9/11 and loss

The attacks of September 11th represent to me both a profound tragedy, and a critical opportunity lost. Admittedly, our democracy wasn't moving in the right direction before that day. But there may have been leaders, of either party, who would have responded to the 9/11 crisis by reassessing our priorities and revitalizing the principles of the ideal America. Those leaders could have forged us into a far, far stronger nation.

Our current government's reaction to it, instead, represented to me a full-out sprint away from that ideal. I believe it has made us weaker, more cynical, and much less caring about and trusting of each other, qualities far more conducive to an anarchy than to a cohesive, thriving society. Today half of our nation is ashamed of what we've become. And apart from the Civil War, this period may be the most acrimonious in our history.

On the anniversary of 9/11, let us remember those who were lost. And let us also remember what was lost, what was wrested from our democracy and our community, in its wake. We owe the people who died so much more of a legacy than we've given them thus far.