9/11's Reformation in 2021

 9/11's Reformation in 2021

By: Kori McKenna 

 

 In 2001 I was three years old, so for me, I cannot remember one thing about 9/11. However, for years to come growing up and going to school, 9/11 was always an educational day. As a kid, you may not realize how serious a situation is, but as I grew into an adult, I began to understand the impact 9/11 had on America and worldwide. 

    Let me explain what many already know, but others don't, including myself. How did 9/11 happen? With President Biden calling for declassification of many documents from the FBI on 9/11, we will surely learn more. However, in the meantime, we knew the basic measures that day 20 years ago. Terrorist groups had flown to America via regular airports just as any other person would. Airport to airport, these terrorists passed security measures without a problem. When they reached USA airports, they had boarded more planes yet and succeeded. After the boarding process was completed, the aircraft took off, and shortly after, the terrorists had murdered the pilots and passengers, took over the plane, and turned them around to get to their final targets. 

    Now, as I am older and understand what happened that day, I cannot help but be shocked about how the USA was made like fools that day and how somebody took advantage of us. My heart was so heavy for the first time over this year's anniversary, especially with everything that has been in the news about Afghanistan.

    I understand the 3000+ deaths that occurred on 9/11, but for the next 20 years, we had spent an infinite amount of money on war and lost many more lives in the process. Unfortunately, these wars should have never taken place, but because they have, we need to reform what 9/11 truly means because it is more than just American lives. It is human lives, innocent humans who have been hurt infinitely over what took place on 9/11. Iraq and Afghanistan have been harmed horrifically over the original problem, and we need to honor their lives and their services on this day as well. 

    For me, lives will always be lives no matter where you are from. On this day and every day, I will always respect and honor every person harmed by the horrific events of 9/11 and the next 20+ years of tragedy that is still in the making and potentially never will be solved. America, Afghanistan, and Iraq, from an American citizen, I honor you and stand by you, and I am deeply sorry for all of the losses we have faced as a world over this. I wish for unity everyday and peace and happiness to be our futures. I will forever recognize every human life that had been harmed due to 9/11 and anything that happened after that day. It is the only right way to honor 9/11.