Being Better

Posted by Freddie on September 11, 2006 under Uncategorized |

Sarah over at MooreThoughts used what I thought was a concise and poignant phrase — “be better” — as a prelude to her remembrances of this day 5 years ago. I share her desire to be exactly that and to help others discover ways in which we can all be better.

Honestly, I think Jake Tapper, ABC News’ Senior National Correspondent, in a piece called “Whom to Blame?” on his Political Punch blog identified as helpful a process I’ve seen so far through which all Americans can be better with regard to reacting to the aftermath of the events of 9/11: by reading and responding to the The 9/11 Commission Report: Final Report of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States (Authorized Edition).

First off, the ones responsible for the 9/11 attacks are the ones responsible — the terrorists.

Call them Al Qaeda, call them Islamo-fascists, call them what you will — they killed thousands of innocent Americans.

They did it. Not President Clinton, not President Bush. Not George Tenet nor Richard Clarke.

Some have suggested that perhaps the most important action any of us can take as the 5th anniversary of that horrible day approaches is to read the actual 9/11 Commission Report.

After this morning’s live broadcast, I immediately stopped at picked up a copy. As he points out, there’s an Executive Summary, a PDF version, and a free onine version available, all from the commission’s site.