This week the nation remembers the 9/11 attacks that murdered almost 3000 Americans in a matter of hours. Some of us might want to argue that in the immediate aftermath of the terror attacks the American reaction caused such widespread upheaval and destruction and thus can be seen as more detrimental to both us and others than the initial damage caused by the four planes. Such a view seems cynical and especially insensitive at a time when we mourn those who were lost and commemorate and honor those who risked and lost their lives in the effort to save victims and to build anew from the ashes. However, when we see the current divisions in American society and consider that we are, yet again, fighting an ill-defined, and arguably illegal war in the Middle East, such a viewpoint may seem plausible. If that is correct, then Bin Laden, who was executed by American special forces in 2011, has arguably achieved his goal far beyond his grave. The purpose of terror is not the initial act of destruction but the destabilization of the enemy, by creating a sense of constant threat together with a feeling of insecurity that generates reflexive responses that harm more than help. A clearly defined threat, regardless of how powerful, can be addressed, protected against and fought off. But when the enemy is elusive and perceived as capable to strike at any time and at any place, one must assume an ever-vigilant posture which erodes any sense of collective security and uses up resources and manpower.
The current state of our nation can be seen as prime evidence for this theory. In the past twenty-five years, we have fought and lost two costly wars, along with multiple covert, and not-so covert actions all over the globe in the name of the global war on terror. Thousands of our brave servicemen and women have sacrificed their lives and thousands more their health and emotional well-being in this fight.
I must believe that the fact we continue to be safe here in the United States is in large part due to the success of our military. And while it has become almost mandatory to emphasize the divisive political climate and the many social divisions along so-called “community” lines, I want to remember this week, how we came together 25 years ago, rallied together and set to the task of rebuilding and fighting back.
It is important to remember that America has long been the promised land, the city on a hill shining a beacon to the world, the land of freedom and opportunity. At times, in the past 25 years, we have strayed from these values, but they nevertheless remain true at their core. The American experiment is an ideal, it denotes an ever-changing nation that redefines itself over time, but at its root, some key parts remain quintessentially American. We have a can-do practical attitude, we are fundamentally optimistic, we believe in hard work and making our own luck, while giving our neighbor a helping hand. Americans at their best are open, helpful, innovative, strong, confident (a bit cocky?), and imbued with common sense, born leaders who know how to take care of business. As we commemorate the loss of 9/11 and honor the sacrifice of our heroes, let us remember these strengths and what it means to be American, by coming together to ensure that America continues to be the greatest country in the world today and tomorrow.
Christiane Warren, Ph.D.
Dover, Delaware – Where America Began
September 8, 2026