This 15th Anniversary of "9/11" is an historically unique opportunity for our nation to pause and reflect about just kind of country we are.
Who would plot, plan and execute the use of commercial aircraft as "guided missiles" in to the World Trade Center Buildings in New York City? Why?
The "9/11 Commission Report On Terrorist Attacks Upon The World Trade Center" sought to answer that question.
This week Congress enacted legislation authorizing potential lawsuits against the government of Saudi Arabia because 15 of the 19 persons who hijacked and guided the planes into the Tower Buildings were Saudi nationals. President Obama has said he will veto this legislation as contrary to the "sovereign immunity", that foreign governments enjoy in the United States.
It will help us, as we seek to gain some insight as to what kind of country we are, to stop for moment, and examine, up close and personal, the impact of this horrific event as seen and told by some of the immediate families of those killed on that day.
Accordingly, we share with you the written reflections about that day by Ms. Edie Lutnick. She and her brother, Howard, lost their brother Gary, who died on 9/11 trapped in the One World Trade Center building. Howard Lutnick is the President and CEO of the Financial Services firm, Cantor Fitzgerald. 658 men and women fellow employees of that company died on Sept 11, 2001.
Edie Lutnick raised her younger brother Gary when their parents died at an early age. She wrote a book about the loss of Gary and the other 657 Cantor Fitzgerald persons who were murdered on that day. Captioned AN UNBROKEN BOND, it is "The untold story of how the 658 Cantor Fitzgerald families faced the tragedy of 9/11 and beyond."
We urge everyone who has not read this book, as part of your commemoration of this 15th Anniversary to purchase and read Edie's book ASAP.
We are blessed to know Edie and her brother Howard. We were especially honored to have been provided the privilege of writing the Foreword to Edie's book. Among other things, at the time, we wrote:
"There are some events past and present that challenge our ability to comprehend the magnitude of human pain, suffering and the destruction associated with them. The Holocaust, slavery in the United States, Hiroshima, genocide atrocities in Rawanda and Serbia, and terrorist killings in Mumbai -- it is difficult for us to wrap our minds around the enormity of pain and destruction associated with such events."
"The most challenging issue the book pose is not expressly stated. It is the same haunting question raised by Simon Wiesenthal in his book, 'The Sunflower: On the Possibilities and Limits of Forgiveness.'"
Additionally, on this 15th Anniversary of "9/11" we are reminded of the wisdom of the author, George Santayana who wrote "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it."
God bless all of those families who lost a loved one "9/11."