Hey Guys,
As the United States gets involved in yet another foreign conflict, it is worth remembering how our country became so involved in this latest round of middle east turmoil during the past ten years. And though the situation in Libya is not directly related to September 11, 2001, Iraq, or Afghanistan, it is a reminder that as a nation we have spent the better part of a decade at war.
Tuesday, September 11, 2001. Like most Americans, I can remember exactly where I was doing and what I was doing. I was a twenty year old student sitting in class at Rhode Island College. It was a beautiful day; warm and sunny, the perfect seasonal bridge day between summer and fall. That beauty was interrupted by monsters from half a world away. Thousands of innocent civilians lost their lives in New York, Washington, and Pennsylvania on that morning, and hundreds of New York City’s finest ran into the hell that was the World Trade Center in an effort to save as many people as possible.
It has been almost ten years since that day. Ground Zero, the epicenter of the attacks that day, has become a symbol of American pride, heroism, and perseverance. Though there is still much work to be done, the new towers are being built and are beginning to look much like they exist on paper. One World Trade Center, known as Freedom Tower, is beginning to inch its way into New York City’s skyline, beginning to make its way over the other buildings in the area, and beginning to show that though we will “never forget the character of the onslaught against us”, we will move forward and we will be strong.
Each year, I bring a group of students to New York City. Some of our destinations and activities change each year, but what always is included on the trip, is a stop at Ground Zero. During the past four years, I’ve been able to see the progress that has been made and I’m very eager to see Freedom Tower as it begins its climb over the rooftops of lower Manhattan.
What do you think?
- X
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_attacks_redevelopment
Above I referenced the military action taking place in Libya, but I didn’t really get into why Libya is different from the actions in Iraq and Afghanistan.
ReplyDeleteAmericans may be tired of war, and may be tired of the United States’ involvement in so many foreign conflicts. The Untied States, as well as the United Nations, European Powers, and NATO, were asked by the Arab League to help protect the civilians of Libya.
Libyan President Gaddafi, has used the full force of his military against civilians, he has cut off water, electricity, heat, and food supplies to major parts of his country in an attempt to starve the resistance out of his people. And while the United States and its allies have said that they will not seek to supplant or remove the Libyan president, they will also not allow him to break international law with the starvation and murder of civilians.
Secretary of Defense Robert Gates has said that the United States agreed to take the lead during the initial attacks, but that France, Britain, or perhaps NATO is expected to take over within a few days.
I may not support all the actions taken by our Government around the world and I don’t feel like the United States needs to become involved in every international issue; however I do feel we have a moral responsibility to protect those who cannot protect themselves.
Feel free to comment on this as well…
I agree with you on the idea of helping those who can not protect themselves. They deserve to live. We never relize how lucky we are to live in the place wew do until we see others who struggle to live one day at a time. We complain about simple stuff. The people in Lybia need our support and we should get their president out.
ReplyDeleteI think what the president is doing is aweful. Isnt it the presidents job to help protect the people...if thats his job then why is he trying to kill them? Does he really want to rule a nation by terrorising all the civillians? I think it is not Americas place to join in yet another war but the poor people in Lybia need help and it has to come from somewhere
ReplyDeleteThe situation in Libya couldn’t get any trickier. America has been involving its self in more wars than seem necessary but none of them were for an unjust cause. No Americans want to go to war any more but when looking at the people in Libya, it is obvious that they need help and Americans might be the only ones who are willing or able to offer it. Their government is misusing his power and what he is doing it disgraceful. He needs to be gotten rid of and his people have no power to do it, therefore I think it would be right of America to step in.
ReplyDeleteMelissa Abels
I think that we acually should be in Lybia. There are innocent civilians being killed in there and they need our support. If we were being attacked and our civilions were being killed, we have a reputation of "getting involved" so shouldn't another nation help us like we help them? America is a peaceful nation and we help many other natiopns when they need it. We are just trying to spread our peace and help the world become more peaceful. We don't want anyone killing thewir own peaople so we have to go in there and help the innocent people that are being killed.
ReplyDeleteI do agree with Sarah, but only to a certain extent. It is true that we should be helping the people in Libya that can't help themselves, and we should also be helping with getting their president out, but before we can start helping other countries I think we should start to help ourselves. Right now we are in billions of dollars of debt and I think we should pay that off before we do anything else.
ReplyDeleteI think that it's good that they are finally starting to build on Ground Zero. It shows that America is able to heal and move on from the tragedy. By building, it shows that the wound of 9/11 has healed enough that a new building is coming into existence.
ReplyDeleteI think (Obviously) It's a great thing that the site of the tower is in reconstruction. Hopefully it will be done in the next few years. However, I feel that if we start the construction, we shouldn't stop.
ReplyDeleteIt's a difficult situation. Not many people really want to be involved - it is realized the bad road this could take.
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand, what is going in there is wrong, and people (generally) do not like the knowledge of other people being hurt.
It's a difficult situation, that I don't really think anyone has a good solution to. For our own sake, should we stand idely by? Or should we help the civilians from Ghadaffi?(probably spelt wrong...)
I do believe me that we should be in Libya. And in all honesty we are in too many situations in other foreign countires. We should be helping our nation with problems and saving innocent civilians being killed and we need to support them. Our nation can pieceful at times, but not when 9/11 occured.
ReplyDeleteI think that the rebuilding of this building is going to bring out the pride Americans have just like the 9/11 attacks did. Even though we fight and argue, we still know when to put aside our differences. Personally, I don't remember September 11, 2001 very well. All I remember is being dismissed from school early. It wasn't until days after that I realized what had happened. In my defense, I was a seven-year-old second grader at the time.
ReplyDeleteIf anyone wants to see a truly moving account of the attacks, watch the documentary 9/11. It's directed by two brothers who were filming a movie on a rookie firefighter. The attacks happened out of coincidence and they have the only known footage of the attacks inside the towers.
-Brandon M.
I have never been to Ground Zero before. I think though, that if I was to see this site, it would be a very meaningful moment. I think I would have a mix of emotions at this point; I would be scared and shocked at the same time to know that I was that close to such a crucial location in history. It is a sad reminder of what our country endured and why it is still enduring its hardships today.
ReplyDelete