September 11, 2001 is a day that will live in Infamy. When reflecting on the day, let us hope that we all take a moment to remember the day, not relive it with graphic reminders but with a resolve to remember those who lost their lives—commemorating the day with respect and honor.
Not since Pearl Harbor has America suffered from the hands of an outside aggressor. In remembering the events of the day, I find myself reflecting on December 7, 1941 and President Franklin D. Roosevelt's Infamy Speech. With all due respect to President Roosevelt, I have taken the liberty to rewrite the Infamy Speech to commemorate September 11, 2001. I believe if he were President on September 11, 2001, President Roosevelt might say:
“On September 11, 2001-a day which will live in Infamy--the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by terrorists. These terrorists flew aircraft into the World Trade Center--without regard to the sanctity of human life. These acts against humankind are acts of never before seen cowardice-- hiding behind the name of God to justify the elimination of human life.
The United States was at peace, we had taken no action to warrant this deliberate and unconscionable act against humanity. Those beginning their day had no reason to believe that any human would attack them, using American aircraft with innocent passengers as weapons of destruction. The unthinkable has taken place against the United States of America, against the world--as people of all nationalities, religions, and races lost their lives because of these acts of cowardice.
It will be recorded that the attack on America was a deliberate and cold-hearted attack, planned many months or even years ago. This attack caused severe damage to the people of our Nation, to the people of this world.
Very many American lives have been lost-some sacrificed their lives to prevent others from dying. The human impact is not measurable.
Always will we remember the character of the onslaught against us. No matter how long it may take us to overcome this premeditated and vicious attack, the American people, in their righteous might, will win through to absolute victory--overcoming the cowardice of the attacks on this great nation, on its people, on all of humanity.
It should be the will of our President, the will of our Congress, the will of our people that we not only defend ourselves to the uttermost but we make very certain this form of treachery shall never endanger us again.
Hostilities exist. There is no blinking at the fact that our people, our territory, our interests, our way of life are in grave danger because of these attacks by an unknown and illusive enemy.
With confidence in our armed forces, our people and our nation, and with unbounded determination, we will gain the inevitable triumph regaining our way of life, staring terror in the face and declaring that we will not bend, we will not change, we will not fear--so help us God.
As with the attacks that shook us on December 7, 1941, September 11 shook us, but we shall prevail, we shall remember, we shall be strong--standing with an indomitable spirit making us strong enough to remain united and resolved in eliminating terror from this Earth.
These are our Days of Infamy--God help us to prevent such evil from happening to us, to humankind, again.”
Stuart F. James
Sjames139@comcast.net