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We hear it all the time. “Never forget 9/11!” But I don't know that I'm climbing aboard that bandwagon.
The same has been said about Pearl Harbor and the Holocaust. And plenty of people have tried to keep that memory alive, but I don't think I can ever understand those events he way my parents and grandparents do. I can't really be part of it the way those who lived through it can. And of course I can't experience the way those who didn't live through it—or who lost family—did.
Last night I spent quite some time discussing 9/11 with my 15-year-old daughter, Monica. She was only four when it happened. She doesn't remember much as all. She asked me a bunch of questions and was very interested. But she'll never understand it the way I do.
I think it's normal that her generation won't get the impact as those who were adults. Just as I'm sure I don't understand the Holocaust or any other historic barbarism. In fact, I think it's healthy. Can you imagine living with an entire world history of destruction and atrocity in the present?
What we should keep alive with the younger generation is how precious and precarious freedom is. I think that is the point, isn't it? There are so many who sincerely believe atrocities “can never happen here”—even though they can see such atrocities all over the world. They believe we are somehow immune to the consequences of unwise choices. It's astounding and naive.
One of the oddest things is to see how easily people—of any political persuasion—will give away crucial freedoms for some kind of “security” or freebie.
We need to recognize what principles made America great and what principles will keep her great. They are they same principles.
Alison Moore Smith is a 61-year-old entrepreneur who graduated from BYU in 1987. She has been (very happily) married to Samuel M. Smith for 40 years. They are parents of six incredible children and grandparents to two astounding grandsons. She is the author of The 7 Success Habits of Homeschoolers.
This is the best thing I’ve read on this topic. With all the swirling of 9-11 shows and articles, this makes the most sense because it asks WHY do we want to keep the memory alive. It’s not really because we want to keep watching a plane crash into a building and not because we want to see people fall out of buildings. It’s to keep the cause of freedom alive.
Well done!
I think remembering and feeling the full impact are two different things. I’m a big proponent of studying history (because otherwise we’re doomed to repeat it–I know you’ve heard that.) And while I can’t get the full impact of events that happened before my time, I am often profoundly moved by reading about them, not in dry, boring textbooks, but in the words of those who lived it and who have shared their own personal experiences. I think that helps me to remember, honor, and learn from the past.
There are certainly a few areas that could use some adjustments. We should start by shutting down the TSA and privatizing airport security again – with federally specified requirements if necessary, but none of the liability-free sexual assaults.
Requiring warrants for all searches would be a good thing too. What possible excuse is there to let FBI agents conduct warrant free searches?
Last, we should get rid of unconstitutional military detention. Congress should be required to invoke the insurrection clause, and the executive branch should have to prove to a civil court that someone is an enemy combatant before any such detention takes place.
I understand your line of thinking on this, an still, becasuse it did happen in our time and during the lifetimes of the many family members and friends of loved ones lost on that day- I believe it is best remembered with hallowed respect to the deeply felt emotions that are very alive today.
Equally as important, is our ability today to tie what happened in the past to moving forward toward the future. The common thread being our recognition of the principles that our nation was founded upon and that if kept alive, will continue to set our nation on a hill to light the way.
We (Americans) should understand and value liberty and freedom like no other- and we need good people to stand up for those values; champion and speak them. Diligently teach them. Regularly outline and define them. LIVE them in such a way that we inspire others to do the same.
We remember our fallen Americans best, by truly BEING Americans who are free to LIVE and ACT as such; of our own accord and by the dictates of our own concience.
I think that it is impossible to forget such day as this was the most terrible day in the world. It is very nice that a new generation won’t remember it as they should only know about the danger, but they shouldn’t remember at all.
Hello, I think that it is so difficult to forget an event, that had a massive impact on so many people’s lives. However, I agree that people who were not present at the time, do not need to know about all the terrible happenings and should know about the good things that have happened, rather than always focusing on the negative events.