It has been seven years since two commercial airplanes slammed into the World Trade Center in New York City, a third crashed into the Pentagon and a fourth into a field in Pennsylvania.
Almost 3,000 people died in the attacks. Photographers on the scene estimated that more than 200 people jumped from the towers to their deaths. The catastrophe left 1,300 children orphaned. Zero survivors were recovered from the site.
Seven years down the road, the events of that day have repeatedly been perverted as a political tool. The United States employs the use of secret prisons and has come under fire for torturing detainees. Habeas Corpus has been suspended, allowing the indefinite holding of terrorist suspects without charges being filed against them, without a court hearing and without legal counsel.
All of these things, which are completely contrary to the Constitution and the ideals this country is supposed to stand for, were justified by fear.
Many of those who are responsible, including Osama Bin Laden, are still free. Meanwhile, our military resources are being spent in a country that had nothing to do with the attacks. We entered because of fear, and fear is still the driving force of continued involvement.
The politics of fear are often used by our elected officials. If it was the goal of those responsible for 9/11 to strike terror into Americans, they have a powerful ally in this administration and any who instigate fear as a way to draw votes or support.
To truly honor the victims of 9/11, we need to do more than use them as a political bargaining chip. Any official, politician or candidate who uses fear to motivate citizens should be condemned and discredited. Politicizing such a tragedy is a dirty trick.