The Lesson of September 11

Ever since the fateful morning of September 11^th, 2001, the political realm has felt a need to utilize the event to further ideals that would normally not be acceptable. Many people, including democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama, feel that the tragic event is being used to "perpetuates this notion that, somehow, the original decision to go into Iraq was directly related to the attacks on 9/11" (Baker 1) when in reality, the event was only used as an excuse. Recently at the Republican Convention President George Bush stated that the lesson of 9/11 is that we must "stay on the offense, stop attacks before they happen, and not wait to be hit again" (Baldwin 1). I do agree that there is something to learn from 9/11, especially the idea of staying on the offense, but I do not agree with his assumption that republican presidential candidate John McCain internalized the event best and is therefore "ready to lead this nation" (Baldwin 1). In reality, the idea of 'staying on the offense' can be interpreted many different ways, and I feel that each person interprets the lesson according to their own, perhaps partisan, ideals.

Republican and former White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer, for example, said that "9/11 should be a vivid reminder to everyone about how vulnerable our country is and that's why we need to win in Iraq" (Baldwin 1). Most conservatives and Iraq War supporters will internalize this lesson as justification, and assume 'staying on the offense' should really be understood as 'actively aggressing against possible enemies'. Although it is of course a generalization, it can be inferred that many in the Republican party feel this way. If this is truly the lesson to be learned from 9/11 however, we will soon be facing a world in which the majority of countries are our possible enemies. For this reason, I think Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama, internalized the lesson more effectively (although of course not perfectly) than Republican nominee John McCain. Instead of aggression, what is truly needed to avoid another attack such as this and 'stop events like this before they happen' would be a strong effort for peace.

Actively seeking out our real enemies is of course completely necessary, but this idea of pre-emptive strikes before we are even completely sure of the facts is not the correct method of avoiding terrorism. I think a Rev. Martin Michniewicz, during a memorial mass for the September 11th attacks in Calumet City, Illinois put it best: instead of antagonism, he believed the real lesson of that day was forgiveness, and that "it is not wrong to defend ourselves, but we must not act out of revenge, or any sense of needing to get even" (Tejada 1). This, as an interpretation of President Bush's understanding, is the true lesson of 9/11. Senator Obama, as a seeker of peace and diplomacy, is (of the two candidates currently running for President), the person who best internalized this lesson.

Works Cited

Baker, Peter. "Shadow of Sept. 11 looms over Iraq Debate". The Washington Post. September 12, 2007. The Seattle Times Online.

Baldwin. Tom. "Sarah Palin Set to Take Centre Stage After Tempest". The Times. September 3, 2008. The Times Online (UK).565.ece>.

Tejada, Gregory. "'Forgiveness' the Focus of Cal City 9/11 Mass". The Times. September 11, 2008. The Times Online. 469a426912292373.txt>

Mercedes A. The Lesson of September 11. Associated Content.