itself was attacked.
On this day, and every day, let’s remember those 3,000 lives that were taken. Let’s focus on them – not on the architecture.
Thank you Eric for posting this “As It Happened” series today – its been tough and emotional to re-live it, but its vitally important…
AWESOME set of posts…Never Forget…Never Forgive!
Thank you for posting this. It’s easy at times to piss and moan about deployments, but being reminded of the alternative… waging the fight at home and seeing our loved ones harmed, our children terrorized, our homes destroyed… puts it all in perspective. Never again.
“…to the last I grapple with thee; from hell’s heart I stab at thee; for hate’s sake I spit my last breath at thee.”
Stick to the news, your editorial overload of 9/11 nostalgia is not helpful.
Zig Zag…Wrong in so many ways. Show some respect.
Considering I’ve posted daily since May of 2008 and have almost 12,000 posts, I’m sure you can handle my “nostalgia” for one day. It’s helpful to me.
But the more I thunk about your snotty comment, I wonder. How is it nostalgia when we are still fighting the same people who did this? What fantasy world do you live in?
AND WE HAVE NO TROLLS!!!
Great Posting SSD….Never Forget, Never Forgive…
“This is my shield. I bear it before me into battle, but it is not mine alone. It protects my brother on my left. It protects my city. I will never let my brother fall out of its shadow, nor my city fall out of its shelter. I will die with my shield before me facing the enemy.” ~Spartan Creed circa 490 BC
Hey Zig Zag; have a coke and a smile and shut the fuck up… NOT Helpful?! Agreed. It’s not at all ‘helpful’ that full-on INGRATES like YOU apprise everyone here of the boundless depths of your selfishness. For future reference in your bleak future, please feel free to keep these so-called ‘opinions’ to yourself. Personally, as I lost three close friends in the Twin Towers that ‘fateful day’ SSD’s postings are entirely helpful to me and brought me a modicum of comfort(knowing someone who cares, also took the time to post their point of view). Thank you SSD and thank you for doing what you do, so well!! Keep up the great work and continue to ignore the fools…
Addendum; while my parents reared and taught me to always ‘forgive & forget’… It will be a very long time before I can ever ‘forgive’ and I will absolutely NEVER forget. I freely accept that these are the burdens that a true Warrior’s soul will always have to bear