What happened to that 9/11 spirit?

The events of September 11, 2001 were terrible.

This is a true statement.  No refuting it.  But out of it, something great happened.  An entire nation came together as one family.  An entire nation rose up and showed it was stronger and more united than ever.  An entire nation decided to look out for their fellow man, care about how their neighbors were doing, and wanted to do whatever they could to help out wherever they could.  American flags flew high and proud.  Differences were put aside.  We were one people...one nation...one family.

When did that all change?

The stories from 9/11 still astound me.  They show the best in people coming out of chaos brought on by the very worst of people.  In a society that has increasingly become "me first," no one thought about themselves on 9/11, or the days after.

I was struck by the sight of ordinary New Yorkers-- from businessmen to shopkeepers-- standing at each intersection directing traffic. By this time, there were hundreds of fire trucks, police cars and ambulances coming from every direction, and I couldn't believe how easily we were able to get through the streets, because regular citizens were everywhere-- clearing the intersections and directing us in. (Dan Cohen)

Imagine that...people stopping what they are doing to help one another!  That does not happen today, no sir.  Today people are distrustful of one another.  Some of this is borne of the 9/11 attacks (just look what it takes to even get on an airplane these days), but some of it is just reverting to the norm.

Look what's happened since. Everyone's suspicious now. Of government, different ethnic groups, each other. Less trusting, too.  (Shaun Powell)

On September 11, 2001, the American people proved that they could care for one another.  That they could set aside their differences and work together towards a common goal.  Today our own elected congress has to argue for 6 months over whether to spend 10 trillion dollars we don't have...or 12 trillion dollars we don't have...and still can't agree on sensible solutions for getting our country headed in the right direction.  On September 11, 2001, there was no haggling over the right thing to do...people just did it.  Today everyone is so angry at the entire country, with no actual solutions or suggestions on how to make it better...they just want to be angry.  Everyone is out for themselves.  Everyone expects the government to bail them out of everything.  No one takes responsibility for themselves or those around them...that's for someone else to do.

What happened to that camaraderie and sense of family we felt 10 years ago?  Have things changed so much that we cannot set aside our differences and live as one American family anymore?

I mean, we can't even agree on how to finish a memorial to the brave men and women of United 93, or get enough people working together to get the project moving towards completion.  What the fuck, America???

And yet 10 years later, the memorial that was promised these 40 people hasn't been delivered. The Flight 93 National Memorial is still $10 million short of completion. There is still no visitor's center to teach, no Tower of Voices to listen, and no 40 groves of trees to honor. (Rick Reilly)

So today, on the 10th anniversary of those tragic events, I believe it is not enough to just give lipservice to remembering those who died that day.  It's great to honor the fallen, the heroes who gave their lives to save others...the firemen, the policemen, the ordinary citizens, and those aboard United 93 all deserve your respect and honor.  However, I believe it is just as important to remember what those fallen heroes embody...the absolute best in humanity.  And what better way to honor these brave men and women than to live how they died?  Not everyone can run into a burning building to save people...but everyone can be nice to their neighbors, not put themselves first all the time, and can embody the spirit that gripped this country on September 11, 2001.

We shouldn't need a national tragedy to be good people.