More than 22 years have passed since the life I cherished ended on a clear September morning when the world watched in horror as the World Trade Center collapsed into Lower Manhattan, the Pentagon smoldered, and a field in Pennsylvania bore witness to unimaginably tragic heroism.
The attacks on September 11, 2001, instantly claimed the lives of nearly 3,000 innocent people, shattering the lives of countless families like mine and altering the course of nations.
On that horrific day, my husband Tom, numerous dear friends, and colleagues were brutally murdered by radical Islamist terrorists. When the smoke cleared and the fires were extinguished, over 3,000 children lost a parent, including my three, who were seven, four, and four days old.
Tom was a partner at Cantor Fitzgerald, a financial services firm, and his plan that morning was to work until noon and come home early to be with us. Tom was able to call me after hijacked American Airlines Flight 11 pierced into his building, creating a firestorm of unprecedented terror in America.
All four stairways were destroyed on impact, leaving no chance to escape and no opportunity for rescue. His fate was sealed. That phone call brought me into the terror on the 104th floor of the North Tower, with screams of panic and fear nearly drowning out his trembling voice.
The billowing black smoke pouring out of the Twin Towers and the horrific events of 9/11 are seared into my memory, as they are for so many Americans across the country. They are a stark reminder of the fragility of our existence and the resilience required to overcome the darkest moments of history.
Our country came together in the days, weeks, and months after, bound by two words—"never forget."
Yet, I've watched in recent days as videos of Osama bin Laden's "Letter to America" have spread on TikTok and been praised by a number of young Americans. I am deeply concerned with their lack of empathy or ability to understand what terrorism is.
Their ignorance and blind following of paid influencers who allow greed to steer their destiny are astounding. Clearly, we are failing our youth when TikTok becomes their source of information, and it's obvious many need a history lesson on 9/11 and, quite possibly, on the sanctity of life.
This lack of knowledge is why I feel compelled to share my personal story, the strength, and purpose that emerged from the ashes of tragedy, and the fight for justice and accountability that continues today.
The lesson all Americans, from our young people on TikTok to our elected leaders in Washington, should hear and take to heart is this: Truth is our best weapon against history repeating itself.
No one should ever forget that Osama bin Laden was a terrorist and the mastermind behind 9/11. He was responsible for the brutal murder of my husband and thousands of other innocent Americans, as well as the many scores of injuries and deaths that continue to reverberate from the attacks.
His stated goal was to impose a virulent version of Islam promoted by Saudi Arabia on "infidels" and non-believers worldwide, including here in America, that treats women as second-class citizens, persecutes homosexuals, kills journalists, and embraces beheadings for even minor deviations from the doctrine it espouses.
It was no coincidence that, of the 19 al-Qaeda terrorists who hijacked four U.S. commercial airliners that morning, 15 were citizens of Saudi Arabia.
Bin Laden came from one of the wealthiest families in Saudi Arabia. His organization was funded by wealthy financiers and supporters, mostly Saudi, to the tune of $30m annually, per the 9/11 Commission. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was the "epicenter" of that funding, which flowed primarily through Saudi government-sponsored "Islamic charities" run by Saudi officials and controlled by its government.
They nurtured al-Qaeda and built and funded thousands of Islamic schools throughout the Middle East that served as incubators for virulent, intolerant ideology and Taliban leaders.
Recently declassified government documents—which were unavailable to the 9/11 Commission—confirm that agents on the Saudi government's payroll played a crucial role in providing the necessary support to some, if not all, of the hijackers when they arrived in the United States.
That is why, at this very moment, the Kingdom's high-priced lawyers are aggressively opposing the 9/11 families in federal court to keep the truth from all of us buried by preventing us from using this documentary evidence against them.
They have also opposed the production of their documents, opposed the questioning of witnesses, and asked the court to foreclose us from seeking evidence from the FBI about its investigation of the Saudi government agents.
Their high-priced lobbyists in Washington are also deeply involved in keeping the Saudi's secrets from surfacing by actively trying to block the passage of the bipartisan "Ensuring Justice for Victims of Terrorism Act" (EJVTA), which would strengthen and make technical adjustments to the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act (JASTA), enacted in 2016.
JASTA has allowed the 9/11 community to move forward with our litigation against the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for its role in the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
Unfortunately, despite Congress's overwhelming bipartisan support for JASTA in 2016 and for the EJVTA now, U.S. Senator Tom Cotton (R-AR) (who voted for JASTA in 2016) has publicly acknowledged he is blocking the EJVTA from moving forward, and President Joe Biden has stayed silent.
Sadly, just like some of these young people on TikTok, some of our leaders in Washington are also choosing to overlook what it means to "never forget."
When some of our nation's lawmakers try to thwart counter-terrorism legislation such as the EJVTA aimed at deterring future terrorist attacks, they are not only forgetting the pain the terrorists inflicted on their victims' families and our country, they are also jeopardizing our national security.
The events of 9/11 highlighted the interconnectedness of our world and the need for global cooperation in the face of terrorism. The tragedy prompted a reevaluation of international security measures, intelligence sharing, and diplomatic efforts to address the root causes of extremism. It also highlighted flaws in our legal system that were addressed in part by JASTA and will be cemented by the EJVTA to ensure that sponsors of terrorism are held accountable.
Ultimately, the call to "never forget" becomes a promise of "never again." It is a commitment to fostering empathy and pursuing the truth in the face of adversity.
By carrying the lessons of 9/11 with us and holding the sponsors of terrorism accountable, we can contribute to a world where the promise of "never again" becomes a reality, ensuring that the sacrifices of that day remain etched in our collective consciousness and protect us for generations to come.
Terry Strada's husband, Tom, died in the World Trade Center's North Tower during the 9/11 Attacks and left behind three children who were seven, four, and four days old. She is the National Chair of 9/11 Families United, an organization of family members of those murdered in the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, as well as many of those who survived, were injured in, or sickened from the attacks—a community of more than 10,000 people.
All views expressed are the author's own.
Do you have a unique experience or personal story to share? Email the My Turn team at myturn@newsweek.com.
Correction, 11/22/23, 8:08 a.m. ET: The flight that hit Tom's building was corrected to American Airlines Flight 11.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
About the writer
To read how Newsweek uses AI as a newsroom tool, Click here.
