The Decade of National Security: In Remembrance Of 9/11

Tomorrow marks 10 years since the horrific events of September 11th, 2001 and as I reflect back on the day which became the defining moment of the first decade of the 21st century, I cannot remember many specific thoughts or comments, but I do recall feelings of horror and heartbreak, and discussing with co-workers the changes this attack would force on our nation.  We responded with horror, shock, compassion, support, and patriotism.  Our nation responded with force and a dedication to improve national security. 

Today, we have DHS, TSA, and a host of new government organizations directly tied to national security and counter-terrorism.  Security protocols for airline travel, border crossings, access to public landmarks, wire-tapping, public surveillance, e-mail monitoring, financial transaction monitoring, public awareness and more have been created or strengthened and there has been a tremendous increase in the activities directed at securing our nation's critical infrastructure.  We have taken the war against terrorism to Iraq and Afghanistan and have taken out Osama Bin Laden and many high-ranking leaders of the Al-Qaeda terrorist organization.

               

These heightened security protocols overall are favored by a majority of citizens, yet are viewed by nearly all as a loss of civil liberties.  A recent poll by AP-NORC conducted between July 28th and August 15th of this year found that while a majority of the citizens favor heightened security protocols protection of civil liberties should maintain an equal priority with national security.  I recommend everyone to read the survey report at http://www.apnorc.org/Common/pdfs/AP-NORC-Civil-Liberties-Security-9-11-Report.pdf.

               

I agree with the need for heightened security; however, I do not want an Orwellian society where the government has knowledge of and controls every aspect of our lives.  Being a frequent traveler, I miss the pre-9/11 levels of airport security; on the other hand, would 9/11 have occurred if our pre-9/11 airport security had been at post-9/11 levels?  Within our national borders we have not had a major terrorist incident since 9/11 even though there have been many attempts.  While the security measures implemented over the past 10 years have encroached on our civil liberties and increased frustration and time spent waiting in lines, they have saved lives.  Our enemies are determined to destroy our way of life, our liberties, and our freedom.  Yet, we stand, a beacon of hope, of freedom, the “golden door” to the world!

                

The past decade has been one of the toughest in our history and we are still on the precipice of economic disaster; yet, we are a nation whose strength lies in its citizens.  Today we should remember those who rather than passively flying to their deaths and the destruction of the US Capital Building stood up on Flight 93 and took matters into their own hands.  We should remember the first responders who gave their lives helping others escape the Twin Towers.  We should remember all who lost their lives, spouses, parents, children, and friends on 9/11.  We should be thankful for the first responders, law enforcement and military personnel who put their lives on the line every day.  In a speech following the 9/11 attacks, President Bush stated “We will not tire, we will not falter, and we will not fail.”  We should not only remember, but stir to life the feelings we each shared during the aftermath of 9/11, the outpouring of support, the flag waving, the patriotism, and the sense of community.  We are the greatest, strongest, most humanitarian nation on the earth.  Let us tirelessly work together without faltering to successfully keep it that way for our children and future generations.

               

I close with the immortal words of President Lincoln: “With malice toward none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in, to bind up the nation's wounds, to care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow and his orphan, to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among ourselves and with all nations.”