Here we are again. September 11th.
Twenty-five years later, we remember the people who went to work that morning and never came home. We remember the firefighters, police officers, first responders, families—and everybody whose life changed that day.
And I don’t want to turn 9/11 into another political argument.
The people murdered that day did not deserve what happened to them. Period. There is no justification for terrorism.
But remembering history also means having the courage to learn from it.
For generations, America has often tried to influence the world through military power, economic power and political pressure. Sometimes for good reasons. Sometimes with terrible consequences.
Maybe there’s another kind of strength.
What if America’s greatest influence didn’t come from making other countries fear us?
What if it came from making them want to be like us?
A democracy that works. A government people trust. Citizens who participate. Opportunity that isn’t reserved for the fortunate few.
That’s the America I want us to build.
Not weaker.
Stronger.
Not America retreating from the world.
America leading the world by example.
So today we remember those we lost.
And maybe the best way to honor them is to keep asking ourselves one difficult question:
What kind of country do we want America to be?
Join the Conversation