Where were you on 9/11?

This question will mark all those who are old enough to answer it for their lifetimes. It’s a defining moment of a lifetime, and of a country.

Two big, beautiful pools flow with water and now take the place of some of the most notorious buildings the world has ever seen. The twin towers are gone, but the names and memories of those lost will never fade fully from a country still so wounded.

As the 10 year anniversary of 9/11 came and went, hundreds and thousands of people went on a journey of looking back, keeping memories alive, and letting the water wash past the nearly 3000 names of the tragic victims of the fateful terrorist attacks.

But with the 10 year anniversary of such a tragic and life changing event, questions arise.

As we look at where we are today versus where we were 10 years ago. What have we accomplished in the last 10 years to counteract these horrible acts? When will the suffering end? When will our troops come home?

What are troops hoping to accomplish by the nation’s continued presence in Iraq? By continuing to force our presence on a country who doesn’t want us there in the first place, we’re causing more damage than good.

By attacking the world trade centers, one could argue bin Laden attacked a symbol of what he viewed as an enemy of his people, a cause of extreme disturbance, and a threat to end his and his people’s way of life: commercialism.

So bin Laden attacked with the weapons he knows well: fear and cowardice.

With the force of our presence in the Gulf War, and with it the introduction of commercialism to Iraq, America created many enemies, including Hussein and bin Laden.

With our continued presence in Iraq, are we doing more harm than good? What future enemies are we creating in an oil capital rife with a people who generally hate the United States?

Witnessing the 10 year anniversary of such a devastating loss to the country brings these questions to mind. What must happen to bring our troops back home? What must happen to end the fighting and death?