9/11 should never be forgotten

It was one of those once-in-a-generation events which has the power to sear itself into the memory banks all of who witnessed it, whether from near or far.

Many people can still recall exactly where they were on that day in 2001 when terror struck New York.

More than 3 000 died in the worst attack on American soil – an action which precipitated the “War of Terror” as then president George W Bush called it and which has cost hundreds of thousands more lives across central Asia and the Middle East.

The situation which spurred the terrorism – a clash of Jihadist fundamentalism and Western values which steamrollered the moderate, peace-loving people on both sides – has still not been resolved.

The world is no safer that it was 20 years ago.

Yet, the tragedy also showed the triumph of the human spirit, in the multiple acts of heroism and self-sacrifice among emergency workers and ordinary members of the public.

Much as the terrorists may have intended to destroy the American spirit, the attack did the opposite: seldom in the history of that country has there been such unity.

One day, perhaps, 9/11 will be explained, maybe even forgiven.

But it should never be forgotten.