September 11, 2001: An Awakening

World Trade Center

I find it hard to believe seven years have passed since that tragic day in American history. Nearly 3000 died on that sunny Tuesday morning in New York City, Washington, D.C., and in a field in Pennsylvania.

Unless you are a conspiracy theorist, we all know the facts about that day. Four airliners were hijacked and used as guided missiles to strike at three of America’s institutions – financial, military, and government. (Although not confirmed, most experts believe flight United 93 was meant to target the Capitol.)

We remember that day as if it were yesterday. We mourn the dead, sympathize with the families who lost their loved ones.

But America is not alone in her loss. September 11, 2001, was only one more barbaric act of violence in a series of attacks that have occurred years before and after that date. This is not to belittle the significance of the senseless attacks on 9/11 or to minimize the scope of death and destruction perpetrated. This article is meant to be a reminder of all of those who lost their lives due to terrorism.

A brief list of attacks include:

June 25, 1996 – Bombing of the Khobar Towers in Saudi Arabia (19 dead, 515 injured)

August 7, 1998 – Bombings of US Embassies in Kenya and Tanzania (302 dead, 5086 injured)

October 21, 2000 – Bombing of the USS Cole (17 dead, 39 injured)

October 12, 2002 – Bombing of a Bali nightclub (202 dead)

March 11, 2004 – Bombing of Madrid, Spain commuter trains (202 dead, 1400+ injured)

September 1-3, 2004 – Hostages at Beslan school in North Ossetia, Russia (330+ dead)

July 7, 2005 – Bombing of train stations and bus in London, England (54 dead)

And this list is not even close to being comprehensive.

As we remember the dead from the September11 attacks, also remember those who have died in terrorist attacks at other times and other places. We are one as a civilization, and we have a common enemy: those who want to destroy our way of life for their own twisted agenda.

We must not let them win.

Dedicated to those who lost their lives on September 11, 2001, and to the victims of terrorism across the globe.