Becoming Just Another Day

As time passes, the tragic events of September 11, 2001, fall deeper into the collective past.

Almost everyone who was around then can remember where they were or what they were doing when it happened. I was home that Tuesday morning and turned on the news literally a moment or two after the first airliner had struck the North Tower of the World Trade Center in New York City. As smoke billowed from the North Tower, widespread initial thought was of a tragic, horrific accident. At least until, just moments later, when another airliner struck the South Tower. Everyone quickly realized these were no accidents.

As with so many others, I watched transfixed as flames and smoke billowed from the towers with camera crews capturing images of firefighters, paramedics, and police officers responding to the scene. There were images of people running from the scene and horrific images of people jumping from windows to escape the flames, plunging to certain death below.

About 30 minutes after the North Tower was struck, a third aircraft struck the Pentagon and everyone knew that America was under a planned attack. A fourth airliner, reportedly targeting the Capitol Building, crashed in a Pennsylvania field as that attack was thwarted by some very brave passengers. Around America and the world, the constantly updated news reports and ordered aircraft ground stop brought much of normal life to a standstill.

As first one tower and then the other tower collapsed with civilians and emergency services personnel still inside, the terrible live images were burned into memories. So were the images of crushed fire apparatus, police cars, and ambulances.

At that time, I was still a very active firefighter in Pine Mountain. Pine Mountain Fire Department used the same brand of air packs that New York City used so the shrieking air pack alarms from the rubble indicating firefighters were down, was like a repeating kick to the gut.

Echoing the Japanese sneak attack on Pearl Harbor, Dec. 7, 1941, that resulted in the deaths of over 2,400 people, the Muslim sneak attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, resulted in the deaths of nearly 3,000, including 343 firefighters and EMS personnel and over 70 law enforcement officers. A local person died in the attack on the Pentagon – Majorie Champion Salamone of Pine Mountain.

THIS year marks the 25th anniversary of that terrorist attack on this country. For too many people, especially young adults, it is nothing more than a footnote in history books at a time when history is being cancelled, changed, forgotten, or ignored.

As with so many bombings and attacks on civilians, either completed or thwarted, the attacks on 9/11 were perpetrated by radical Muslims. But we are now discouraged at noting that fact. It was Congresswoman Ilhan Omar, who is Muslim, that described the terrorist attack as “some people did something”.

In 25 years this country has gone from being understandably angry with Muslims concerning the attacks on 9/11, and other such activities, to electing them to Congress as Omar is joined by Rashida Tlaib of Michigan, Andre Carson of Indiana, and Lateefah Simon of California.

Across the country Muslims hold 46 positions in various state legislatures, serve as mayors of 11 cities, and 18 have been elected as judges in various courts. And straight out of Ripley’s Believe It or Not, New York City – the very city that suffered the brunt of the 9/11 attacks – recently elected Zohran Mamdani as mayor, and he is Muslim.

IN just a few days the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attack on America will be remembered by many. Replays of that fateful days will be aired across media platforms. The day after, people will begin forgetting again.

It seems as though our country would set aside the days of Dec. 7 and Sept. 11 as national holidays of remembrance acknowledging the sacrifice of heroes to save others. Instead, thanks to Sleepy Joe we have Juneteenth.

That’s my opinion.

A columnist in community newspapers for over 30 years, Andy Kober can be reached at andykober@hotmail.com