There are very few events so powerful that virtually everyone in this country (or in some cases, the world) knows exactly where they were and what they were doing when the news broke. For our parents generation it was Pearl Harbor and the Atomic Bombing of Nagasaki and Hiroshima. And maybe V-Day Europe and V-Day Pacific.
Then there was the JFK assassination. I was 7, really too young for complete comprehension. But I still remember the Principal’s ashen face and my second grade teacher crying and sending us home.
For millions of us, the assassination of John Lennon was like that, but I don’t believe that was universal.
The Moon landing is the only time I can think of when it was something good.
And then came September 11, 2001. It closed all forms of transportation. It shut down all the financial markets. It was huge international news and the shortened version 9-11 instantly became shorthand for so much more.
It spawned a new federal department, homeland security, and a new and dangerous set of laws (the patriot act). It allowed President Bush to start 2 wars that went on for decades and spilled more blood and treasure than the hit on the towers ever did.
The wars were with nations that had nothing to do with the attack (Iraq) and very little to do with it (Afghanistan). The nation that spawned the evil got off free and were able to continue the “friendship” with the United States.
Looking at it with the power of hindsight, the master minds behind the attack got just what they wanted. An effective attack on American civil liberties, greater division, and weakened morale. Mission accomplished.
But tonight I am thinking mostly of the families and friends of the ones who died that day, and of the profound heroism of a few of them.
3000+ souls translates to hundreds of thousands who lost someone. Some of the victims had infant children at home that never knew one of their parents. Those kids are 22 years old now.
May all of you, whoever and wherever you may be, have an easy day on this unfathomably painful anniversary. And may you find peace.
This goes for all the New Yorkers that lived it. Blessed be.
Amazingly, they seem to have identified two victims just this week.
You're right: nothing has been like this during my lifetime (I was born after the moon landings). The pandemic comes close, but it wasn't just one day.
Flight United 93 members were the true heroes, if we believe in the actual ideas of America. (I won’t begin to rant about how TimeMag called the fraud, Giuliani, the person of that year.) Thank you for another beautiful and poignant post. “Let’s Roll.”