President's Remarks: A Day of Rememberance

September 11, 2006

In reflecting on the events of 9-11, several concepts come to my mind to share with you today: They are remembrance; resolve; and balance.

With respect to remembrance, today is foremost the time to recall all those who perished in these attacks, both the innocent victims and those heroic persons, public safety professionals of all types and volunteers, who died in the effort to save those victims. As a united country, we mourn their loss and acknowledge the challenge of their families and friends in moving forward in life without them. All Americans, and the vast majority of the world community, share in the grief of this great loss.

Five years later, it is also important to comment on the notion of our national resolve. As you know, just recently an attempted airplane highjacking plot was foiled in Britain. That event is yet another signal that the 9-11 perpetrators have not wavered from their willingness to promote violent acts against those countries whose value systems and cultures are not congruent with their own. So, as part of today's event, it is also important to strengthen our personal and national resolve to promote policies that will reduce our vulnerability to these types of attacks, and most importantly, provide an outcome in which these groups will not be successful in their long term goals.


Finally, I would like to comment on the importance of balance as it relates to the 9-11 tragedy. As a country, and as a college, we need to be especially careful at this time to maintain a balanced view in our efforts to thwart those who precipitated the 9-11 attacks. We know that these groups represent a very small minority of the Islamic population of the world. And, that their tactics are, in fact, rejected by the overwhelming majority of Muslims in the United States, and worldwide. We should be especially careful not to extend blame for the 9-11 attacks to the great number of Muslims who support and champion democratic institutions and individual rights. Actually, it is the view of noted Middle East historian, Bernard Lewis, of Princeton, that an important key to defeating radical Islamic terrorism is to encourage and promote the vast majority of moderate Islamic leaders and practitioners to play a more prominent role in the international effort to resolve this problem. To support this approach, it is especially important for non-Muslims to foster and enhance supportive relationships with the majority, peaceful, moderate Muslim population.

I thank you for your time and attention, and may God Bless America.

 

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