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On September 11, Let's
Rededicate Ourselves to Renewing the Spirit of America
By Bradley Blakeman
FOXNews.com
America is at our best when we are tested as a
nation. Whether tests come from competition in the marketplace, the challenges
of innovation and invention, the fight of war or the tragedy of terrorism,
America will always prevail.
America's greatness does not come out of
arrogance, superiority or the exercise of super power; it comes from our
freedom, diversity, education, tolerance, charity, goodness and the rule of law.
September 11, 2010 marks the ninth anniversary of the most horrific
terrorist attacks on our homeland in our history.
As we look back at what
happened on that day, we have to ask ourselves, what do we have to show for our
response and remembrance to the attacks on America?
Every time I go by
Ground Zero in lower Manhattan and see that hole where the World Trade Center
used to stand, I get a pit in my stomach. I cannot fathom why it has taken
so long to rebuild that area with
commerce and a fitting memorial to those who perished.
On that tragic
September morning in 2001, I lost my nephew Senior New York State Court Officer
Thomas Jurgens. Tommy was a first responder who died while rescuing people from
the south tower of the Trade Center along with fellow NYS Court officer's
Captain Harry Thompson and Senior Court Officer Mitch Wallace. Harry and Mitch
died too. Tommy's remains were never found.
The only items of his that were recovered were his
mangled badge and melted gun. He was just 26 years old and married only 3
months. He had his whole life before him.
The fact that we as a nation
did not demand that Ground Zero rise again in record time is a missed
opportunity in the kindest light. Until construction on the Freedom Tower is
complete along with a proper and fitting memorial each day is a victory for
those who harmed us and emboldens those who continue to find ways to destroy us.
Yes, work is being done but why has it taken us so long?
We should be
ashamed of ourselves collectively for not recognizing the importance of
rebuilding Ground Zero sooner and restoring that hollowed place with the
American Spirit our enemies so wanted to extinguish.
Americans can do
anything we put our minds to. Look what we were able to accomplish decades ago
that had a profound impact on how we felt about ourselves as Americans and how
the world perceived us at a time of deep economic crisis.
During the
Great Depression while America was brought to its knees economically did we give
up? No! We rose up. We knew we needed to grow our nation back to prosperity.
What better symbol of growth is there than building and putting people to work?
In 1930, ground was broken and construction begun on the world's tallest skyscraper. One year and 45 days thereafter and ahead of schedule the Empire State Building was completed.
Our nation swelled with pride at the achievement and
it gave a suffering nation great hope for a better tomorrow by the
accomplishment of erecting a record breaking super structure. But you see it was
not just about the building. It was about the spirit of a nation and its people
and the belief that America can overcome immense adversity and be better for it.
As we remember the events of 9/11/01, we should rededicate ourselves to
renewing our national spirit of patriotism, ingenuity, perseverance, tolerance
and accomplishment. While we face tough times today, these days pale in
comparison to the challenges that came before us.
While I focused my
attention on the attacks on New York in this piece, my thoughts and prayers are
also with those in Shanksville, Pennsylvania and Arlington,Virginia who suffered
greatly that day as well.
We must never forget, not just for the sake of
remembrance but also for the sake of what it means to be an American and the
very survival of our nation.
Bradley A. Blakeman served as deputy assistant to President George W. Bush from
2001-04. He is currently a professor of Politics and Public Policy at Georgetown
University and a frequent contributor to Fox News Opinion.