The anniversary of the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001 is fast approaching. The media is planning retrospectives reviewing the events and their impact, and rightfully so. It was a life-changing event for most Americans, even for those who had no friends or relatives directly affected by the attacks. It was a crossroads event in U.S. history that touched all of us in some way.
Besides the terrible loss of life and the tragic impact on so many families, the economic costs are mind-boggling. In addition to the direct costs of the destruction of some of the most high-priced real estate in the world, the shock wave paralyzed businesses all over the country. Nobody wanted to make long-term decisions or investments, and the stock market plunged. Of course, here in Nevada the impact on travel and tourism caused thousands of people to lose their jobs and many businesses to experience real financial crisis.
Traveling by air now is certainly different than it was last year at this time. Security checks, long lines and personal searches are now associated with air travel. More than once, an entire airport has been shut down because some idiot ran past a security check in his rush to make a flight. My family and I had planned a trip to the Holy Land last fall, but we cancelled it because we just didn’t feel safe, and many other families made similar decisions.
In general, we’re more suspicious of foreigners now. A certain amount of profiling may be necessary for security reasons. So many Americans find it easy to hate a whole group of people for the actions of a few evil men. This is certainly a trend we need to carefully watch and pray about.
Some would say that losing our sense of security has been a negative result of the terrorist attacks. However, knowing what we know now, it is time to wakeup and heed the call to action. Now that we’re aware of the dangers, we can be prepared, even if it means taking expensive and inconvenient precautions.
If you stop to think about it, some good things came out of this tragedy. Americans have rediscovered their pride in this great country, which many of us took for granted before. The majority of Americans have united in support of our president and his administration. We have drawn closer to each other as fellow Americans. We have also become more aware of the importance of our families, and many of us have come to realize that we need God’s help in coping with this seemingly senseless world. I hope these effects will not be short-lived, and that we will continue to give thanks for our country and to work together to keep it great.
The events of Sept. 11 also taught us who the real heroes are – before then, we were a lot more willing to give the title of “hero” to rap singers or sports stars. It also taught us that ordinary people such as Todd Beamer (“Let’s roll!”) and the other passengers on United Flight 93 could stand up and become heroes.
It also taught us the importance of politics, from the local level to the international arena. We are more aware now of what’s happening in other places around the world, and we have taken the time to consider how other countries view the United States. We are more likely to debate each other on such issues as whether the U.S. government should make efforts to overthrow Saddam Hussein, or whether the detainees at Guantanamo Bay are being treated correctly under our legal system. Political debate is always a healthy thing.
The nation is recovering economically and psychologically. We are better prepared for the future and more aware of our country’s role in it. But let’s not be in such a hurry to get back to “normal” that we forget the lessons of Sept. 11 – the importance of priorities: God, family, friends and patriotism.
Let’s not fall back into apathy where politics are concerned. A good way to start is to take an interest in the upcoming primary election on September third. Remember how there was such a demand for U.S. flags in the days following Sept. 11 that stores ran out of them? Flags were everywhere then. Are you still flying your flag? If so, is it ragged and dirty? Let’s make sure we still fly our flags proudly and keep reminding ourselves and others what they stand for. Let’s work together to rebuild our nation and to make sure it remains “One Nation under God.”