Sunday marks the 15th anniversary of September 11th, a day which we will never forget. It’s a challenging time for our great nation. The political landscape reflects it. The economic environment reflects it. The social movements reflect it. This isn’t new. There have been some extremely dark periods in our storied history. Our nation has dealt with many issues and each time, it’s come out better and stronger. We certainly face challenges today. There’s a lack of trust and a great deal of anger. Fortunately, it’s all very fixable. Maintaining a clear perspective and understanding other perspectives is critical. We’re going through the process. There are many similarities to the 1960’s.
The United States of America was founded with the premise of freedom and equality. Thomas Jefferson penned it brilliantly by stating. “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” These very words have been debated for centuries. Our nation’s history has proved that not everyone has been free nor treated equally. Immigrants were rarely treated equally. We fought a civil war over slavery. Women didn’t have the right to vote until 1920, a century and a half after Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence. Significant progress has been made over the years. There’s more to go. Equality continues to be a major debate today.
Sure, America is far from perfect, but there’s no place better to live. People have raced to the safety of our shores for centuries, fleeing hardship in search of a better life. Our Constitution was written with the goal of forming a more perfect union, understanding that perfection is never achieved, but the constant pursuit of perfection is how greatness is realized. It’s always a work in progress. Thomas Edison said he never failed, he just found 10,000 ways that won’t work. That’s genius.
So often in life, we lose sight of what’s really important and take things for granted. People don’t truly appreciate them until tragedy hits. We can’t sweat the small stuff. But we can’t turn a blind eye either. Small stuff can easily become big stuff, and quickly. This weekend will commemorate one of those events that re-set priorities and perspectives for Americans. The September 11th attacks was a very dark day in our nation’s history. It was also a reminder of how special our nation is and how we can’t let hate and anger infect the American spirit. 3,000 people were killed that day. A friend of mine was one of them.
9/11 was a wake-up call for our nation. It united us. It brought us together. Unfortunately, it didn’t last. Americans are very divided today. We need to look out for each other. Respect is more than a word; it’s a way of life. We Americans don’t always agree. Debates and disagreements are very healthy and ultimately make things better. We’re a melting pot for a reason, and that makes us better.
Stocks and bonds were rattled Friday as the Market begins to price in another Fed rate hike. The U.S. Economy continues to chug along at a slow but seemingly sustainable rate. We’re all over it.
Have a nice weekend. Let’s make sure we always let our loved ones know how much they mean to us.
Never forget.
Mike
