Editorial: NEVER FORGET

Our world changed forever on Tuesday, September 11, 2001.

Hijackers bent on delivering a body blow to the United States flew American Airlines Flight 11 into the north tower of the World Trade Center in New York City at 8:46 a.m.

On that morning, foreign-supported, funded and trained terrorists dealt our city the worst sneak attack since Pearl Harbor, hijacking four jet planes and taking them on suicide missions to blow up the World Trade Towers and the Pentagon.

Thousands of innocent men and women, people just going about their daily business, including firefighters, police and other first responders, died that day.

Twelve years later, we are still at war with terrorists – foreign and home grown – who want to strike at our democracy.

And many of those who risked their lives, spending countless hours “on the pile,” have lost their lives because of illnesses contracted at Ground Zero or are just now beginning the fight for their lives.

Our lives, our worlds, were shaken to the core that day, and many have never fully recovered.

The adage goes that “time heals all wounds,” but in this case, time is the enemy, as more and more first responders and others who dedicated themselves to search and recovery at Ground Zero discover that they are sick.

Over years, we have learned to be patient in lines at the airports. We have learned to watch and report the odd, the abandoned package, the out-of-place car or truck.

We must remember those who died, those who cleaned up the site and those who are rebuilding Ground Zero. We must take care of those who have become sick after working at the site too.

It doesn’t matter whether it’s been 12 years or 12 decades: WE MUST NEVER, EVER FORGET.

VOTERS RISE TO THE CHALLENGE

In the New York City primary on September 10, voters made it clear that character counts.

In four separate races, those who went to the polls rejected candidates whose records were tarnished. Former Congressmember Anthony Weiner came in fifth in the mayoral primary, with just 4.92 percent of the vote. Former Governor Eliot Spitzer was defeated by Scott Stringer, who won by a margin of 52 to 48 percent.

And, in City Council races, scandal-ridden former Assemblymember Vito Lopez was soundly defeated in Brooklyn, as was another scandal-scarred politician, Manhattan Assemblymember Micah Kellner – more proof that voters have had enough of such narcissistic antics.

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