September 11th, 2001, is the darkest day in American history, despite what the left would have you think about January 6. The terrorist attacks on America took 2,997 lives as al Qaeda terrorists under the command of Osama Bin Laden flew planes into both towers in New York, the Pentagon, and a fourth plane, United Airlines Flight 93, was heroically taken down by passengers as they stormed the cabin and overtook the hijackers.
It marked the worst attack on American soil in the nation’s history and forever changed the face of American foreign policy and domestic security. The families of the attacks deal with the pain and sadness every day, and America’s motto of “never forget” has resonated for 22 years.
That is, until Joe Biden. Biden has made many disrespectful, cringeworthy moments during his tenure, but the most recent incident perhaps tops them all. Biden has fallen asleep, shaken ghost hands, checked his watch at inopportune moments, and has shown a general disregard for decorum, but his latest display has enraged the families of the victims of September 11.
For the first time in 22 years, the American President will not be spending any time at an attack site or the White House., as Biden instead will give remarks in Alaska after returning from a trip to Asia. Biden, instead, will be sending Kamala Harris to New York City.
This has enraged 9/11 families, some of whom aren’t surprised and expressed their desire for him not to attend. Retired Air Force Lt. Col. Donald Arias, who lost his brother Adam, said this: “It’s no surprise to me that he’s not coming to Ground Zero or any of the 9/11 sites. And quite frankly, I prefer he stay away anyway. We will be spared one of his stories of how he can relate, like he did with the people of Lahaina, how he can relate because of a kitchen fire. We can do without that.”
Arias is referring to Biden’s penchant for talking about himself, his deceased son Beau, or his house fire in a misguided attempt to seem relatable. Unfortunately for Biden, the internet exists, and when he uses his minor kitchen fire to garner sympathy, the residents of Lahaina know he is basically lying.
Karine Jean-Pierre, the White House press secretary, attempted to spin Biden’s no-show. She said: “[President Biden] plans to honor the lives lost and the families of loved ones who still feel the pain of the terrible day This is something he feels is very important to do. We can only imagine the heartbreak and pain that the 9/11 families have felt every day for the past 22 years.”
Her explanation and the president’s disregard haven’t sat well with other families, either. Terry Strada, who lost her husband Tom at the World Trade Center, said Biden’s absence is “the opposite of what we’ve all pledged to never forget.” She continued: “He is now just saying that flippantly that he doesn’t have to come to any of the sites and commemorate the loss with the families. That’s terrible,”
Strada is the chair of 9/11 Families United, a group of family members and survivors of the attack. The group calls for remembrance and transparency about the details of the attacks. Another family member, Matt Bocchi, summed up what so many are feeling: “If our leader is so willing to not show up to the memorial service, it’s showing the message that Americans have forgotten and that it’s OK to forget. Unfortunately for myself and for all the other families and those joining with us this morning, we have no way of forgetting, This is something that forever changed our lives and this is something that we’re going to live with forever, even if the rest of the country can let this be a day that they do forget.”
September 11, 2001, was a terrible day. These folks and many others live with the pain daily. Joe Biden has rubbed salt into a wound that will always be fresh, and that’s not ok.
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