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At the time of this writing, it is just days before the 3rd anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks on the United States. The images of death and destruction are but a faint and distant memory in the minds of most Americans as well as those living abroad. Even though most anyone could tell you exactly where he or she were and what they were doing at the moment they first heard the news, but now, we don't want to hear or see it anymore. That is quite natural. When bad things happen, it is only human to wish them away.

The problem is that terrorism, a word that that doesn't properly convey the true meaning of our enemy, is not going away. Not tomorrow or next year, it may never go away.

The mood of the country has been altered by time and the inability or maybe the unwillingness of our leaders to keep the memory fresh in our minds. The media, which has never failed to make catastrophic events into feature length films and made for TV min-series have all but ignored 9-11. This has been due in large part to the fact that anything that reminds the American voter of the September 11 tragedy, will surely give aid to President George W. Bush's re-election effort.

However, there is one fact that cannot be ignored:
There are people trying to kill us simply because our culture and beliefs are not theirs.

September 11 has turned into a national day of remembrance and mourning for those who died and that's fine. That is proper. But in the interest of our national security and the health of the living, it would be wise to also commemorate the broader truths expressed to us September 20, 2001 by the president of the United States.

President George W. Bush said this:

"Americans should not expect one battle, but a lengthy campaign unlike any other we have ever seen. . . . What is at stake is not just America's freedom. This is the world's fight. This is civilization's fight. This is the fight of all who believe in progress and pluralism, tolerance and freedom."

All of that September 20 speech is worth re-reading. The word "freedom" appears in it at least 12 times. Over the past two years, we have proven that were all good at remembering what was done to us that terrible day. But quite a few of us have proved to be less good at remembering what we still need to do about it, and why.

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