My daughter’s call came in 6 years ago to the day. She was working across the street from the Pentagon when our world came crashing down. I could hear it in her voice – something serious was up. This was the only time I could ever remember my daughter sounding panicky. I asked her if she was going to be ok, and she finally calmed down as I talked her through her experience with horror. I went back to work and called her later that evening.
As the President was reading to an elementary school class, more than 3000 of our loved one’s were murdered on 9/11 in the greatest terrorist attack on U.S. soil. We said we would never forget, but in many ways we did. It seemed at the time that the enormity of this tragedy would evoke a response worthy of its significance.
Little did we remember that we forgot about the actionable intelligence that prophetically and explicitly warned us about the prospects of this terrible day. We then proceeded to politically minimize the significance of real intelligence through a chess-game of political posturing. We pretended to know nothing when we really did.
We forgot when we launched a pre-emptive war, replacing one bad guy for the other who masterminded the attack. Maybe we figured that all Muslims were alike, but the fact remains that there was no compelling reason to attack Iraq and blindly attach its importance to 9/11.
We have forgotten why we switched wars and created a quagmire in the Middle East . There is little evidence that intelligence capabilities have been improved as we lamely look for Osama Bin Laden, “dead or alive".
6 years later, we have forgotten how we have been duped by the Muslim terrorists due to our lack of cultural understanding and anti-Muslim sentiment. Our President used Bin Laden’s recent video to make his case for “staying the course" in Iraq . Then, in his cowboy mentality, he unknowingly shared with the world how we are “kicking ass in Iraq ".
While we proudly display our troop ribbons on the back of our cars, we have forgotten that this government failed to seek diplomacy in the Middle East , thus creating further strain in the region. We have given the terrorists further justification for hating us.
There are moments when it seemed like what happened on 9/11 would bring out the qualities that make America great. However, our government along with many citizens took a road which narrowed our vision and moved us back to worn-out ways of looking at the world.
As we peer through the fences at the site of the demolished Twin Towers , we are reminded that there is nothing present but the remains of the unprecedented disaster. There are little signs around the ground that remind us that life once existed on this site. As we feud and fight, can we not come up with a plan to honor those who needlessly died there? May God forgive us as we gaze into the ruins of a 10 million square foot piece of real state and wonder – how did we forget the lessons so quickly?
James P. Krehbiel, Ed.S., LPC, CCBT is an author, freelance writer and nationally certified cognitive-behavioral therapist practicing in Scottsdale, Arizona. He received his post-graduate counseling training at Northern Illinois University. James has taught Master's level classes in counselor education through Chapman University of California. He specializes in working with patients who have depressive, anxiety, pain management and autistic spectrum disorders. James has written numerous articles on a variety of counseling-related topics, all available via Google searches. His first book, Stepping Out of the Bubble, is available at www.booklocker.com. James is in the process of having his second work published which is entitled, It Never Was About You: Saying Goodbye to theMagical Illusions of Childhood. He can be reached through his new, contemporary website at www.krehbielcounseling.com.
» left by Judi Lake(1,875) Judi Lake (2 years 40 days ago.)
I don't know, James, but I guess "life goes on" and these factors become more and more distant to some. I can't forget what happened but as I wrote in my article today, we need to move on but not blindly. We, as a nation, cannot afford to sleepwalk. Good article, Mr. James! Respond to this comment
» left by Susan Thom(11,892) Susan Thom (2 years 39 days ago.)
hi James,
it's pretty amazing what we have let happen, and all through the thoughts going through one man's brain! how could one person cause so much damage, and believe he is right in his beliefs and actions? will we ever know?
thanks for a good article, very well written.
best regards,
sue thom Respond to this comment
» left by Manu Goel(5,642) (1 year 340 days ago.)
Thank you for reading my articles! I enjoy yours as well James. I also think it is such a tragedy that we so soon forget the lives that were lost and the sacrifices made on that fateful day. I know I will never forget, and thanks to articles like yours that remind people that life is precious, and we must live, laugh, love and forgive, more people will appreciate the lives that were lost on that tragic day. Respond to this comment
» left by Swapna Nanda from India (229 days 22 hours ago.)
Hi James,
I am from India, and I can well understand what you mean. Terror has become part and partial of our lives. Yet we forget the events and move along. Perhaps it is the same with every one. Humanity has lost its morality and sense of right and wrong. It is unimaginable what makes a person to kill and destroy ruthlessly.
you article is thought provoking. Very well written.
Disclaimer: All information on this site is provided for informational purposes only! By no means is any
information presented herein intended to substitute for the advice provided to you by any health care or other professional
or organization.
