The Way I See It - Remembering September 11
The Way I See It - Remembering Sept. 11
By: Doug Dickerson/Staff Writer 09/06/2006
"Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it."
George Santayana, The Life of Reason, Volume 1, 1905
US (Spanish-born) philosopher (1863 - 1952)
Next week marks the five-year anniversary of the September 11 attacks. Where were you when you first heard about it? Whom did you call first? Who called you first? How did it make you feel to watch the towers burn?
As we mark this anniversary of that fateful day, I would like us to remember a few things that I think are so important during these hyper-partisan times we now live in. Moreover, in doing so, hopefully remind us that the things we share in common are more than the things that divide us.
First, we share a common enemy. Eric Hoffer once said, "You can discover what your enemy fears most by observing the means he uses to frighten you." The goal of Islamic fascism is to instill fear, death and destruction; it is to destroy our very way of life. In short, what our enemy fears most from us is the foundational basis of our country: liberty and freedom. At all costs, we must defend what our ancestors fought and died for. People from all walks of life died on 9/11. The target was America, not Democrats nor Republicans, not rich nor poor, not gay nor straight, not black nor white. America. Five years later, we must remember that the goal of our enemy has not changed and neither should the resolve we all shared that day. Freedom and liberty must prevail and our enemy must be defeated. Winston Churchill once observed, "An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile - hoping it will eat him last." Appeasing the enemy only delays his inevitable goal. Our shared enemy must be crushed.
Second, we share the same history. The experience of 9/11 taught us that life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness secured for us many years ago, is still vulnerable today. Our shared history, regardless of other issues that divide us, bring us together in a cause greater than ourselves. The Judeo-Christian principles upon which America was founded were not by accident, but rather by design. We must understand that it is our philosophies of government, religion and freedom that are opposed by our enemies. Margaret Thatcher once observed, "Europe was created by history. America is a product of philosophy." Our founding principles are the cornerstones upon which we live today. Our defense of these principles must never waver. Thomas Jefferson said, "I would rather be exposed to the inconveniences attending too much liberty than to those attending too small a degree of it." Today we chart our history from the perspective of history. In doing so, we must never forget 9/11.
Finally, we share the same future. The course we chart, the lessons we learn, all navigate for us a shared destiny. Abigail Adams observed, "Learning is not attained by chance, it must be sought for with ardor and attended to with diligence." As we pause, reflect and remember the tragic events of that September day, let us do so with a renewed vow and attend to it with due diligence. While we may not all share the same ideas on how to fight this war on terror, one thing is certain, we will all share the consequences of the outcome.
On this five-year anniversary of 9/11, let us not lose sight of our shared values and the noble cause of freedom that we enjoy today. Our future is only as secure as the value we place on this freedom.
On 9/11, we remember, honor and pay tribute to all who lost family, friends and loved ones. Let the way in which we remember and live be a worthy tribute to the memory of those not with us today. May God bless America.
©Summerville Journal-Scene 2006
By: Doug Dickerson/Staff Writer 09/06/2006
"Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it."
George Santayana, The Life of Reason, Volume 1, 1905
US (Spanish-born) philosopher (1863 - 1952)
Next week marks the five-year anniversary of the September 11 attacks. Where were you when you first heard about it? Whom did you call first? Who called you first? How did it make you feel to watch the towers burn?
As we mark this anniversary of that fateful day, I would like us to remember a few things that I think are so important during these hyper-partisan times we now live in. Moreover, in doing so, hopefully remind us that the things we share in common are more than the things that divide us.
First, we share a common enemy. Eric Hoffer once said, "You can discover what your enemy fears most by observing the means he uses to frighten you." The goal of Islamic fascism is to instill fear, death and destruction; it is to destroy our very way of life. In short, what our enemy fears most from us is the foundational basis of our country: liberty and freedom. At all costs, we must defend what our ancestors fought and died for. People from all walks of life died on 9/11. The target was America, not Democrats nor Republicans, not rich nor poor, not gay nor straight, not black nor white. America. Five years later, we must remember that the goal of our enemy has not changed and neither should the resolve we all shared that day. Freedom and liberty must prevail and our enemy must be defeated. Winston Churchill once observed, "An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile - hoping it will eat him last." Appeasing the enemy only delays his inevitable goal. Our shared enemy must be crushed.
Second, we share the same history. The experience of 9/11 taught us that life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness secured for us many years ago, is still vulnerable today. Our shared history, regardless of other issues that divide us, bring us together in a cause greater than ourselves. The Judeo-Christian principles upon which America was founded were not by accident, but rather by design. We must understand that it is our philosophies of government, religion and freedom that are opposed by our enemies. Margaret Thatcher once observed, "Europe was created by history. America is a product of philosophy." Our founding principles are the cornerstones upon which we live today. Our defense of these principles must never waver. Thomas Jefferson said, "I would rather be exposed to the inconveniences attending too much liberty than to those attending too small a degree of it." Today we chart our history from the perspective of history. In doing so, we must never forget 9/11.
Finally, we share the same future. The course we chart, the lessons we learn, all navigate for us a shared destiny. Abigail Adams observed, "Learning is not attained by chance, it must be sought for with ardor and attended to with diligence." As we pause, reflect and remember the tragic events of that September day, let us do so with a renewed vow and attend to it with due diligence. While we may not all share the same ideas on how to fight this war on terror, one thing is certain, we will all share the consequences of the outcome.
On this five-year anniversary of 9/11, let us not lose sight of our shared values and the noble cause of freedom that we enjoy today. Our future is only as secure as the value we place on this freedom.
On 9/11, we remember, honor and pay tribute to all who lost family, friends and loved ones. Let the way in which we remember and live be a worthy tribute to the memory of those not with us today. May God bless America.
©Summerville Journal-Scene 2006
posted by Doug Dickerson | 3:18 AM
1 Comments:
Very well said, Doug. Thanks for sharing this with us. And yes, may God continue to bless America, and may America bless God.
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