Over the years my sentiment on 9/11 has changed many times. Anger, resolve, regret, and confusion were just some of the multitude of feelings.
Similarly, the rallying call of "Never Forget" has morphed from a unifying cry for a shocked and angry nation into a statement that is overused and almost thoughtlessly stated.
I want to change that outlook this year. Never Forget should be more than just the ~3,000 souls who tragically died in a heinous terrorist attack
(cont.)
Never Forget should be an acknowledgement of the butterfly effect this singular event had on hundreds of millions of people on this planet.
Never Forget should include the millions of Iraqis, Afghanis, and countless other souls in countries ravaged by the he war on terror.
Never Forget should include the tens of thousands of soldiers, US and allied, who have been killed or seriously injured over the span of multiple decades.
Never Forget should include the shared trauma from both (cont.)
civilians and military members, who have lost loved ones. Those who have watched their first responder loved one wither away due to inhalation of toxic fumes - a cruel gift given to those who would risk their lives to help others.
It should include those who have watched their lives spiral out of control for no reason, those wrecked by guilt and shame. Those wrecked by regret and those who would die indirectly due to the events of 9/11. Either by their own hand, or by others.
(cont.)
Never Forget should be all encompassing, viewing all of the negative and positive events borne from unspeakable tragedy.
Never Forget has to become more than just a slogan to remember the one day that changed the course of an entire planet.
Never Forget has to return to being about understanding the ongoing cost to humanity - to this day, 21 years later.
Take care of yourselves. Call (yes, actually call) your friends
Never Forget.
End.