Personal Reflections on the Tenth Anniversary of the September 11 Attacks

     I am grateful that we Americans have not endured any attack in the United States nearly on the scale of the September 11, 2001 Terrorist Attacks. I congratulate the U.S. intelligence, military and security personnel in both the Bush and Obama Administrations. I am especially grateful to those who have made the supreme sacrifice in the War on Terrorism. I also salute the resilience of the American people.

     At the time of the attacks, I felt sadness, fear, especially for friends and family near the targets of the attacks, and mostly anger at the terrorists who committed the massacre. The emotions increased when I learned that a cousin was missing at the World Trade Center; Port Authority Police Captain Kathy Mazza’s body was recovered in February of the following year. The anger served as a motivation to defeat the Islamist enemy, which is why I believe it is appropriate for the media to continue to show the images of the attacks, as a reminder of our need for vigilance and resolve against an evil, determined foe.

     I am pleased to see the Freedom Tower rising from the former site of the World Trade Center. I am glad that it is being built as high as it is (with its antenna rising symbolically to 1,776 feet) – just to stick it in the eye of the militant Muslim enemy. The tower and accompanying structures will demonstrate American resilience and the defeat of Islamism. I especially appreciated that some of the steel salvaged from the wreckage of the Center was used to build a new U.S. warship. The new Center will have appropriate memorials, like the monument that was dedicated today to honor the heroic passengers and crew of Flight 93 in western Pennsylvania.

     I agree with those who do not support a federal holiday for September 11, as it would represent a reduction of productivity, which would give an unnecessary victory to our Islamist foe who struck at the targets it did in order to damage our economy. Instead, commerce ought to continue as usual as reflective of our resilience. Instead, the day should continue to be commemorated as it has been every anniversary.

     In my post in April of 2009, September 11 vs. 9/11, http://williamcinfici.blogspot.com/2009/04/september-11-vs-911.html, I expressed my objections to the abbreviation “9/11” for September 11. It has since occurred to me that this month, September of 2011, is also abbreviated 9/11, which ads to the reasons to avoid this abbreviation for the September 11 Terrorist Attacks.

     The attacks and their anniversaries make me grateful for my faith and for liberty. May God bless America.