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Bar News - October 5, 2001 Terrorism Will Not Win By: Robert E. Hirshon President, American Bar Association SEPTEMBER 11, 2001, is a day that will forever be inscribed in our minds, in our souls and in our hearts. Similar to the last time America was surreptitiously attacked, almost six decades ago, it is a day of infamy and cowardice. President Roosevelt’s words then apply now: "Always will we remember the character of the onslaught against us." Last month, as we returned from our summer vacations, we were at peace. We never fully anticipated that such an act of hatefulness and terror could ever occur within the security of our borders. As Americans, we pride ourselves on our freedoms and the ease with which we move about the world. But freedom has its price and we have just paid that price in blood and tears. The shattered lives and pointless deaths created by the maniacal acts of a few extremists will live in the collective consciousness of this nation for all of time. The loss of so many of our extended ABA family, colleagues and friends is devastating. But we must not let mindless brutality deter us in our mission to maintain a great and vibrant nation. The future of our democracy depends on us, for as lawyers we are the guardians of the system of justice and the advocates for the rule of law. We play a critical role in upholding our country’s ideals and ensuring that the rule of law remains supreme. We do this for ourselves, our children and for all future generations. We join with the president and the congressional leadership to support every effort to protect our fellow citizens and our way of life. By doing so, we defend the rule of law. It is important to recognize that these terrorist attacks were not strikes against a building, or a city, but rather attacks against an idea – the idea that humanity flourishes when we live in cooperation with one another. These attacks sought to destroy our spirit, but ultimately they failed. The countless acts of heroism by firefighters, police and ordinary citizens are testimony to a spirit that will not be vanquished, no matter how dark a cloud our enemy creates. The most difficult of challenges has always brought out the best in America. While the people who carried out this terror were filled with a hate that is unimaginable to most of us, they were in no way historically unique. We are, after all, a flawed species. Man’s inhumanity to his fellow man continues to confound us and is not isolated to region, or time or political cause. Our shared human history across the ages is replete with horror. This tragedy demonstrated that the struggle against lawlessness is far from over. It is an enemy that shows no mercy, no grief, no compassion. These horrific events also reminded us that in this shrinking world it is futile to expect safety from geographical or political boundaries. Real security is found only in law and in justice. Consider this our fundamental purpose as lawyers. Our hearts go out both to the victims of this deplorable attack and to their families. We are bound together with them in this tragic moment. And we can be assured that anarchy and destruction will not win as long as there are people of good faith who desire to live with one another in peace. I’ve never been more proud to be an American lawyer, serving the founding tenets and mission of our profession, than I have during this difficult time.
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