Frequently Searched

Remember 9/11 by Living Your Life in Freedom

September 11, 2022

Twenty-one years have now passed since September 11, 2001, a brilliant blue morning when terrorists used commercial airliners to kill nearly 3,000 Americans in New York City, northern Virginia, and rural Pennsylvania. Today, we at the Goldwater Institute join with all Americans to remember the lives lost that day and the families and friends who will always feel their loss.

Today’s anniversary should remind us that while freedom is a blessing, it is not beloved by all. Certainly, the terror attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon were orchestrated with a message in mind—to strike at the economic and military centers of this country, to attack the very essence of American life. On September 11, 2001, thousands paid the ultimate price just for living their lives in freedom—going to work to provide for their families, traveling for business or pleasure, or doing the selfless job of protecting other Americans as firefighters or police officers. They were enjoying the freedom that enabled them to live their lives exactly as they chose, unaware that they were on the front lines of a fight waged by those who despise our way of life, our ability to live freely.

Today, there are tributes to those who lost their lives on 9/11, as there have been each September 11 since the attacks. But remembering that day should not be something that is confined just to this anniversary. Perhaps the best tribute we can pay to the men, women, and children who perished on September 11, 2001, is one we can pay every day of the year: to go about our lives as they did. We should go to work, spend time with family, and live our dreams—we should live our lives in freedom as they were doing that September 11.

On the evening of September 11, 2001, President George W. Bush addressed the nation from the Oval Office, speaking to the millions seeking a rationale behind such horrific attacks. “America was targeted for attack because we’re the brightest beacon for freedom and opportunity in the world,” Bush said. “And no one will keep that light from shining.” These words ring just as true today as they did twenty-one years ago: It is just as important today that we all work together to keep that light shining.

The atrocities committed on September 11, 2001, should never be forgotten. Every day, we should pay tribute to the memory of those who perished that day—celebrating the freedom that we are so fortunate to have by living our lives as we see fit.

 

 

More on this issue

Donate Now

Help all Americans live freer, happier lives. Join the Goldwater Institute as we defend and strengthen freedom in all 50 states.

Donate Now

Since 1988, the Goldwater Institute has been in the liberty business — defending and promoting freedom, and achieving more than 400 victories in all 50 states. Donate today to help support our mission.

We Protect Your Rights

Our attorneys defend individual rights and protect those who cannot protect themselves.

Need Help? Submit a case.

Get Connected to Goldwater

Sign up for the latest news, event updates, and more.

Wait! Don’t close this yet!

We are grateful for your support of the Goldwater Institute’s efforts to advance and defend liberty throughout the United States. For over 36 years, we’ve been defending the rights of Americans to live their lives free from government interference.

And Goldwater is unique in that we direct our efforts to the 50 states where we introduce and advance innovative ideas that expand freedom. And we fight in courtrooms and capitals nationwide to defend individual liberty.

In 2024 alone, we scored over 50 policy and litigation victories defending liberty!

And that’s just the beginning.

Our plans for 2025 include:

  • Stopping pernicious DEI and other woke programs in America’s universities.
  • Ensuring that patients suffering from rare and terminal diseases have access to cutting-edge, lifesaving medical treatments, without having to first seek permission from the government.
  • Defending parental rights across the United States so that parents can send their kids to the school that best fits their needs, free from leftist indoctrination.
  • Eliminating government interference in the fundamental right of individuals to own property and use it as they see fit.
  • And much, much more

We seek to restore the presumption of liberty; that people are free to act without first asking permission from the government.

But we cannot do this without you. Will you join us as we fight to preserve and advance liberty throughout the country? As we seek new and innovative ways to defend freedom in all 50 states?

And there’s great news: Thanks to a generous Goldwater supporter, your donation today will be doubled!

So please, join us in fighting to advance liberty and score real wins for freedom from coast to coast!