Ten years ago, a tragedy happened. A nation was stunned at the actions of just a few men (despite what conspiracy theorists would have you believe). What have we learned since then? Are we better for it? And, of course, the ultimate question that dumbs down the entire incident and the events after: Did the terrorists win?
Let's examine this, shall we? Since that day we've been on heightened security, but does this make us safer? Yes and no. Yes, in that we'll probably never have the exact same kind of attack pulled off with such ease. However, no matter how many obstacles you put in the way, if someone wants to do something and they're determined enough and are willing to die trying, eventually one will succeed. Does this mean we should live the rest of our lives in fear? No, but we should remain vigilant (I sound like some McCarthy Era whack job. Next I'll be saying to report on your neighbor's activities).
Of course, people want to know if the "terrorists won" (the reason I put that in quotes is because this isn't a black and white thing you can look at and say whether or not the good guys won, not to say the men who committed this act weren't cold hearted bastards, I just don't like simplifying the whole thing. Feels wrong). On the one hand, almost everyone involved in the plot is either dead or locked away and their influence seems to be waning. On the other hand, we've had to sacrifice some of our comforts for peace of mind when traveling, we've been involved with two major wars, and the economy is in turmoil. So it's for hard to quantify the entire thing into a "group x won" kinda thing.
My only hope is that now perhaps we can put this chapter behind us. Never forgetting, but not letting it weigh us down either. Let this mark the end of the War on Terror as we march forward to a new age of peace and happiness! Till all are one!
