Giuliani: 9/11 was 'worst day' and 'the best day'
My parents knew exactly where they were when they heard about Pearl Harbor. In the same way, all of my contemporaries and I can say where we were when President Kennedy
was shot. Today, 10 years after the worst attack in our country's
history, someone still comes up to me to say, "Do you know where I was
on Sept. 11?"
Sept. 11, 2001, stands as the defining event of
the 21st century. For me, 9/11 remains puzzling. It was the worst day of
my life and the best day. It was the worst day because of the
incomprehensible death, destruction and evil. Very soon after the
attacks, we began to understand the threat posed by Islamic extremist
terrorism.
Sept. 11 was also the best day
because it put on display the very finest human instincts — compassion,
courage, kindness, selflessness. First responders rushed into what they
knew was a life-threatening emergency. Neighbors helped neighbors, and
aid poured from good people all over the country and the world.
When people endure a traumatic event, they are either defeated or made stronger. On Sept. 11, I told New Yorkers, "I want you to emerge stronger from this." My words were partially a hope and partially an observation that people in New York City handle big things better than little things. I could not be more proud of the way my city responded.
Today,
the city is stronger than 10 years ago. More people live here and its
economy is stronger, even as we endure the problems plaguing the
national economy. There's been no reduction in the desire of people to
live and visit New York. We are a safer and better prepared city. I believe we are spiritually stronger, as well.
As
for the country, when it comes to our national security and our
awareness of the threat from Islamic extremists, we are better prepared
than we were but not as prepared as we should be. Our intelligence base
is better and our airport security is better, for all its frustrations.
We still need work in many places — especially port security — but our
general better preparedness has helped us handle unanticipated threats.
One
of the lessons from Sept. 11 is that America requires a long-term
presence in those parts of the world that endanger us. This notion has
become controversial, but frankly the need could not be clearer. During World War II, our disengagement from Europe while Adolf Hitler
terrorized the continent proved disastrous for tens of millions. After
the end of World War II, we understood that we needed to remain in the
places that threatened us. America maintained a military presence in
Germany for generations, as we've done in Japan and South Korea.
Our safety requires a long-term military presence in the Middle East
because that's where the plans to attack us are emanating. Our
presence in Iraq and Afghanistan has helped us immensely in gathering
intelligence, in keeping the terrorists engaged in activities there so
that they couldn't plan activities here, and in deterring other enemies
from acting irresponsibly. The timing of our troop withdrawal should be
based solely on a sober assessment of when our mission is completed.
The
lesson of 9/11 is that America is truly exceptional. We withstood the
worst attack of our history, intended by our enemies to destroy us.
Instead, it drew us closer and made us more united. Our love for freedom
and one another has given us a strength that surprised even ourselves.
At the same time, it's a strength that must be guarded and nurtured. We
must rediscover our unity. We must never forget what we witnessed on
that day, both the incomprehensible face of pure evil and the depth of
love and compassion. Today, 10 years later, the fight continues, and the
memories remain etched into our national character.
Posted by YufGrafix
on 6:10 PM. Filed under