Martha Roby: Never forget what they fight for
On the fateful morning of September 11, 2001, our nation stood still as news came in of horrific attacks on American soil. Most all of us will never forget where we were that day when the world changed right before our eyes. Now, eighteen years later, we mark this spot in history each year by remembering the more than 3,000 Americans who lost their lives that day in New York, Washington, D.C., and Pennsylvania. We also prayerfully honor the families who lost loved ones and give thanks for the many heroes who emerged that day and, in the months, and years that followed. September 11, 2001, changed our country forever, but in the nearly two decades since that day, Americans have understandably pressed on. We have gone about our daily lives, working hard to provide for our families. Certainly, doing anything less would be a victory for those who committed these atrocious acts against our freedom. But, as we continue to move forward, may we never take for granted the heroic acts of the thousands of Americans that sacrifice to keep us safe and ensure this type of attack never happens again. Every day and every night, 365 days a year, there are men and women working to defend our country and everything it stands for. And, while each year, September 11th provides an important occasion for us to give thanks for our servicemembers, we should be mindful of their sacrifices every single day. Perhaps the best way for us to honor the men and women who wear the uniform is to simply never forget what they fight for. Our servicemembers fight for the American ideals of freedom, liberty, and justice. Let us all use this occasion each year to reaffirm our steadfast commitment to these ideals and remember how truly blessed we are to live in the greatest country in the world. May we feel overwhelming gratitude for the members of our Armed Forces every day, keeping September 11th a solemn day to reflect upon how much has been sacrificed by so many. Around this anniversary each year, it is important for us all to remember the heinous acts of hatred committed against us by those who oppose our liberty and freedom, the unspeakable suffering of those who lost people they love, the personal effect it has had on so many of us, and the brave men and women who continue to stand guard each day to keep us safe. May God bless each and every family that suffered loss during this time eighteen years ago. My prayers are with you, and your sacrifice has not been forgotten. Martha Roby represents Alabama’s Second Congressional District. She lives in Montgomery, Alabama, with her husband Riley and their two children.
Donald Trump team warps Ihan Omar word on 09/11, al Qaida
President Donald Trump attributed statements to a Democratic congresswoman that she didn’t make as he set off an incendiary week of vilification with accusations that she and three other lawmakers of color hate America. One of his top White House advisers, Stephen Miller, reinforced the charges Sunday, pointing to their remarks about terrorism and Trump’s handling of border policy and saying the lawmakers “detest America as it exists.” The comments have roiled the capital and excited Trump’s North Carolina rally , overshadowing distortions in rhetoric that came from many quarters and from both parties on a variety of matters over the last week-plus — the Democratic presidential campaign among them. A look at the claims and reality: LOVING AMERICA MILLER, on Rep. Ilhan Omar, Democrat-Minnesota: “You saw the quotes from Representative Omar saying some people did something at 9/11. And yes, if you watch it in context, it’s worse.” — interview on “Fox News Sunday.” TRUMP: “When she talked about the World Trade Center being knocked down, ‘some people.’ You remember the famous ‘some people.’ These are people that, in my opinion, hate our country.” — remarks on July 15 at a manufacturing event. THE FACTS: It’s true that plenty of critics thought Omar sounded dismissive about the 2001 terrorist attacks in a comment in a speech in March . Those remarks, though, did not express love “for enemies like al-Qaida,” as Trump put it, or any proof of hatred or detesting America. Speaking to the Council on American-Islamic Relations, Omar said the group “was founded after 9/11 because they recognized that some people did something and that all of us were starting to lose access to our civil liberties.” Her phrasing — “some people did something” — struck many people as a tone-deaf way to refer to the catastrophic attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. The American-Islamic group actually was founded in 1994, according to its website. Its membership skyrocketed after the 2001 attacks. In the speech, Omar said many Muslims saw their civil liberties eroded after the attacks, and she advocated for activism. “For far too long we have lived with the discomfort of being a second-class citizen and, frankly, I’m tired of it, and every single Muslim in this country should be tired of it,” she said. But she also noted that “what we know, and what Islam teaches us, and what I always say, is that love trumps hate.” After being criticized for her remarks, Omar noted that President George W. Bush had stood at Ground Zero days after the attacks and also referred somewhat generically to “the people who knocked these buildings down,” while vowing they “will hear all of us soon.” Trump is continuing to assail Omar and three other liberal Democratic women of color, challenging their loyalty to the U.S. They are Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, Rashida Tlaib of Michigan and Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts. The House rebuked him Tuesday for his “racist comments” after he said they should “go back” to their countries. All four are Americans; Omar was born in Somalia; the others in the U.S. Omar said Trump is a “fascist” and she and the other women he’s going after will “continue to be a nightmare to this president because his policies are a nightmare to us.” TRUMP quotes Omar as saying: “You don’t say ‘America’ with this intensity. You say ‘al-Qaida,’ it makes you proud. Al-Qaida makes you proud. You don’t speak that way about America.” — North Carolina rally on Wednesday. TRUMP: “I hear the way she talks about al-Qaida. Al-Qaida has killed many Americans. She said, ‘You can hold your chest out, you can — when I think of America — uhh — when I think of al-Qaida, I can hold my chest out.’” — remarks Monday at a manufacturing event at the White House. THE FACTS: This is a wholly distorted account of what the Omar said. She did not voice pride in the terrorist group. Trump is referring to an interview Omar gave in 2013. In it, she talked about studying terrorism history or theory under a professor who dramatically pronounced the names of terrorist groups, as if to emphasize their evil nature. “The thing that was interesting in the class was every time the professor said ‘al-Qaida,’ he sort of like — his shoulders went up” and he used a menacing, intense tone, she said. Her point was that the professor was subtly rousing suspicions of Muslims with his theatrical presentation, while pronouncing “America” without the intensity he afforded the names of terrorist groups. At no point did she say “al-Qaida” should be uttered with intensity or pride and that “America” shouldn’t. TRUMP, on Ocasio-Cortez: “Cortez said that illegal immigrants are more American than any person who seeks to keep them out ever will be. Can you believe that? That’s what she is saying.” — North Carolina rally. THE FACTS: True, except that people who come to the border and ask for refugee status can’t be described as “illegal immigrants.” They commit no crime by applying for that status. Ocasio-Cortez, speaking of women and children who show up seeking refuge or opportunity, said: “They’re acting more American than any person who seeks to keep them out ever will be.” This was from an MSNBC interview in January. At the rally, Trump refused to call the New York congresswoman by her full hyphenated surname. ECONOMY TRUMP: “Economic numbers reach an all time high, the best in our Country’s history.” — tweet Saturday. TRUMP: “We have the strongest economy in history.” — North Carolina rally.THE FACTS: The economy is not the strongest in the country’s history. It expanded at an annual rate of 3.1% in the first quarter of this year. That growth was the highest in just four years for the first quarter. In the late 1990s, growth topped 4% for four straight years, a level it has not yet reached on an annual basis under Trump. Growth even reached 7.2% in 1984.
How we can honor the memory of those who lost their lives on 9/11 with our actions
Today, as our nation pauses to look back and mourn the lives lost during the tragic terrorist attacks on our country on September 11, 2001, it’s important to also look at the strength and resolve of our nation and to remember that each day is an opportunity to do better for ourselves and in memory of those not with us anymore. Every year since 2001, nearly every person I know has stopped to share their story of where they were during the horrific attack. They speak of how it changed them and their relationships. I was in college at Florida State University, my mother worked at Orlando International Airport I remember being scared for her not knowing what was happening as it happened. I remember the shock and the grief but mostly I remember how we came together that day and in the days that followed. Everyone had a story to tell of where they were and what happened around them. As a nation, we collectively went through the stages of grief and then we healed together as members of a community that stretched across the country or maybe even across the world. After every disaster, whether it be the 9/11 attacks, hurricanes, wildfires, or terrible evil and criminal incidents like the Las Vegas or the Parkland shootings, we as a nation, instinctively turn towards, not away from one another. We strengthen our resolve to help those around us. We comfort and support one another. We look for solutions to the problems facing victims, survivors and first responders. In crisis we become the people I wish we were every day, thoughtful, caring and giving. It is hard for me to reconcile the nation that I love and the patriotic people who always show up and provide for those in need during times of crisis with the fact that some of those same people during regular days or heaven forbid during political season show incredible disrespect and disdain for those around them. In times of peace and normalcy it seems we forget our shared humanity and turn against one another seeing only our differences not our common goals or shared values. Today, on 9-11, I’m challenging myself and I challenge you, to pause and rethink this animosity — the way we react to it and the way we promote it. We should actively seek to stifle and not give power to those who seek to divide us as a country. We should stand united beside one another more often than we stand toe-to-toe. Today, as we celebrate the heroes who emerged that day, who put their lives on the line to save the lives of other we celebrate the spirit of a country that a did not allow the terrorists to win that day or any day since. It’s a day to not just remember the sense of community we felt that day but to feel it again, and then to turn around and do something to honor the memory of those not with us anymore. It’s an opportunity for us as parents to talk to our children about the spirit of true heroism and what it really means to be a hero. We use that term so lightly and loosely these days, but 9/11 showed us what true heroes were. They were the individuals rushing to the buildings as they were falling down. They were the individuals on the plane in Pennsylvania. We were reminded that day that heroes come in every shape a size. We can remember that in each of us there’s a way to honor the heroes in the days following the attacks there were so many who gave blood, who gave money and who gave of their time and skills. There were those who enlisted in the military. Then there were the ordinary miracles that took place in coffee shops, churches and homes where people sat with a grieving neighbor or stranger to comfort them. We need to tap into that spirit of love and kindness more often and that’s how we truly honor those we remember today. Today, let us remember the American spirit with more than words or memes, but our in actions tomorrow and the next day and every day after.
