Editorial

Terrorism is not just a memory

Posted

On Thursday we mark the 13th anniversary of the attacks on the U.S. by the fanatics of Al Qaeda, which killed almost 3,000 people at the World Trade Center — a great many of whom were from our South Shore communities — and at the Pentagon and in Pennsylvania.

On this anniversary, we mourn, and we console those who lost loved ones, who continue to live without a father or mother, husband or wife, son or daughter, brother or sister, or dear friend because of the murderous acts of a small band of airline hijackers. We hold in high honor those who died in the act of helping others live, and thank and praise those who were inspired by the attacks to join the military or became first responders.

It would be bad enough if that cataclysmic event were only a horrible memory, something that had since passed into history, and led to a more unified and better-prepared nation with stronger alliances to defend against future attacks and to bring about a calmer world. But that is not how things have turned out. The troubled state of geopolitical affairs — the harrowing aftermath of the Arab Spring, the wars between Russia and Ukraine and Israel and Hamas, the hateful words and deeds of radical Sunni Islamists and Shiite Muslims, and a host of other deadly conflicts around the world — roil our sense of peace and security.

Current events make it clear that the world is even more dangerous than it was in 2001. American journalists James Foley and Steven Sotloff were beheaded by Al Qaeda’s collateral devil, the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria. The Boston Marathon bombings, consulate attacks, the assassinations of American diplomats and foreign service officers in Benghazi and elsewhere, other kidnappings and murders of Americans and more incidents of evil have continued to take place since that dark day in September.

In the days after 9/11, we mourned as one nation. There were flags out in front of so many homes. Firefighters and police were lauded, and citizens forgot their differences and supported one another through sadness and in strength. Our allies abroad announced, “We are all Americans now.”

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