Eleven years ago today, New York was the victim of the worst crime ever committed on American soil.
When a group of religious zealots took their religion to the extreme, flying a commercial plane into the Twin Towers in New York City, people around the country watched in horror. As a nation, we came together, mourning the deaths of thousands.
Today, New Yorkers on Long Island and throughout the state took the time to remember the victims who perished on that tragic day by attending services, memorials, or simply by taking the time to watch coverage of the events taking place.
Despite the tragic events that took place in New York, and throughout the nation, that tragic day New Yorkers have proved resilient. We have gone onto prove that the terrorists have not won, and have not defeated us.
In the eleven years since the tragic event, we can only hope that the events of that day have helped us to learn that hate destroys us. A crime of this magnitude, spawned by hate, will destroy us. The actions of a few individuals do not mean that everyone of a certain religion should be feared and ostracized.
We instead must practice tolerance of one another, and not judge someone based on their religious beliefs, or appearances diminishes us as a society. We are, after all, in America, a land founded on religious freedom and tolerance.
September 11th is a day that will forever remain in the hearts and on the minds of Americans everywhere.
http://www.newsday.com/911-anniversary/a-day-of-heart-rending-emotion-at-ground-zero-1.3160980
http://www.newsday.com/911-anniversary/9-11-victims-remembered-at-ground-zero-1.3990655
