September 11, 2024 will be the 23rd anniversary of the tragic terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Resilience, helping countries recover and rebuild.
Every year, an event is held at Ground Zero to commemorate those who died that day. The event organizer, the 9/11 Memorial and Museum, is dedicated to honoring those who lost their lives, as well as the brave first responders, recovery personnel and volunteers who risked everything to help others. This mission remains very important to me, especially as a new generation grows up with no direct memory of 9/11. Yet we must ask ourselves: What can unite America right now? This is a difficult question to answer when we look at our history and current situation. Sometimes I wonder if unity is possible. But yesterday, I saw President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, Donald Trump, J.D. Vance and other dignitaries standing side by side to pay tribute to those who lost their lives in that terrorist attack.
What if we could show the same compassion for those who have been marginalized, murdered, or otherwise oppressed throughout our nation’s history? The fact is that many of these “terrorists” are domestic – people born in this country, perpetuating violence and division. This is not to say that the Ku Klux Klan, their offshoots, and more organized groups have wreaked havoc over the centuries. To me, this is the heart of the matter. We are not honest enough about our past. In order for real healing to begin, there must be a reckoning with the facts.
I know it seems like a pipe dream, but keeping hope alive is necessary to keep moving forward and fighting for what is right. Most people in this country want simple things: a good meal, a fair chance of success, and a life filled with happiness. If there were more good times than bad, many people would be satisfied with that.
However, some of us demand more – and this is where internal conflict arises. This is a deeper, more complex conversation. But for a moment, it was refreshing to see our political leaders united in harmony.
Photos by Chuck Creekmur (except below), courtesy of the 9/11 Memorial and Museum
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