As Ulster Politics writes this on September 10, every family across America, seven years ago was living in the fiction that terrorism was something that happens somewhere else. Just a few hours later, that falsehood would be destroyed forever. 21st century warfare had hit home, less than 100 miles away from must of us.
On 9/11, tragedies occurred but heroes were also born. None of us can forget the view of people literally jumping for their lives, or Mayor Giuliani walking while aides breathed through masks he plowed through the rubble, or our firefighters climbing up the towers when everyone else climbed down.
Days later, President Bush stood on the rubble, keeping retired firefighter Bob Beckwith by his side, comforting those he could, resolving to bring terrorists to justice.
We can evaluate and opine whether or not that has accomplished . . . but maybe not today. Today, we tell those who supported the acts of the 9/11 terrorists that they did not prevail. Today, as Osama hides in his caves, our children are in schools, commerce is occurring, free speech is being exercised, people are praying at Church, Mosque, and Temple, and our American flags are flying.
To all our candidates for this year’s election: Maurice Hinchey, George Phillips, John Bonacic, Bill Larkin, Larry Delarose, Kevin Cahill, Robin Yess, Peter Lopez, Clifford Crouch, Tom Kirwan, and Frank Skartados, Len Bernardo, Mike Hein, Jim Quigley, and Elliott Auerbach: THANK YOU.
Thank you for doing what those who fear us fear most: that in America, anyone can decide they want to run for office, participate in the Democracy, be elected by the people to be their representative.
More importantly – to our American heroes across the globe – our men and women in uniform, our firefighters here at home, our police, our local Sheriff’s Department, our emergency services workers: THANK YOU. Your heroism abroad and at home keeps us safe and free.
9/11 – hey Osama, we are still here and we are still free. How’s your cave tonight?
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