Reflection on 9/11 and Recent Commentary
It seems like some things should remain untouchable, and for me, 9/11 is one of those topics.
Sure, comedians have joked about it, and conspiracy theorists have claimed it was staged. They have the right to their opinions, of course, but it raises the question of respect—do we disrespect those who hold differing views?
Recently, the publication Bulwark, which leans against Trump, released a shocking and bizarre commentary regarding a memorial for Minnesotans Alex Preti and Renee Goode, who lost their lives due to actions taken by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents earlier this year. This commentary seemed to draw a strained connection to the temporary memorial set up in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, shortly after the 9/11 attacks. The passengers on Flight 93 played a heroic role on that fateful day, preventing further tragedy by stopping terrorists from reaching the Capitol.
Rust from Bulwark argued, “The 40 people who died on Flight 93 were killed by foreign terrorists. Alex Preti and Renee Goode were killed by terrorists acting under the protection of the President of the United States. Their killings were not an accident. They were the result of policy.” He claimed there was never an opportunity for accountability for those responsible.
This perspective feels, frankly, off the rails. As Dan McLaughlin of National Review observed, it implies that the U.S. government should be regarded as a terrorist organization, akin to how we once viewed the Taliban.
In a note at the end of his piece, Rust shared that the events of 9/11 had a profound impact on him, mentioning a personal loss connected to that day. It seems, even as an adult, he tries to link his experiences to the suffering of both the ICE victims and those of Flight 93.
I can’t help but wonder if all this outrage and attention is ultimately worthwhile for him. Perhaps it does attract certain audiences. Still, I find it troubling that he would use such a significant event as a means to make a political point.
